Housework Equals Exercise

I haven't been doing a lot of exercises for some time because I have been busy with housework. However, recently, when I went to YouTube for my favorite workout videos and tried those quick 20 or 30 minute workouts, to my surprise I found that I had not lost my stamina. Doing those YouTube fitness workouts for 20 minutes or so did not leave me breathless as I had thought it would since I had not been very diligent with my workouts.

I found that I could do them easily as before. Thanks to my daily workouts with my mop and my pail. Actually, I use the mop and pail only once or twice a week. ;) I think its carrying the children's 4 heavy bags to and from the car and up and down the stairs that contributes. (No, I don't have 4 kids, but their school bag load is so crazy, they each carry not one but TWO heavy bags to school daily).

So, if  you're a SAHM like me and you don't belong to an expensive gym, fret not. You can still have your workout in your own personal gym with your own personal trainer (the mop, pail of water and heavy school bags). Exercise is free. You can do it anytime.

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Mother's Day My Way

Image Credit: Myself. (The best way to get original work is to draw them yourself or to take your own photos.) This drawing is of me and my mom wringing out our towel by hand. Read on to find out why.

The other day as I was washing the dishes, I looked at the window in front of me and saw a reflection of a 40 plus lady in a modern kitchen with all the conveniences and facilities that we have today. I thought to myself, "mom, if only you were here today, you would be so delighted" and I thought "I shouldn't be complaining about all the housework I have to do, not with these facilities that mom never had."

You see, my mother passed away when I was 10 years old. Cancer took away my mom. We didn't have any of the modern day conveniences we now have. Dishes were always done on the floor with a bucket of water. Mom would clean them while I rinse in another bucket of clean water. It was the same with our laundry. They were done in buckets of water on the floor. We would first rinse in one bucket, then another. Towels and bedsheets had to be squeezed dry with mom turning on one end and me on the other. Mom would be delighted with the washing machine we now have and the double sink. We don't have a dishwasher but a double sink is so much more when you have to wash your dishes in a bucket on the floor.

I am a mother now myself. I have a loving boy who just turned 9 and an inquisitive girl aged 11. Having grown up without a mother, I realize that the best Mother's Day gift is not something money can buy. The best Mother's Day gift is love and memories. Love from my children and for them to express their love to me in the form of hugs, kisses and being good kids now and good people in adulthood.

My love language is touch so naturally for Mother's Day, I would like to receive lots of hugs and kisses from the children from the moment I wake up till before I fall asleep at night. Hugs and Kisses, Love and Memories, they are all free. I would like to have them as much as I can. That is Mother's Day My Way.

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I Need A Holiday

I need a holiday. Ever since the maid left, I'm bogged down with housework. I have double the work she used to have since I have to look after and teach the kids as well. The previous arrangement was she looked after the housework while I look after the kids. Now, I do both. It would be really nice if I could start planning for a holiday and start looking for a Holiday Supply Online.

Perhaps I could try Atlanta Hotel Supply for my holiday but you know what? When you are the maid, the housekeeper, the tutor and a host of other things, a holiday is never ever a holiday. The unpacking and washing after a holiday is a nightmare so sometimes I'd rather not have a holiday! Perhaps a drink would suffice. Yes, Hotel Bar Supplies would be fine.

Many people do not like to pay a lot for the hotel they are staying in because they think what is the point, it is just a night or two and it is just for sleeping in but I think that a really good hotel can make your stay much more enjoyable. So, I don't mind paying for the hotel but I don't go for holidays much so I guess paying for a one or two nights stay once or twice a year is not so bad.

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Part Time Maid

I have two maids now. A daily one which does the daily laundry, washing, ironing, cooking, washing, that kind of thing. The other maid comes in twice a week for four hours each time. On one of the days, she will clean everything upstairs, cleaning up all the upstairs rooms, toilets, fans, aircon filters, mop the floor, wipe everything table tops etc. The other day is for downstairs doing much the same as upstairs.

Actually both maids are me. I've decided that its better to really focus on doing housework for 4 sometimes 5 hours a day but only for twice a week so I won't feel overwhelmed by it and so that I will have some "free time". Of course, there is never ever real "free time". That's where the other "maid" comes in for the daily stuff.

I've found that every since the real maid left, I've been so swamped by housework that it has left me no more inspiration to write. I used to love waking up each day and really being excited and looking forward to writing. I even managed to a book of poems and a breastfeeding help book. Housework killed that. Hopefully, my twice a week plan works out, so that I can have some focus again. I didn't realize it but when I write, I need to focus too. I need concentration and the more I write, the more I have to write about. Housework killed that focus.

I'm slowly trying to get back into my writing mode. I've been out of active action since July last year when I got chicken pox and my maid went back for a holiday. She came back for two months but then the year end holidays arrived and I was busy with the kids. In addition, in October the maid left abruptly which left me swarmed with chores. It's almost half a year now. I should be settled down by now.

I still have this freeze in my mind where my words use to flow freely. I need to be motivated and inspired again. During my absence (from writing) I've missed out some fun quests at Squidoo too. I managed to put in one recently for the Imminent Picture Perfect Reel Challenge. We were supposed to take our own pictures and write a lens (a page on Squidoo is called a lens) using those pictures. My lens was one of the 15 to win a raffle ticket this week. Can you spot which one it is from here? Ok, ok, I'll save you the trouble. It is this lens on Choosing Cross Stitch Patterns. The cross stitch pictures on the lens are all my own. This is the second lens I wrote after a long time. I'm happy its still good enough to be featured. The first lens I wrote after getting back into action is this one: What To Look For When Buying A Juicer. I used to be able to write a lens a day but now...

I need to get back into my blogging mode too. So far, I've managed some posts. Hope I can keep it up.

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Describe Your Family Members

The other day my husband and I were discussing about a movie and when he left the room, my boy smiled and said "Dad and his movies." Then he smiled some more and said "Dad and his comics."

After that he went on to say "Mom and her games." followed by "Mom and her chores."

When I asked him to describe his sister, he said "Cheh cheh and her homework".

Finally, I asked him to describe himself and he said "Me and my laughter." Haha. That is so true. My son,  you certainly brighten up my life with your laughter. Your laughter fills up the house when you are in. Ever since you were a baby, you were always smiling and laughing and you continue to do so now.

Son, you fill up my heart with joy with your laughter and your warm personality. Whenever I hurt myself, for example accidentally kick the door with my foot, you would rush over to make sure I am all right and give me a hug and massage the hurt foot. You are so kind and caring.

Just thinking of it and just looking at you makes me smile. I want you to know that I love you. I hope you have happy moments in your life always to make you continue to smile as easily as you do now and if at all you are feeling down, I hope you find this post.

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