A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HOUSEWIFE
The alarm clock wakes me up with its electronic song. It is five thirty in the morning and it is still pitch-dark outside. I stagger out of bed and head for the bathroom.
Having washed myself and feeling a bit more alive, I descend the stairs to the kitchen. For me, the day has begun. The first thing I have to do is to prepare breakfast for my husband and my two young children.
I put the hot water on, put coffee into the coffee pot and lay the bread, jam and half-boiled eggs on the dining table. While the water is boiling, I head upstairs to collect the laundry that need washing. I come down with a basket full of clothes. Well, at least I have a washing machine to do the job. Still, I have to put the clothes into the machine, add soap-powder, switch on the power and turn on the water supply. The machine whirrs silently as it goes ahout its washing cycle.
Goodness, it is already six thirty. Where did the time go? I run upstairs to wake Danny, my husband, and the two children, Emelyn and Jasmine. They protest but to no avail. Soon, all of them are up and going about their tasks of washing up. I help my little Jasmine, who is only 3 years old, brush her teeth and wash her face. Emelyn, who is already in standard 1 can cope on her own.
The whistling of the kettle reminds me that the water is boiling. I run downstairs, switch off the gas and pour the steaming water into the coffee pot.
Presently, everybody is seated at the dining table having breakfast. Ten minutes later, Danny is ready to take Emelyn to school. Danny himself goes to work in the city after dropping Emelyn off at her school. Me and little Jasmine wave goodbye. Back in the house, I wash the dishes while little Jasmine plays with her toys. Then, it is time to sweep the floor, take out the rubbish and do many more household chores that never seem to get done.
Time flies and soon it is time to send little Jasmine to the kindergarten. I lock up the house, put Jasmine into the car and drive off to the kindergarten about half a mile away.
After dropping Jasmine off, I head for the market. I buy groceries and other assorted food. Then, I visit my favourite bookshop to get some books and magazines. All too soon it is time to go home to fix lunch for my ever-hungry brood.
When lunch is almost cooked, I leave the house again to fetch little Jasmine from the kindergarten. I time it so that the food is not burnt by the time I return. Me and Jasmine take lunch first. Usually it is some cooked noodles. After that I clear the table.
Presently my husband returns for lunch with Emelyn.
After both of them have had their lunch, Danny returns to work while the children have their afternoon nap. I wash the dishes and take in the laundry. I fold the clean clothes and iron the ones that need ironing.
Four o''clock seems to arrive very quickly for me. It is announced by the squeals of laughter that come from upstairs when the children wake up from their nap. Ah! The children have so much energy, just the opposite of me. Still, it is almost time to prepare dinner, just as soon as the kids take their daily bath.
Danny arrives home greeted by the noisy children. I am busy in the kitchen.
By seven in the evening, the whole family sit down for dinner. Dinner is always a happy affair for everybody''s work is almost done for the day. After dinner, it is the usual washing up helped by Danny and Emelyn.
&nbsbsp; I help Emelyn with her homework while Danny and little Jasmine watch television. Soon it is time for bed for the kids. I make sure they go to bed on time, despite protests.
It is after nine o''clock in the evening that finally I can sit down on my favaourite chair and relax a bit. I read the book I had bought while Danny watches television.
So, ends another day in my life, a modern housewife, who, like many other housewives, hardly have ime to sit back and reflect on the enormous task of taking care of a family.