I am the true pioneer woman of my home. If it will be cleaned, picked up, repaired, replaced, fixed, even noticed, I am the one doing it. I am the only one in the house that is concerned if it is cleaned. I spend my entire day picking up after two children under 5 years old, a sixteen year old boy, and a 43 year old man, and two teen girls on the weekends.
I replenish the food pantry, notice what the children eat and how much of it, take care of the puppies living conditions and protection a majority of the time. I make sure all clothing, bedding and anything cloth is clean. From blankets to pillows, couches, clothes, jackets, and rugs.
The floor is my domain. If it is broken, strewn about, shredded, or left-I will be the one to pick it up. I put things away, make sure there is spots to put them in, reorganize, throw out, sell and move around. If it is heavy, or light, big or small-I will be moving it. If it does not belong, or will get wet, or needs to be dry, I am the one who knows about it and will cater to it.
If it needs watering, transplanting, or thrown out, I am the one doing it. If it is in my husband’s office, I will move it around, put it back, stash it away, file it, and separate it. If he cannot maintain it, I will. I am the ultimate ‘put it back’ machine.
If it needs to be washed, put away, folded, hung, ironed or separated I am the one doing it. If it needs to be fed, or first aid-ed I will usually be first to feed or fix it or be the only one who knows how.
If it needs to be bought, sold, bartered and given away, I will be the one doing it. If it is inside or outside, and needs to be taped, nailed, screwed, replaced, thrown out…I will be the one doing it.
If it needs to be driven, transported, cleaned, repaired, maintained, legalized, registered, or replaced, I am usually the one doing it. If it needs to be found, looked at, listened to, signed, faxed, registered, met with, allowed, accepted, given permission to, allowed, solved, or accompanied with…I am the one usually doing it too. If it needs to be combed, brushed, washed, maintained, cut, barbered or de-tangled, bathed, dried...thats me doing it.
I can ask, demand, plead, beg, request, dance, sing, yell, argue, defend, abolish, and speak for the people sharing our abode to help or pitch in, do their part, chores, etc-it makes no difference. I see not one iota of change, and very, if at all movement in the area of change. I have given up, lost interest, value my peace and peace of mind more than to fight for help.
What I can count on to be shared equally is love. That is flowing abundantly and I do not have to do anything about it, Thank God.
Lesson: don't fight it-have fun with it.
*excerpt from "Having it All: Women without Borders", by Bobbi Miller-Moro
coming soon! http://WomenWithoutBorders.com
