Final answer:
In the provided passages, Joey's mom is repeatedly engaged in handling dishes, either by washing them or packing them, which acts as a symbol of her domestic role and might foreshadow a significant change or event in the family's life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first thing Joey's mom started to do in the passages provided is that she began moving dishes in the pantry in one scene, and in another, she began packing dishes into a clothes-basket. These actions suggest that Joey's mom is part of a narrative where she is involved in domestic tasks and possibly a significant change or upheaval, indicated by her packing of household items.
In multiple instances, her actions are related to dishes - whether washing, packing, or moving them - which might symbolize her role and the domestic routine within their household. In the larger context, Joey's mom's activities seem to be setting the stage for a larger conversation or event, demonstrating her role in creating or responding to these familial dynamics.