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Some days at home, I wish I had super powers…the ability to complete the ever-growing number of chores in a second. The ability to keep a continuous eye on bub who is rapidly picking up speed day by day and manages to get himself stuck underneath sofas and coffee tables where he’ll plaintively keep crying until someone comes along to get him unstuck.

I wish I could whip up fabulous meals come dinner or lunch time instead of having to run to the supermarket to pick up that one ingredient that’s missing and resorting to quick meals. These days I’m cooking meals in between trying to entertain bub and referring to recipes so the end result is less than ideal.

I wish I could spend hours writing without the distraction of changing nappies, feed times or bub simply being cranky. I feel a sense of achievement when I manage to watch a movie for a couple of hours without interruptions. People tell me the first two years are the hardest, some say the first six months are the hardest; a colleague told my husband ‘Welcome to a 40 year responsibility!’ Eeeek!
 

Some days, our apartment looks like it’s been hit by a tornado with nappies, toys, feeding equipment and clothes left behind as debris. Then there is the mad scramble to get stuff tidied up when unexpected visitors arrive. There is the continuous back aches, the lack of exercise, a vague memory of when I last brushed my teeth or combed my hair…These little details escape me and I simply cannot remember. Some days, I end up brushing my teeth twice just to make sure…
 

I’m rambling now…but I wish there was a disclaimer attached when one first decides to become a mother. A job ad for the role of a mother could read as follows:

Welcome to the hardest job in the world where you have job security for life. You will have one, two or three direct reports over your employment life – depends entirely on how much physical and emotional strength, enthusiasm, creativity and time management you are capable of bringing to the role without dropping dead with exhaustion. Basic knowledge of nappies, sterilization of equipment and feeding will develop over time. No training will be provided. You are expected to use the trial-and-error method of problem solving. A time-out while desired greatly will not be achievable in this role. To be successful in this role; you need to satisfy the following criteria.

Essential criteria
A sense of humour
Patience
Effective management of sleepless nights
Efficiently manage the multiple roles of wife, mother, housewife, chef and cleaner and sometimes hostess

Desirable criteria
No request for annual leave or holidays.

For all the mothers out there, who wake up everyday with a smile and manage the hardest job in the world…I hear you!

My website is

Cheers

Rashida