Monday, October 31, 2005

Raking, back pains, and witches

I think it was five years ago when my lower back started to bother me. After asking many questions, my doctor suggested that I delegate some more of the household chores to my family.

I am well aware of what triggers my back pain, namely, carrying heavy groceries, raking and shoveling.

I have found a solution about the groceries. I always bring several bags and I distribute the weight of my items evenly. I can usually get away with shoveling the snow. If I can’t, I do very little of it. I leave this chore to my husband although we sometimes fight about it. My sister usually beats us in shoveling the driveway, which we share, since she’s the one who has a car. I sometimes feel bad about it. So when Fall comes, I do tackle raking the leaves even though I know what’s in store for me. I would really like to leave this job to the kids, but you see, they won’t do it unless I start doing it.

And so Friday and Saturday of last week, I was out there with the rake, rubber gloves, several garbage bags and my three boys. Oh, don’t be fooled. It’s not their favourite chore either. They were just really being nice to their dear old mother. The store flyers are now full of wonderful things that remind them of Christmas and the wish lists are a-coming. I have started hearing “Mommy, can I have this for Christmas?” and I have started saying, “I’ll think about it.” Now, do you see what I mean? This is how it works well for all of us. I did only half the job and left the rest of the raking and bagging to them. I didn’t want to over-exert myself. And yet I still got this nasty back pain. It wasn’t as bad as last year though.

When I am feeling these aches and pains, I get cranky and grumpy. I can be in a lousy or foul mood. I can be a witch, not to everybody. Only to certain people. But I can easily be cured by a dose of TLC, an extra hour of sleep and a little trick-or-treating.

6 comments:

Nick Ballesteros said...

Happy Halloween niceheart! Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm on vacation in Baguio but will post updates before Nov 4th. Take good care of your health.

Ange said...

Yes, an extra hour of sleep is what most mothers need.... ;)

Ohjeeze said...

Don't feel guilty about delegating chores. No one said you had to be superwoman.

Unknown said...

hello NICEHEART! Looks like you and your children had fun last halloween. We did too! Was my hubby's birthday (eksakto sa halloween, haha). I guess we're asking our kids same things...to help in the house. As early as 7 years old, my daughter knows she has to help by setting and cleaning up the table, fixing her bed, etc...and she's always excited to do it. Nope! No rewards nor negative reinforcements,we just tell her that we need her help.

Anonymous said...

hi ate...hope u are ok..na...
ake a rest...talaga pong mahirap kasi dami nating inaasikaso, but dont 4get 2 take care of yourself din...lam mo naman mas mahihirapan tayo pag nagkasakit tayo...sabi nga sa commercial d2 sa Pinas... BAWAL MAGKASAKIT.... kaya take enervon vitamins....kidding aside...take a rest at make d kids participate sa household chores...maraming ways...tama isa nga doon ay magbigay ng price kapalit nito...pangit pero medyo makakatulong at malay mo makagawian na nila...masasanay na sila at magkukusa...

Sidney said...

Everybody should participate in the household chores! Especially if you have three kids!
Hope you enjoyed Halloween!