Sunday, May 30, 2010

The 5 Things I Wish I Could Do Less

Raising my voice too quickly at my boys.  Many a times, they are really just being themselves.  You know, things like pretending not to hear me (unless it is, “Who wants ice cream?” Or chocolates or sweets or anything that’s sweet); not picking up their dirty laundry from their bathroom, or worse, scattering their clothes everywhere on the floor; leaving their cupboard open after pulling out their clothes; laughing too loudly amongst themselves with their own jokes; not taking their showers when it is time to do so, and when in the shower, you can’t get them out anymore; forgetting to flush the toilet after use; attempting to avoid washing their hands with soap after eating greasy food, and before I catch them, I usually give them a chance, “I want to check if you have washed your hands clean”, they will always make a U-turn back to the sink and start pumping soap on their palms; and so many more.  On good days, I will just give them my patience.  On bad days, they are not so lucky.  Sometimes, on extremely bad days, I would cry in my room after scolding them.  I never told them.

Housework.  Doing the laundry and cooking consume the most of my time.  Not forgetting mopping the floors twice a week, changing the bedsheets once a week, and other little things here and there.  My weekly cleaner can only do that much.  Where is the time and energy left for the children?  No wonder I have bad days.

Sleep.  I need at least 7 hours of slumber to be able to function normally.  Ideally, it should be 8 hours.  Then that day would be considered a good day.  I am hoping to increase my daily average sleeping time to 7 hours, from the current 6 or less.  Why can’t my body function just the same if I slept fewer hours!?  I would be able to do more in a day and still have a good day!

Driving.  Sending the boys to school and fetching them home three times a day from Mondays to Thursdays and twice a day on Fridays.  This is due to different dismissal times in their levels.  That would be 3 hrs x 4 days + 2 hrs x 1 day = 14 hrs per week x 4 weeks = 56 hrs per month (for a 4-week month).  That’s my youth!!!!  My youth wasted on the road!  Things improve when my dear husband sometimes sends them to school in the mornings and when I carpool with a mother who lives nearby.  At this very point, I must say I would have to waste a maximum of another 56 hrs of my youth.  Thereafter, driving is no longer necessary in Germany!!!

Nag.  Don’t misunderstand.  I am not a serial nagger.  In fact, I think I nag very little.  But that’s what I think.  Maybe I should ask my husband tomorrow.  I shall try to be very objective with his opinions.  My goal is to not having to nag at my very-long-working-hours-husband at all.  Wow… I think I just perfected the dreams of many husbands and became a living proof that an asian wife is submissive!  Sorry, I am far from that.  Also, nagging at children is a different category.  

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