Holiday Time

A friend of mine’s student asked her why any woman would want to slave away in the kitchen and cook for her family as much as we do.

So last week, I sat down and wrote an article about the woman that I strive to be. The kind of woman that lives to cook all these Yom Tov meals and not only lives it but loves it. The woman who would rather be taking care of her children than be anywhere else. The people who I let read it, really enjoyed it and then thought I was that amazing woman.

Unfortunately, I am not there yet. I did not post it on my blog for fear of sounding too unrelatable. Cooking all these Yom Tov meals definitely is hard. The key is to really try to enjoy it. Tonight, Motzei Shabbos, when were are almost finished and are standing at the edge, just before the last round of Yomim Tovim (holidays), I realized that I am actually sad to see them go. A part of me wants to have the kids go back to normal school routines and have the house look more presentable and the laundry baskets empty once again (if they ever are), but another part of me does not want to let go. There’s so much family time and so much deeper thinking time and so much holiness in the air and connection to Hashem time and plus, Hoshana Raba is that last chance to do Teshuva. Doesn’t that give the rest of the year a dismal feeling to it? Think about it. Think about Yom Tov and all the family togetherness, sharing meals over and over (and over and over!), going to shul and seeing everyone dressed up and going shopping yet again and sharing sighs with the next frum person over about food shopping for the millionth time… and then think about winter. School. Heat. Work. Regularness. See?

When someone told me to post that article about that wonderful person on my blog, I said, I’m not going to post it because I have not reached that level yet. However, together – it would be nice for us to discuss HOW we can reach that level together. To actually ENJOY our time with our family around without yearning for that ALONE time all the time. So let’s discuss….