This morning was cold. I snoozed my alarm twice before finally turning it off, switched on my phone and automatically began checking for any messages. On my right my cousin was seated up, her heads bowed in her morning prayer; on my right my sister was still soundly asleep. I remembered that they both had classes to attend and I had a load of work to do. I felt my cousin was getting late but I also she knew better so I hadn't forced her to wake up. I let my alarm ring for her to hear as well and now she was finally awake(and moving slowly!). As for my sister, I knew the best way to wake her up is to wake up myself and get busy, she will then follow suit! She used to always complain that my way of waking her and others up is irritating!
Anyway, coming to the point again. The thing is I find myself rushing as Mom does and I think I have grown up to be a lot like her. I am doing the things I thought I would never do and didn't want to do, and I am quite enjoying them. I am grateful to be doing them, and I know that one day I might even miss doing them. I am young, I have lots of energy, let me do my works well even when they seem insignificant while I can, while I have my being. They make a difference in my loved ones lives, they make a difference in my life as well. It's part of my understanding of what a good sister and daughter should be. Mom says she rests assured knowing I am taking care of my younger ones here. I don't know what sort of a job I am doing, I know I am not the ideal caretaker, there are a whole lot of things I know I should do but I don't do, there are things about me which I wish my younger ones don't imitate, I am often slack concerning my responsibilities....But while I take my job seriously I don't let it overburden me. My siblings know better than me and in a lot of ways they take care of me more than I of them.
At the end of the day, it's all about family....it's about love. By the way, I got to go....my sister is already home and is having her lunch(I told you she'd be hungry!), I have a lot of work to do- letters to write, books and papers to read, inquiries to make, etc.Wish me success! Have a good day! God bless!
So I whispered a quick prayer and jumped out of bed, brushed my teeth, washed my face, combed my hair, and dashed to the kitchen to make breakfast. I had decided on cooking poha or pressed rice again the previous night(our current favorite), so I set about measuring, washing, chopping,frying, etc.; then I made a chocolate drink for our cousin, warm water for my sister, and black coffee for myself. In the meantime the girls were getting ready and of course I was met with questions like"what should I wear?" "Is this all right?" and that sort of stuffs. When all was done I set them out on our little table where we gathered together for breakfast. When we were almost done, brother woke up and asked for coffee. I went to make one as the girls went for their classes. Then followed washing the dishes(did I mention the confused mess my brother had made the previous night which I had to clean up before making breakfast? In spite of all his efforts to clean up after himself he still qualifies as messy!). Then I cooked lunch because the girls will be back in about three hours hungry and exhausted. In between, Mom's morning telephone call came, my brother discussed with me his exam related issues, and my sister's phone rang(yea, she had forgotten her phone!). Before leaving for work himself, my brother gave me a set of instructions which meant some more work. When I was finally alone I played some music and went up to the balcony to pick up the newspapers- so much to read! Then I went up to the terrace to check on the clothes we had left there to dry; I found that the wind had blown some clothes down and made them dirty. I picked them up and washed them again.
As I was picking up the clothes I remembered Mama. I used to wonder at her as I watched her go about her daily chores. She was active throughout the day! I wondered if I could ever be like her. She was so hardworking and quick too. She did even the hard and monotonous tasks. As a child I was often scolded for being lazy; then I had determined that I will never be in a state where I would have to do such "boring"tasks like the ones she did! But things turned out differently. By the time I was a teenager both our helpers had left, my older sister was away from home for college, my older brother had his own chores to do, and so did all of us children Being the eldest girl now there were some certain roles I automatically assumed. These roles drew me "home". By the time my elder brother left home for college I was second in command at home after Mom.Whenever Mom and Papa would be away it was up to me to take care of the house and my younger siblings. It was a role I took utmost pleasure in. I took pride in collecting and recording the daily earnings from our bus which used to ply around the town, giving instructions to our cousin who had some to help us about what to buy and what to cook, giving pocket money to my younger siblings,etc.. Even when Mom was at home, it was up to me to make tea for everyone and wake them up, set the big kettle on fire for our bath and daily needs, cook rice and then peels potatoes for our lunch. Then I would take my own cup of tea and biscuits and go to my table to read the Bible, pray, and then study. After study, we would all go about ironing our school uniforms, polishing our shoes, packing our bags, washing ourselves, etc. and finally dash for school.I always took a nap after school. By the time I woke up dinner would be ready and after dinner it was my younger sister and my job to clean up and wash the dishes. After that would be family time when we all gathered round the fire to talk. Then we all headed to our rooms to study and do homework while Mama and Papa would themselves read or continue talking. When we were younger dinner used to be followed by story time and "snack time"-it was at such times that Mom would bring out interesting things for us to eat as treats; it has become a habit hard to break now! Everyone would sleep at their own convenient time. I was usually the last to sleep-inspiration hits me late at night only! I could never fall asleep without reading a little bit on the bed..... Those were the days!
College was not as I expected it to be. initially I stayed with my cousins at their flat which meant a homely environment. My cousin and I took great delight in chatting while cooking. we experimented with a variety of spices, and of course there were other household chores to do! Then I moved into a paying guest accommodation where I cooked for myself. By the time I started living with my sister and brother, I could say I loved cooking and it was a normal activity for me. Eventually my younger sister discovered she loved cooking too and since then I have left most of the cooking to her. I am not very adventurous when it comes to food unlike her so I feel she handles the family's cravings better. I still handle a host of things but I am slowing letting go. They say the mark of a good leader is empowering the younger generation to lead, eventually letting them eclipse even yourself. Am trying to do precisely that! Let's see....
As I was picking up the clothes I remembered Mama. I used to wonder at her as I watched her go about her daily chores. She was active throughout the day! I wondered if I could ever be like her. She was so hardworking and quick too. She did even the hard and monotonous tasks. As a child I was often scolded for being lazy; then I had determined that I will never be in a state where I would have to do such "boring"tasks like the ones she did! But things turned out differently. By the time I was a teenager both our helpers had left, my older sister was away from home for college, my older brother had his own chores to do, and so did all of us children Being the eldest girl now there were some certain roles I automatically assumed. These roles drew me "home". By the time my elder brother left home for college I was second in command at home after Mom.Whenever Mom and Papa would be away it was up to me to take care of the house and my younger siblings. It was a role I took utmost pleasure in. I took pride in collecting and recording the daily earnings from our bus which used to ply around the town, giving instructions to our cousin who had some to help us about what to buy and what to cook, giving pocket money to my younger siblings,etc.. Even when Mom was at home, it was up to me to make tea for everyone and wake them up, set the big kettle on fire for our bath and daily needs, cook rice and then peels potatoes for our lunch. Then I would take my own cup of tea and biscuits and go to my table to read the Bible, pray, and then study. After study, we would all go about ironing our school uniforms, polishing our shoes, packing our bags, washing ourselves, etc. and finally dash for school.I always took a nap after school. By the time I woke up dinner would be ready and after dinner it was my younger sister and my job to clean up and wash the dishes. After that would be family time when we all gathered round the fire to talk. Then we all headed to our rooms to study and do homework while Mama and Papa would themselves read or continue talking. When we were younger dinner used to be followed by story time and "snack time"-it was at such times that Mom would bring out interesting things for us to eat as treats; it has become a habit hard to break now! Everyone would sleep at their own convenient time. I was usually the last to sleep-inspiration hits me late at night only! I could never fall asleep without reading a little bit on the bed..... Those were the days!
College was not as I expected it to be. initially I stayed with my cousins at their flat which meant a homely environment. My cousin and I took great delight in chatting while cooking. we experimented with a variety of spices, and of course there were other household chores to do! Then I moved into a paying guest accommodation where I cooked for myself. By the time I started living with my sister and brother, I could say I loved cooking and it was a normal activity for me. Eventually my younger sister discovered she loved cooking too and since then I have left most of the cooking to her. I am not very adventurous when it comes to food unlike her so I feel she handles the family's cravings better. I still handle a host of things but I am slowing letting go. They say the mark of a good leader is empowering the younger generation to lead, eventually letting them eclipse even yourself. Am trying to do precisely that! Let's see....
Anyway, coming to the point again. The thing is I find myself rushing as Mom does and I think I have grown up to be a lot like her. I am doing the things I thought I would never do and didn't want to do, and I am quite enjoying them. I am grateful to be doing them, and I know that one day I might even miss doing them. I am young, I have lots of energy, let me do my works well even when they seem insignificant while I can, while I have my being. They make a difference in my loved ones lives, they make a difference in my life as well. It's part of my understanding of what a good sister and daughter should be. Mom says she rests assured knowing I am taking care of my younger ones here. I don't know what sort of a job I am doing, I know I am not the ideal caretaker, there are a whole lot of things I know I should do but I don't do, there are things about me which I wish my younger ones don't imitate, I am often slack concerning my responsibilities....But while I take my job seriously I don't let it overburden me. My siblings know better than me and in a lot of ways they take care of me more than I of them.
At the end of the day, it's all about family....it's about love. By the way, I got to go....my sister is already home and is having her lunch(I told you she'd be hungry!), I have a lot of work to do- letters to write, books and papers to read, inquiries to make, etc.Wish me success! Have a good day! God bless!
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