My Weekend Obsession

Here I was thinking that after the initial clean-up leading to the BIG MOVE-IN, I would finally get some respite. To all those wifeys-to-be, this is an absolute deception!

Just to re-jig everyone's memories, recall I was lamenting most of September about my constant housecleaning. Now that we have officially moved in and settled down, I am STILL very much dusting and cleaning. *sigh*

In addition to the small stuff like hanging up the laundry at night when I'm home from work, I have also dedicated my Saturdays to doing the official once over where I wash clothes, vacumn, mop, hang up clothes and iron clothes (all in that order)! Sometimes, I squeeze in an additional load of clothes when I need to change bedsheets. As you can tell, it's been a flurry of activity these last 1.5 months! *beams in an accomplished manner*

In case you were wondering what Ed's role is in this long list of to-dos, he has been tasked to stay out of my way. Oh! And I also willingly delegated the role of cleaning toilets to him. *nods agreeably*

To me, housework is one great example of another couple divide. During the initial days, Ed used to stare at me bewilderedly as I scurry from room to room, busying myself with various chores. I later found out that the poor hapless chap was trying to figure out why I seemed to be so busy. To him, the house seemed perfectly fine. *huh?*

At that juncture, I politely pointed out to him the clutter that had been accumulating all over the house, highlighted that our island kitchen was now just covered with waiting to be sorted bills while there was a pile of laundry waiting to be washed and ironed!

Some differences between Ed and Ee:

• Washing all clothes in ONE load versus separating the whites from the coloureds and ensuring the bedsheets are washed in hot water, preferrably heated till 45 degrees celsius.
• Ironing clothes "on-demand" versus ironing them once a week after accumulating a significant backlog.
• Changing bedsheets and towels when they start to stink versus having a designated system of twice a month for bedsheets and once a week for towels.
• Washing toilets just before guests come versus a standardized schedule of alternate weeks.

I know, people have remarked the division of labour seems awfully skewed. And although I like to 'complain' that I do all the work...deep inside me, I know that this is because I can't let go.

Yes, my ninnyness has transcended into housework as well! The awful truth finally dawned on me in the course of my sharing/whining with different friends. Realised I wanted all cleaning done MY WAY and I was quite unwilling to forego my complicated laundry system for Ed's way of cleaning. *guilty shuffles*

Anyways, I have resolved to start learning the meaning of compromise. Besides, I was convicted recently that the duty of a wife wasn't just to keep the house clean. No matter how neat my house is, how fresh my clothes smell and how sparkling the floors are, the ultimate role of a wife is to support her husband and be there to encourage as well as listen. Not just nagging him to wash the toilets. *sheepish look*

P.S Ed's mom sat me down recently looking very concerned. Turned out that she wanted to tell me not to quarrel with Ed about doing housework and if necessary, we could get hired help. As I reassured her that we were still able to manage and we were NOT quarrelling over this, it did make me think what else one could quarrel about. Will share more when I put together a list. =)