The Calm After the Storm(s)

I got an e-mail last night that I have inserted below, with permission, and with all identifiers removed:

"Thank you for the detailed laundry information. I am in need of some serious help with the upcoming 'busy season' as you always call it. I am feeling overwhelmed and not looking forward at all to Purim and Pesach approaching. I started with closets when you did, but I don't feel like I've gotten anywhere. I am ready to give up. HELP!"

I called up this wonderful woman last night and she was completely losing it. LOSING IT. Not as much from the upcoming "busy season" I suppose, but probably because her kids have been home since noon last Friday. We've been snowed in here for an unprecedented amount of time - it's enough to drive anyone mad.

My house, until we made a serious effort to clean up for Shabbos last night, was a DISASTER! Boots, gloves, hats, scarves (mostly wet) decorated my entire entrance way. Toys and games that kept most kids occupied, were not really put away well. (Actually - not put away at all.) Bedrooms were all a mess. The kitchen...don't want to go there. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snacks for 7 days for 9 people...you get the idea.)

OF COURSE YOU ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED!

Take this Shabbos to relax. On Motzai Shabbos, sit calmly after everyone has gone to sleep and focus on the upcoming week.

It's 2 weeks until Purim -

Everything that can be bought or made ahead of time should be done. If not, make this a priority.

It's 6 weeks until Pesach -

Even if you don't normally think in advance, try to. For example, on Sunday, I plan to make 3 batches of challah. I will then clean my mixer and put it away until after Pesach. If you make the same menu most weeks for Shabbos, this is the time to double, triple, or quadruple the recipe and stick it in the freezer (even if you are a freezer-phobe). The less time you have to spend on Shabbos preparations in the few weeks before Pesach, the more time you will have to get ready for Pesach.

Think about ways to make your life easier in the next 6 weeks -

*If you don't have regular cleaning help, think about getting some to help with the heavy cleaning (oven, refrigerator, freezer, or even just a crew to do a thorough cleaning of the house 2 weeks before).

*If you have regular cleaning help, maybe schedule a couple of additional days to help with the above.

*If you don't normally purchase convenience foods, plan those into your menus 1-2 times/week to free up those hours normally spent preparing dinner doing other jobs.

*Another way to make Shabbos preparations easier is to do a "home and home" (that's what my friend, Peninah, calls it). Team up with a friend or neighbor and split Shabbos with them. Your family goes out on Friday night to them, they come to you Shabbos day, or vice versa. It's SO much easier to make double the food for one meal than to make less food for 2 meals.

*2-3 weeks before Pesach, I use disposable dishes. After Shabbos, there is no clean-up, and you can go right in preparations instead of first cleaning up. If you don't normally use disposable tablecloth covers, use them a few weeks before. It really saves time with the laundry.


Most importantly, take a deep breath. We all get there at the same time. The goal is to stay sane and happy. Stay tuned next week for more Pesach organizing tips. Good Shabbos.