By: Staff Contributor
some days my body just screams for a break, you know? My back is always got this dull ache from being on my feet all the time. And my knees? They've started this weird popping thing every time I bend them – definitely feeling my age!
Then there are the kids. Love 'em to bits, but the constant "stop running inside the house!" especially when it's late and we're on the fourth floor (sorry, downstairs neighbors!), and "get off the sofa!" is like a broken record. They're in that super energetic phase, and trying to get them to listen sometimes feels like talking to a wall. I end up yelling, even though I know it probably just makes me feel worse, not them. But hey, they think it's fun, so they keep doing it. Somehow, though, I managed to get these thoughts down.
My friend, bless her heart, once joked that I look alright on the outside, "decent looking," but when my back acts up, I'm "not really functional." That was when I was all dressed up to go out, lipstick and everything, and then suddenly, this sharp pain shot through my back. Couldn't stand straight, walking was a nightmare. Anyone who's had bad back pain knows exactly what I'm talking about.
That was a few weeks ago, and thankfully, I got better. Walking around normally again felt amazing, almost unreal after being practically immobile. It was a good reminder not to take feeling healthy for granted. But then, last week, our help left. Suddenly, I was juggling work, the kids, and all the housework. I got so unbelievably tired that things like taking care of myself just went out the window. Seriously, who has time to do their hair when there's a sink full of dirty dishes, a messy house, piles of laundry, cooking to do, plus taking the kids out and keeping an eye on them, and still trying to work a crazy long day? My husband helps, but it's still exhausting. I started wondering how women, especially moms without any help, manage to do it all – keep the house clean, kids healthy, food on the table, and still work for hours. It made me think maybe I'd gotten too used to having help and forgotten how to do things myself. It also made me realize their job is way harder than most people think. Can you imagine working all month doing chores for just 3000 birr or even less? That's like someone's lunch money!
Before, when the help was around, I could focus on my job, play with the kids, and even have a little time for myself. Now, it's all about keeping the house running, feeding everyone, and if I have a spare second, maybe grabbing a nap because I'm just so worn out. You know how people say women lose their spark after marriage and kids and "let themselves go"? Have they ever tried to juggle all this? It's tough to even stay clean or put on decent clothes when you're constantly dealing with chores and making sure everyone else is okay. Women end up putting themselves last, and then they're just too tired for anything else but sleep.
It's kind of sad because all that time spent on chores is time taken away from their kids, their partners, their hobbies, just relaxing. I reckon a woman spends at least three hours a day on chores if she doesn't have help. That's three hours that could be used for learning something, connecting with people, or just taking care of herself. And it's not just the time; it's the energy drain. It stops you from doing other things you enjoy or putting your energy into other projects. And the frustrating thing is, chores never end! You wash the dishes, and you know you'll be washing them again tomorrow. You spend an hour cleaning, and it'll just get messy again. It's a never-ending cycle.