Tomorrow we turn the calendar page to February.
There's 7 or 8 inches of snow on the ground right now, but it's time to start thinking ahead. Purim is 4 weeks from today.
Set a deadline for yourself - before Shabbos comes around again, you will make a decision about your Shaloch Manos (if you haven't already).
Decide on your theme, or decide not to have a theme. Decide what can be bought, and what needs to be made. Decide to send mostly tzedakah cards this year. Whatever you want, but come to a decision.
Once decided, start getting all of the things you need that can be bought in advance. Avoid those awful pre-Yom Tov rushes and lines in the stores. Stop making something that's supposed to be joyful, so dreadful.
If you don't enjoy it, send cards and fulfill the mitzvah with the required 2. Don't do something because you feel you have to. Or because you are feeling peer pressure from your neighbors or from your super-woman friends.
Over the past 15 years of marriage, there were several years when I just couldn't do creative or fancy or delicious. Store-bought was just fine. Know your limitations and what is just going to put you over the edge.
It's time to get started and make decisions, so "busy season" is a lot more manageable, and dare I suggest...enjoyable.
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What a coincidence - I was in the Dollar Store today to buy a gift bag and saw something perfect for Shaloch Manos but of course I did not buy it - if I had read this earlier I would have now I will go back and hope it is still there. By the way I now know what a blog is!
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