Erev Yomtov/nursing clinical story

[malkieh]

This semester, as i posted before I have a tough clinical instructor. She really expects a lot of us. But it is good because she gives us a lot of tips and we learn so much from her!

So i mentioned to my husband that because she is so difficult, that usually I am drained and tend to colapse after clinicals. Now he has been out of town for the past week and a half so he did not see me the first week when I colapsed.

Now yom tov started wednesday, and that was my second day of clinical. I texted him a list of food items to get with another note stating "please purchase food for the first night because I will not feel like cooking after clinicals."

he thought I was joking, so I came home around 3 pm, still had 30-45 min worth of homework due the next day (but due to yom tov had to finish at that moment! and email). So finally zonked out around 4 and called him saying please wake me at 6 because I need to post phatho homework as I am too tired and need the 2 hours of sleep. he said fine. Around 6:30 he shakes me and tries to wake me, but to no avail. around 6:45 he shakes me again with "you need to atleast light candles"

As I am walking down the stairs a guest shows up, I am so brain fried I said "oh your such and such's friend I believe we are putting you in my step son's room" I showed him the room, walked around the house half zonked turning on lights setting up hot water urn...the typical pre shabbos etc.. Lit candles, asked my daughter to light and barely made it back to bed. Around 7:30 I got a tap on the shoulder, "sweetie there is no food, what are we feeding the guests." He got at most a grunt out of me, and rushed downstairs to figure it out.

B"H for step daughters (teens), they made shnitzel and salad etc.. I got up for kiddush and challah and then back to bed. I think I woke up around 11 the next day. lol!

[chayan]

Wow, that's crazy! That's the stuff that my nightmares are made of.

I remember last year wondering how I would prpare YT meals with clinicals and all, but BH it worked out. I think our clinicals were Thursday and YT was Shabbos/Sunday? Am I recalling correctly? And my clinical instructor was not tough at all (which is a mixed blessing).

[medic09]

Malkieh, that sounds like a familiar story! Ah, the genuine tales of survival you'll tell when it is all over!

When my wife was in residency, we had frequent Fridays and Arvei Yom Tov when she would get home barely in time to light. During those years I was commuting to teach, and also in back in school the last two years. One life saving tactic that we still employ is to be sure to speak at least a day in advance about 'what's the plan for Shabbat?' Even today, her duties at work often mean that on Erev Shabbat or Erev Yom Tov she gets home only an hour or so before lighting. So I need to know at least a day or two in advance that I'm shopping and cooking.

The two life-saving devices during residency (that we also gave as gifts to students as they got married) were a crock pot and a bread machine. Friday morning before we would both head out, the machines got loaded with timers set. We get back later that day to find at least one pot of food and a loaf of fresh bread ready.

Hang in there! You're doing great...

[Rivka P]

A woman I met who recently graduated nursing school told me she was so proud of herself that most of the food she was serving to us was food that she herself cooked. She said that the duration of nursing school, they pretty much bought prepared food for shabbos every week and dinners consisted of chicken nuggets, frozen mixed vegetables etc.

Your family will eventually "get it" and realize that they'll survive this period in their lives, of lack of homemade food. Then you can wow them with your tasty cooking, as a celebration after graduation.

Shana Tova!

[malkieh]

well the rest of yom tov was me looking in the fridge saying, "I thought I asked you to get xyz." And not finding it..

Basically throwing together a meal..

[achot]

Sept 12, 2010 12:32:15 GMT -5 malkieh said:

well the rest of yom tov was me looking in the fridge saying, "I thought I asked you to get xyz." And not finding it..

Basically throwing together a meal..

Been there, done that, I used to buy lunch specials on Thursday for Friday night meals....

I am sorry that this is such a busy time for you, maybe this is the wake up call your family needs to pitch in a bit or be happy with PB and J sandwhiches...
If your hubby cant do the shopping, do you have an understanding and supportive friend to help out and buy your stuff while buying her own? Can you call in orders to be delivered?
These are the good ole days we glorify later on... arent you glad you posted it for posterity!

But you do bring down the important point of good communication (why did DH think you were joking?) and planning in advance. I just had a blow out from my teenager son when I asked him to start building the suka...apparently its too early. Most 'normal' people like to do it erev Sukot. I cant have it built Motzai Yom Kippr (neighbors and noise), and we like stuff done early (ricochets of situations you described).

As Kermit sang: It Aint easy being frum...

[asp40]

I am sorry things got so confusing. You will figure out a system and things will fall into place. I try to do a lot of cooking well in advance. I had several meals already frozen - easy things like kugel, turkey, roast. That means all I need to cook are veggies and some easy side dishes. My husband knows that he isnt getting my best cooking ever - he is getting what I can fit in. My kids dont care one way or the other. We have fewer guests than in the past and I just do the best that I can.

What are your clinical and class hours? I go to school at night so I do things during the day. I have 4 young children so there is a lot to do but I do my best to fit in as much as I can. I also sleep only about 5-6hrs/night sometimes less.

Shana Tova