I write this post at the risk of sounding like a spoilt brat (I'm not, btw) but I'm going ahead with my rant anyway.
Some of you might have read my previous post about going maidless for a few weeks (and still counting while I wait for a replacement helper to arrive.) And while we have been previously without a helper for weeks before, the absence of one this time round was particularly magnified due to the arrival of the (jeng jeng jeng...) Chinese New Year.
I live in a big household (三代同堂-kind and not forgetting my two geriatric dogs who mis-cue in pooing and peeing regularly,) lots of visitors during weekends, and with a great deal of cooking, washing and cleaning going on daily. While we battle mountains of laundry, oily kitchens, sink-full of dirty plates, mopping and cleaning, and more mopping and cleaning in the absence of a helper during this period, I am very thankful to have a helpful and spontaneous family who chip in to do the chores.
My elderly in-laws help out in whatever ways they can, doing the laundry, ironing, cleaning and many other chores too detailed to list, and my sisters-in-law volunteer when they come to visit, in the bathing of the dogs, doing the dishes, clearing of the doggie pee and poo and many more. Hub and I did whatever that was needed to be done and I must admit, I have never done so much mopping, cleaning, ironing, wiping and washing in my life!
On top of these chores, the twice weekly spelling, daily homework and prepping of the kids to school took up the rest of whatever 'free' time I had.
Some days passed by through sheer grit of determination to finish those chores and also in trying to stay on top of the spelling and homework within that precious 'golden' hour. I'm not talking about the glitzy glamour kind of 'golden'. I'm talking about the very, very limited kind of 'golden'. It was the slot of time I had right after I came home from work and finished my dinner, and before the kid's bedtime.
Some days were a mad hectic rush as I race against time trying to cram the cleaning, spelling and homework before S's bedtime, while other days went on a little easier. Sometimes my arm felt like they were dropping off. Other days my feet were really killing me (and I don't even wear heels.) On most days, my back felt like they were breaking and I literally hear the crack of my bones as I stretch.
Some days were a mad hectic rush as I race against time trying to cram the cleaning, spelling and homework before S's bedtime, while other days went on a little easier. Sometimes my arm felt like they were dropping off. Other days my feet were really killing me (and I don't even wear heels.) On most days, my back felt like they were breaking and I literally hear the crack of my bones as I stretch.
But at the end of the day, after the house gets cleaned and scrubbed, and the laundry washed and ironed, there's a certain sense of satisfaction and house-proud smugness that gets achieved. * pat on back *
I respect families who do without domestic helpers (and they don't rant off like me either) and while I hope to be 'maid-free' too someday, I'm not quite prepared for that situation in the near future.
I respect families who do without domestic helpers (and they don't rant off like me either) and while I hope to be 'maid-free' too someday, I'm not quite prepared for that situation in the near future.
Being without a helper this time round has revealed several things to me.
One: The kids need A LOT more training in housekeeping. Here's how L hung the clothes when I told her to help. Well, I give her TEN points for trying. *clap clap*
Two: Need to sweep and mop but feeling lazy? Use stuff like these! They are a heck lot breezzier then the old fashioned broom and mop, (we still do that btw) or lugging the bulky vacuum out from the store. Using this is like cheat sweeping and mopping. But it works! So, Whatever. Plus I buy those 'chiong' ones from the provision shop near my house which are so much more economical. Talk about being lazy and a cheapo. Lols.
Three: Mountain of laundry to iron? Do like what I did. I blasted my music player and grooved/danced/shook like a mad woman to my favourite music while I did the chore. Very therepeutic actually.
But I must admit, I really don't know how to work my iron. Poor ironing board. Well, you can't blame ME for the lack of trying.. Meh.
But all is not lost. The holes seem to be getting smaller as I progress.
As I anxiously count down the days till the next helper arrives, I shall resign myself to ironing the clothes with my favourite songs blasting off while making sure I don't burn down the whole ironing board.
Did I say it was therapeutic?
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