I always knew it is hard work for my mum to clean up the house.. especially when we moved to a bigger apartment a decade ago. But it is only when I moved to a bigger apartment in Melbourne, that I really do understand the pains.
It is not as if the house was left in disarray. On the surface, things look fine. But when you start to touch, and as I move in, and I start to see the nooks and creaks and when I was brought up in a family where there is a certain level of hygiene (obviously not maintained by me)… I cannot help but feel the need to sanitise whatever I can. So I started with the toilet as that is nearest to the water source. Proceed to the bedroom that I will be sleeping. Found porn magazine and other trash and realised sigh, that why can’t I learn to close an eye like all my previous occupants. Anyway I gave up that Thursday night and went back to Blackman to sleep. Then Friday I decided to clean the kitchen, (as usual near the water source), and that’s when I realise what my friend had meant when she had taken the whole afternoon to scrub her oven clean… because I felt the same way for my microwave. Haha.. can see I’m the microwave person. After all I started cooking from it initially. So I cleaned the microwave and then the oven and the stove till it was passable. And I learnt why mum always clean up the kitchen after every session.. because when oil gets accumulated, it is not as simple as just wiping anymore. Even till today, I still feel that oily plastic feel. Sigh. And that includes the cabinets and stuff. I also concluded I will only move in as late as possible because afterall Blackman is newer and definitely so much cleaner. (And yes it is a good idea to do a weekly clean-up because likewise dirt when accumulated really gets stubborn.)
Once in awhile I will start to wish for mum to be here to clean for me.. and then I remind myself that the reason I moved is because it is time to take the next step. Looking back, from moving out, staying alone, cooking and now, cleaning.. I am taking steps to learn how to take care of myself. And I ought to be thankful. Obviously if I follow the typical steps of most of my counterparts, it will be moving out + cooking + cleaning lump up. The only pro, you have another person to share the burden haha. So for me, I have to do all these in baby steps.
Even as I am writing this, I still have the 2nd bedroom, the balcony and the doorway uncleaned. And I had planned to take it slowly as I am going hols for the Easter weekend. except my friend suddenly sprang a surprise and asked if can bunk in my place next week.. the day after I came back. So now pressed for time, I’m trying to clean up the 2nd bedroom as much as I could. I really hope they don’t mind the cleanliness of this place *cross fingers*.
And as usual, I will say, now that I understand how tiring it is, I should try to help my mum when back in SG.. but knowing myself, I may be out daily to lift even one finger in the household chores. But I really do appreciate her…sincerely. Thank you so much Mummy.
written on 20th April 2011
p/s: Publishing this on Mother's Day... Obviously not hoping she will read it... just hoping for something...
It is not as if the house was left in disarray. On the surface, things look fine. But when you start to touch, and as I move in, and I start to see the nooks and creaks and when I was brought up in a family where there is a certain level of hygiene (obviously not maintained by me)… I cannot help but feel the need to sanitise whatever I can. So I started with the toilet as that is nearest to the water source. Proceed to the bedroom that I will be sleeping. Found porn magazine and other trash and realised sigh, that why can’t I learn to close an eye like all my previous occupants. Anyway I gave up that Thursday night and went back to Blackman to sleep. Then Friday I decided to clean the kitchen, (as usual near the water source), and that’s when I realise what my friend had meant when she had taken the whole afternoon to scrub her oven clean… because I felt the same way for my microwave. Haha.. can see I’m the microwave person. After all I started cooking from it initially. So I cleaned the microwave and then the oven and the stove till it was passable. And I learnt why mum always clean up the kitchen after every session.. because when oil gets accumulated, it is not as simple as just wiping anymore. Even till today, I still feel that oily plastic feel. Sigh. And that includes the cabinets and stuff. I also concluded I will only move in as late as possible because afterall Blackman is newer and definitely so much cleaner. (And yes it is a good idea to do a weekly clean-up because likewise dirt when accumulated really gets stubborn.)
Once in awhile I will start to wish for mum to be here to clean for me.. and then I remind myself that the reason I moved is because it is time to take the next step. Looking back, from moving out, staying alone, cooking and now, cleaning.. I am taking steps to learn how to take care of myself. And I ought to be thankful. Obviously if I follow the typical steps of most of my counterparts, it will be moving out + cooking + cleaning lump up. The only pro, you have another person to share the burden haha. So for me, I have to do all these in baby steps.
Even as I am writing this, I still have the 2nd bedroom, the balcony and the doorway uncleaned. And I had planned to take it slowly as I am going hols for the Easter weekend. except my friend suddenly sprang a surprise and asked if can bunk in my place next week.. the day after I came back. So now pressed for time, I’m trying to clean up the 2nd bedroom as much as I could. I really hope they don’t mind the cleanliness of this place *cross fingers*.
And as usual, I will say, now that I understand how tiring it is, I should try to help my mum when back in SG.. but knowing myself, I may be out daily to lift even one finger in the household chores. But I really do appreciate her…sincerely. Thank you so much Mummy.
written on 20th April 2011
p/s: Publishing this on Mother's Day... Obviously not hoping she will read it... just hoping for something...
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