It's funny, my sister just texted me saying she got a job babysitting for a family this week that will be observing Passover at a hotel in the area. She was wondering what sort of things the family will be doing that would require her services every day for a week; I honestly don't know. They also told her "no phone, no outside food, no touching money", though I don't know if that's just for the kid or her, too (she'll need money, sister needs to get paid!).

Poor sis is nervous; any guidance you can offer would be appreciated!

TPS: the money thing should only count for the holy day parts--the first two days and the last one--the middle of the week is ok for money. And it doesn't really apply to her anyway. For real though, no outside food should be brought into their space or given to the kid, hardly anything is kosher for Passover.

rmless2--I'm having a bagel!! Pure bread, baby! I never get rid of the stuff in my apartment, I just drape towels over it as a no-no zone.

TPS- your sister should be fine if she just avoids bringing in any food. She can hopefully just eat and give the kids whatever they have in the hotel room.

I honestly have no idea what they would be doing all week- maybe they are going to temple every day but that is rare. Maybe they are visiting friends and don't want to schlep the kids each time? Maybe they want to sight-see or go to museums that would bore the kids? It would be unusual for it to be a religious thing unless it also coincides with a funeral and sitting shivah with other relatives where kids would not be appropriate.

Tell your sis to eat right before she goes over in case they don't have food for her, and to wash her hands after she eats.
Some families have rules like "No tv during holidays" but the parents will be able to tell her that.

This kind of reminds me of when I babysat for a kid with a TON of life-threatening allergies and I was totally freaked out when the parents taught me how to use the epi-pen etc. But when I was actually doing it, I realized that there was no way the parents would keep stuff in the house that would kill their son so as long as I didn't bring anything in, things would be fine.

Thanks! I'll forward that along to her. Now I'm even more curious about what they're doing every night!

I wasn't invited to anyone's and my temple isn't doing the women's seder this year, so nothing.

brujita- I imagine you are still eating lunch today! What will it be?

I don't understand, brujita... You're not eating lunch for those reasons?

And as for me, I'm Jewish but not observant so my eating habits won't be changing this week. However, I'm looking forward to a seder tonight at my parents' house.

Happy holiday, everyone!

I tweeted earlier that Passover gets harder every year, and it's way better when you have a mom to cook for you, and my mom sent me an email thanking me for appreciating her. Haha.

yes leesh- my mom has turned over much of the cooking to me but she still makes the matzoh balls and the soup.

I'm far away from my mom but get to enjoy someone else's mom's cooking tonight. Pretty much I'll live on salads and/or cheese melted on matzah this week.

No... I went to a movie and had some peanuts. I was raised reform and don't keep kosher.