As we approach Passover, the most important thing to keep in mind is to convey an attitude of joy — simcha. We want to pass along happy memories of family togetherness.
There’s no need to kvetch about the work to be done. Yes, there is a lot of preparation and our lifestyles seem to breed stress, but with good planning and proper delegation, you can remain calm and in control.
Following are some tips to help guide us through our preparations:
Keep Pesach in mind all year. A great rule of thumb is to keep food and eating limited to the kitchen and dining room throughout the year. The occasional pretzel that wanders up to the bedroom is manageable to find and clean once Passover is on the horizon, but you want to avoid getting chametz everywhere.
Also, in my experience, the average family just has too much clutter and “stuff” throughout the house. To have to go through that before the holiday is too much. Use your time in the winter to declutter.
Work backward. Though most families have their homes chametz (leavening) free by bedikas chametz (checking for chametz the night before the seder), my goal was to be chametz free before school vacation begins.
Plan accordingly and write it down on your calendar. Set up a schedule that takes your inner rhythms into consideration. Are you at your best in the morning or a night owl? If you’re working full time or not feeling well, consider hiring someone to help.
Keep in mind your attitudes about cleaning. If you have a hard time staying on track, set the timer and work in 15-minute chunks of time. Remember to reward yourself when you’ve finished.
Keep buffer zones for life to happen. When I set up my schedule, I leave open free days in between my big tasks. That way, if something comes up and my original plan doesn’t happen, I can still take care of it the next day without additional time pressure.
Delegate to your children, if you can. It not only gets them excited about the holiday but may actually help with preparations. I love how my little kids join in, music playing in the background as they go through their toy boxes to find a stray pretzel. Considering hiding a little gelt (money) in the drawers for the kids to find during their clean up.
My friend posts a large poster-size paper with a list of all that needs to get done. Her entire family knows what to do next and they experience a sense of satisfaction as they cross off each completed task.
It’s important to be realistic with how long a task takes to complete. When we underestimate the time, we end up being rushed and in a crunch. Just cooking for the seder could take an entire day. Plan for it.
Keep your menu plans and shopping lists from year to year. By keeping track of amounts that you eat and the foods that the family liked, shopping becomes a breeze.
A great tip is to prep your cooking in bulk. Peel all the carrots and potatoes and onions at one time. Prep all your chickens at once. Then when you need that ingredient for your recipe, you can just grab it.
The main thing is to focus on what you really enjoy about the holiday — cooking, having a really clean house or welcoming guests. Plan, delegate, organize — and then be sure to have a happy and kosher Passover.
Before moving to Milwaukee with her husband and family last September, Deborah Ordan taught parenting and home organization in connection with the Aish Hatorah Synagogue in Los Angeles from 2000-2008. She can be reached at Deborah.PerfectSolutions@gmail.com
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