By Nancy Berk, Co-host of Whine At 9, the place where it’s fine to whine!

Isn’t it ironic that we are thrown into the world of taste testing at exactly the same time we need to look fabulous in those Mitzvah special outfits?

If it were all about weight control, we’d pass the task off to a spouse, or child, or in-law, but, let’s face it, for Mitzvah celebrations, food is ranked right up there with family. Maybe no one’s said it, but you feel the pressure. For some reason, poorly prepared anything isn’t a reflection on a bad cook, or a bad day, or an oven gone awry. It’s a reflection on you.

And while few will talk about your choice of table linens, there will be a bad buzz if the salmon is fishy. BTW, salmon IS a fish, so it’s ridiculous to use that in a meal-bashing statement. Tell that to your critics. So you sample the sirloin and chow down on endless cream-based concoctions until you’re certain Jillian will burst into the room and force you to step on that scale of public humiliation. Fortunately, she doesn’t. Good thing because the dessert tray just arrived.

Whine Tip: Enjoy! This is one of the few times in your life where eating everything is mandatory and should not produce guilt. Besides, you’ll soon be dancing it off. Ironically, you’ll be so busy having a great time, you’ll have no time to eat at your child’s actual celebration!

Do you have a Mitzvah Whine? Let us know at info@MitzvahMarket.com and Nancy will tackle it here in her regular column with her humorous spin!

Or visit Nancy and Mary Lou Quinlan’s daily blog and weekly podcast, a place where “it’s fine to whine.” Their goal is “fun” with helpful advice thrown in and they even have a Whine Line (1-203-7WHINE9) where people can phone in whines for discussion on the show!

About Nancy Berk
Nancy Berk, PhD is a clinical psychologist and author (“Secrets of a Bar Mitzvah Mom”) whose style has been described as “Erma Bombeck meets Dr. Phil.” A featured humorist in “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” she is one of the 2010 winners of the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. She’s been spotlighted in the New York Times about over-the-top Bar Mitzvahs and interviewed by the Wall Street Journal on how to navigate nightmare double dates. She’s written for MORE.com, Weight Watchers, and scientific publications and is a columnist for SHADY AVE Magazine. An adjunct university professor and accomplished lecturer, she has appeared on television and radio and most recently on stage with her stand-up comedy.

Read Nancy’s other Mitzvah Whine columns:
Checks and Balances
When It’s Really Over
Unraveling The Dress Code
Getting Your Stamp Of Approval
Seating Stress
RSVP Violators