I was dumbstruck. I couldn’t help but laugh. Here we thought the idea was my husband’s but obviously the idea came from somewhere else.
As Pesach approached, I encouraged my daughter’s teenage children to help as much as possible, “subtly suggesting” that they change over to their Pesach kitchen early. Once the kitchen was ready I didn’t mind moving in and cooking, but changing over their kitchen would be trickier.
I cooked and baked, mostly in my own kitchen and my daughter, who, thank G-d, was still feeling fine, did the same. We enjoyed Seder night all together with enough food to open the door and say with a very full heart, “All who are hungry come and eat.”
Our original plan had been to spend Seder night with Gila and her family. Pesach cleaning tends to spur on contractions. I had been convinced that she would give birth before Pesach and I would help her during the first days. I had even imagined we would be home for the last days (Israel also two days last year as the last day of Pesach was a Friday) with some of our other children, but as Chol HaMoed progressed, and still nothing had happened, we realized that we would have to think of a plan B. We cancelled our guests and moved back to Gila’s home.
Our beautiful granddaughter was born just before the last days of Yom Tov, so it was even more of a relief for Gila and her husband to know that she could relax in hospital, with her husband nearby, while we were enjoying ourselves spending a two day Yom Tov with their children.
My husband says he thinks we’ll be at home for Seder night this year but who knows, the decision is obviously not in our hands.