Monday 9 November 2009

Life Work

I've been thinking how life is full of chores.  We are born and we work for survival. Some of us get paid for the work we do, others don't. If you think of each aspect of your life, and the work, time and effort involved in these aspects, it would tire you out before you even began. My mam always says that if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. I like to do jobs well. The Machinist says that sometimes, I go far too deep into things. Like when he helps me clean the kitchen.  Now the Machinist never used to help me clean the kitchen, but now that all our family's work overlaps, everybody does everything. We've taught our children to be multi-skilled, too.  As young whipper-snappers, they would never say "mam, I'm bored", because they would get a job to do.

Anyway, where was I?

Oh yes - the Machinist and the kitchen. When he helps me, I take the opportunity to wipe down cupboards, as I'm cleaning the counters.  I take the opportunity to wipe sauce bottles and display jars as I'm cleaning the shelves.  He tells me "Helen," - that's the name he uses when he wants to be firm with me.  Or when he's cross with me "we're not doing the bi-annual spring / autumn clean.  Just the necessities for now.  I've still got to change the oil on Sarah's car and fix spot lights on our car..."

I think that looking after a family is a full time job.  Not just the physical needs like clothes washing, feeding, teaching, health care etc but rather - their emotional and mental needs.  Raising young adults is a full time job.  Encouraging a husband is a full time job.  Caring for aged parents is a full time job and helping to inspire them all is a vocation.

8 comments:

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Amen to that. Yes looking after a family is a full time job that unfortunately does not have monetary compensation! But I suppose you get paid with the love you receive back... :)

Ken Devine said...

I could have sworn that was my wife Bev speaking!
Sounds like your existence isn't far removed from ours.
Actually, I really like doing the dishes...sometimes MIL allows me and sometimes I have to re-do them in secret as her eyesight is failing her.

Batteson.Ind said...

I'm a blitzer. I do the every day minimum most of the time, then about once a month blitz everything. About twice a year I do EVERYTHING; pull out whole rooms, chuck stuff out etc. I struggle to keep busy.. I need more animals or something :-)

Alan Burnett said...

Yes they are all full time jobs. And now I just tend to sit here and worry about all of them. How's the wife going on in her meeting at work? Has the Lad done his weekly Anatomy Test? Has Amy got fleas? Worrying is a full time job.

matron said...

I am lucky because my husband always helps with the housework,but when he gets to the kitchen and i am not there to supervise,he rearranges it.This drives me mad,i can't find anything !!Nothing is put in a logical place,i like my kitchen the way i arrange it.
I totally agree that caring for a family is a full time job and as i have discovered,it does not end when they grow up and leave,thats when you start worrying about them AND the grandchildren !!

John Atkinson said...

Helen, well said. And thank you for visiting my blog. I love your header picture and the one at the end of the first page. You have a neat blog and I will try to keep up with it. Best, John

Midlife Roadtripper said...

My kids never dared say they were bored either. "I'm sure I can find a job for you."


I enjoyed my visit here and look forward to coming back.

French Fancy... said...

Yep - I agree with all your points and feel very lucky that my life is a fairly trivial one - I don't go out to work and have all day to do house stuff - and Mr FF helps me with the heavy stuff because of my weak back.

In fact I've got to confess to feeling a bit of a slob because I very seldom clear out all the shelves, wardrobes, drawers etc. Like mother like daughter - my mum hated housework and did her best to avoid it.

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