This month marks the anniversary of my complete domesticity. Oh yes! We’ve been without househelp for a year already and have survived – not with flying colors but still survived. This may be no big deal to many but do understand that we live in a city where fully automatic washing machines and dishwashers are rendered useless by unreliable water supply and where dusts settle a minute after you’ve finished wiping all surfaces. Also, there are no state-run day care centers where we can leave little children while we do our errands. So, yes, being without househelp in this city of ours is not an easy task. Now I have nothing but admiration for mothers who have raised their children while running the household without any help.
As much as I wish I were one of those mothers who run the house like clockwork, I admittedly am still struggling to keep our home clean and orderly. Our hamper seems to have a life of its own and sprouts dirty clothes incessantly. Ask me when I last saw its bottom and I won’t even remember when. Although I try to cook as much as I can, not a week passes by without a delivery guy knocking at our door to hand us our lunch. The house may not be as spic and span as when we had helpers with us but this whole year has been a great learning experience for all of us.
For one, the kids have learned to do some chores. At age 4 and 5, they can now get dressed by themselves, pack away their toys, and fix their beds. They’re able to get their drinks and snacks by themselves as well. They also “help” Papa and Mama when we’re doing chores. I myself have learned to appreciate househelp more. Not a day goes by when my back doesn’t hurt and when my shoulders aren’t sore. At the end of the day, all I want to do is just to lie down and sleep.
We may have no househelp but I definitely am not “helpless”. Aside from the kids helping me clean the house (uhm… after they mess it up real bad, that is), I also get plenty of help from my Husband. Since I’m not good at ironing clothes, he has taken charge of this weekly task. I also don’t like cleaning the dirty kitchen so this task has gone to him as well. Add to that the occasional babysitting when I badly need some me-time and helping with the dishes and the kids when he gets home from work. Though he still would rather that we get a househelp again, he manages to do help around the house without complaint.
I know there are plenty of you who have chosen to be stay-at-home-moms and to be helper-less. Perhaps, you could share some tips on how you are able to manage everything. I sure could use a trick or two! 🙂
Since moving to another country, I’ve been without househelp too.. well at least not the traditional househelp we are accustomed to in the Philippines. My househelp now comes from my ever reliable husband who can whip up a delicious meal, keep the house spic and span, do the laundry, etc. all without my help. Living abroad has also made me realise how “lucky” mothers are in the Philippines as they can raise their kids with yayas and practically run the household just by voice commands. 🙂
Oh, there are still times when I do miss running the household by voice commands! Most of the time, I’m at the receiving end of the commands now. 😛
Miss you much, Layne! Come visit home soon. 🙂 Hugs and kisses to the little ones. :-*
we have been helperless for the past 3 years now. What I do is schedule chores. The deculttering and cleaning happens on a cycle while the rest happens on schedule everyday.
what I really like from becoming helperless is that my kids are more responsible and we have an additional room for our homeschooling 🙂
Thank you for your tips, Mommy Chris! I’ll create a workable sched and try to stick to it. And yes, I do agree, the kids are becoming much more responsible. I guess it also helps that they’re now a wee bit older and can already follow rules and instructions. 🙂
It’s a very daunting task just seeing all the things that needs attention in the house. Hands up nga ko sa mommies who have little kids and they still manage to keep the house in order. Superwomen talaga. Sometimes you just wish you have superpowers like making the dirty laundry and dishes disappear lol!
i have been a stay at home wife and mom for one year and three months now, helperless, yayaless, just me, my husband and our baby. it was actually our choice not to have any helper. 🙂 i can say that we’re very lucky to have supportive husbands who help us with the chores, noh? my son is only one year old and he demands my attention all the time, hahaha! which i don’t mind actually. so the chores would have to wait until he falls asleep. i do the cooking and stuff when he’s sound asleep. 🙂 i also cook food that’s good for two dinners, that way i don’t have to cook again the next day. my hubby’s okay with it naman eh. 🙂 the next day, the time that’s supposed to be intended for cooking can be used for some other house work naman.
for 16 years of marriage i didn’t experience a house help, i survived also hahaha