The women of my family are a hard-working lot. Drop by my mother-in-law’s home without notice, and you won’t find a single crumb on her polished countertops. An errant mouse would starve if it dared creep into her kitchen. My mother managed to keep a tidy house despite six rowdy children and no conveniences like Cuisinarts, Roombas, and Keurig coffee makers. This strong work ethic passed onto my daughters. They are in constant motion with their careers, families, and a multitude of projects, and their children haven’t yet hit the stage of PTA and sports activities. Heaven help them!
My friends aren’t slackers either. Here in the south, they are ready to comfort and serve. Did someone just pass away? Or come home from the hospital after surgery? Or birth a sweet precious baby? They’ll pull a homemade chicken pie from the freezer (wrapped in aluminum foil and dated) or whip up a lemon glazed pound cake (made from scratch) for the bereaved, infirm or jubilant. If in season, a basket of fresh-picked tomatoes and zucchini or a bouquet of peonies and snapdragons may appear at the door.
These thoughtful actions create a sense of community sorely needed in this high-tech, fast-moving, seemingly uncaring world. So, how do you find time for important matters when there’s a multitude of obligations, whether it’s working at your job, caring for children, and oh, by the way, you need to contribute four dozen cookies to the church bake sale? It’s too much. I’m exhausted, and it’s only Tuesday.
Maybe I have a lazy streak, but I can’t compete with the older generation and energetic young folks. I give up. Years ago, it was predicted we’d have a shorter work week with abundant leisure time, but no, siree, our lives have sped up, and we’re the robotic bunny that keeps going. (Do they still air that commercial? If so, it’s time to replace those batteries.) We’re like a terrier puppy who can’t seem to figure out how to catch its tail.
We need more free time to do absolutely nothing without apology. Why waste time on chores you despise when you can delegate or skip altogether? As a kid, I read Cheaper by the Dozen and was fascinated by that clever, time-saving family. Years ago, I had a brief stint in Industrial Engineering and developed an appreciation for efficiency. I began looking for ways to get work done in an expeditious manner. I also noticed that often a lazy person could create an ingenious new method for tasks.
My solution are shortcuts, and I’m going to pass this advice onto you. Yes, my tips may cause eye-rolls and be completely useless, but don’t we all need a little fun and distraction? Especially nowadays, when the news is dire and depressing?
That’s what my mother would do to cope; switch off the TV and send us kids outside to play. My dear mother-in-law taught her son to wash dishes and sweep floors. My wise daughters married men who are excellent cooks. Bless the hardworking women in this world who need a break. And me? I’m going to pour another cup of coffee from my Keurig and read Cheaper by the Dozen again. Want to join me?