In this foreign land, my daily routine is 'juggling' between a homemaker and to discharge my duty as a DS. Indeed, it sounds very simple as compared to some of my EW (expatriates' wives) friends who have to juggle as wives, mothers, homemakers, 4x4Ddrivers, home-school teachers, self-imposed gardeners, and many more vocations under their belts. Thus, the term 'jugglers' from one 'vocation' to another 'vocation' within one day ;)
These thirty and forty something 'wonder women' are truly superb - they are beautiful and fashionable housewives, vogue moms, brave & careful drivers, passionate in-house doctors, great chefs, creative homemakers, self-made interior designers, self-trained clean-house celebrity and most of the time being roped in as 'bidan terjun' evergreen models and dancers. Just name a job, and they will execute it successfully. Hence, I name them the Superb Jugglers! They're truly superb heroines and undoubtedly the true blue reality actresses in action 24/7 where no cuts or dubbing is allowed.
As a friend and silent observer to all these Superb Jugglers, I truly give them a thumb's up and salute for their multi-tasking vocations. In one word they are labelled as housewives, yet with a much focussed 'binoculars eyes' one can vividly see them honestly and lovingly doing, executing and multi-tasking all the jobs mentioned above in just one day!
Very early in the morning they woke up to perform their prayers. Then, to softly wake up their children and husband to school and work respectively. Within seconds they have to prepare healthy breakfast and homemade foods for 'lunchbox' for the children to grab to school. Then they routinely clean the kitchen back to its spotless self! They were very lucky if their lovable kiddos could make their own beds, or else these Superb Jugglers will do the house-keeping job, too. :-)
After the muah muah muah and bye bye bye to their destined lovers aka bread winners, they have to start the engines and carefully drive their children to school. All these took them about two to three hours from just after dawn till before the school hours begin ...
Then, they could take a short break or a little rest an hour or two while 'kopi-kopi' @Bread Talk or 'mengeteh' @home-sweet-home while waiting for their clothes to dry in the dryer before doing the ironing. Others would turn to Vogue Cinderella while mopping the floor or dusting the sofa and 'brasso' their antique collections. Some may go to the Hypermarkets for weekly groceries. Many may be cracking their heads to prepare elaborate menus with new recipes for lunch for the better halves who will come home @lunchtime. A few will go for Kelas Mengaji, a weekly event for the hearts and souls. Thus, the list never stops ...
Sometimes, they have to spare their previous time just to contribute their part to their beloved nation by joining the 'bergotong royong' to make 'bunga manggar' or 'bunga telor' or 'bunga rampai' or 'pulut kuning' or 'kuih muih' or even to practice 'modelling' and to counting their steps for 'tarian' for some cultural shows @social events where they are the volunteers but nevertheless the true blue backbones of the active society :)
And most of the times, they are required by their children's school to actively contribute and participate in their children's activities such as International Day, Teachers-Parents Day, School Trips and many more ... Yet, sometimes they managed to squeeze their time to have a little enjoyment @Coffee Mornings with various themes - Arabian Nite, Polk Dots, Snow White, Pink Lady, Purple Rain and the list never ends. They always have great ideas which make our lives staying here in the Land of Sindbad more lively, full of laughter and blissfully meaningful.
At about mid-noon they'll wave each other goodbyes and heartiest hugs with the hope to meet again because they have to return to schools to fetch their children. Then they 'evolve' with the role as home-school teacher to oversee the kiddos homework, assignments and what nought after their late lunch. In the evening, these Super Wives & Moms will prepare lovely and delicious dinner for the entire family. This is also the precious time where they eat together and talk about the day's event. Also a chit chat with their loved ones after a day's work! Then the cleaning up again before ready for bed which they long for to have at least a five hours sleep. But their minds still did not stop thinking about tomorrow's routine :)
These chores will go on till the much awaited weekend where they will share the 'work' with their better halves and to some extent with their grown up children. But for some, the routine continues because the little kiddos need to go for Mengaji, swimming lessons, ballet dancing, summer camps or perhaps slumber nights with their peers and school mates, etc.
But, it is indeed delightful and heartening to see them doing all these tasks without grouses or complains, instead with full of pride and ever-willingness to give their best and helping hands. As an observer and their friends here, who saw them often and the opportunity to 'see-through' their active life, I'm truly amazed by these 'multi-taskers' aka the Superb Jugglers! Indeed, they all made me feel very proud of them and of course full appreciation from their life companions or better halves and most of all their children who have such wonderful Super Moms :)
To all these Superb Jugglers Friends of Mine, I am very honoured to know you and to some extent also to be part of your daily routine. Thank You ALL, and my prayers to you always for all the superb jobs you did! You are always the Friends in Need, and truly You are also the Friends Indeed!
Since Summer is approaching and the school holidays has begun, so Happy Holidays to ALL Super Wives, Super Moms and Super Friends. Indeed, you're ALL Amazing!!!
(This photo - for illustration only.)
No comments:
Post a Comment