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.
15 minutes ago




