Something about having a maid

A thought just popped up in my mind this evening. It may be triggered by the realization that I always only have so little time left to do things other than my duty or responsibilities.
The first thing that always occupies my glorious days is of course my profession as a Research Officer (finishing my first week with this new designation in new office). Second thing is doing house chores.

We don’t need to get any reminders of the fact that time is constant. Its rate is unchanged for only-God-knows-how-long. It’s forever.

This is exactly the point where I started to realize the prudence of having a maid in a household. It is not a matter of ability or willingness to do the chores. It is rather about knowing how worthwhile your time is and be wise enough to make this short-life more fruitful.

Disclaimer: I won’t say that it’s applicable to everybody. It was just my thought which hasn’t really materialized in any actions.

I would like to have my home always Dettol-clean, pine-fresh and minty. I want all my clothes to be washed properly, ironed and folded neatly as I won’t step my feet out of my doorstep without ironed clothes. I want to sweep and mop the floor regularly with the minimum force required achieved. What did I mean by that? Do you realize that when you are too tired or too lazy, you will just mop by exerting minimum force that may not suffice to chase all the bacteria away? Mopping is not just about wetting your floor, I fully expect you all realize this and note it down in your mind. Despite my tight schedule, I would also wish to be able to scrutinize every single tile in the toilet. Hygiene. Hygiene. I still want to tidy up my room as often as required. Doing some new arrangement of the stuffs if time-permitting. I still prefer self-prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner than hawker-center produced. Healthy. Healthy.

Up to now, I still dutifully do all the aforementioned obligations. Or should I say, chores, as I don’t really feel obliged to do all those. They are actually just the means to achieve the desired end results. My own desired end results.

YET, I have never failed to wish that I would have more time to do things that I really like, and fruitful (it is an honest way to put it, I guess). I keep delaying doing my painting homework, preparing my upcoming GRE test, reading books (be it a fiction or textbook), tutoring my younger sister, doing sport (how I wish to have more hours for this), writing in my blog, doing scrapbooking, checking e-mails, calling my parents, doing some arts and crafts as hobby, learning to make mosaic, embossing, reading my painting notes (which has been given by my teacher since don’t-know-how-many-months ago), spending more time in research background study, learning to bake cakes, make desserts, to cook, learning a new language, doing outdoor painting etc etc etc. The list may go on forever.

To tell you the truth, I have forgotten when was the last time I watched movie. Oh ya, during the flight to and from Sydney. But at home or cinema? Hmm….

Many people opine to sacrifice your work to be a good housewife and mother. But how if your work is not merely about money and ambition, but a deep passion? Am I to blame if I have too much interests for one person to bear? And having to face the bitter fact that you have all the ability and resources to do them but your time is robbed by those never-ending-queues of house chores? Do you expect me to sacrifice the last possession which is sleeping time?

Some of you may think that paying a maid’s salary is a waste of money. But I look at it as an opportunity cost. A cost you have to fork out to seize other opportunity, inclusive of business and self-development.

No, I am not thinking of hiring a maid now. I am just putting it into consideration should my interests won’t recede a bit and should God not decide to add more hours in one day.

And as for children matters, it will still be our full responsibility as parents. The maid (if we would ever have one) will just do the house chores, especially to keep the clean, bacteria-free house.

And surely, only if we can find a good and reliable maid. Erm.. and if we have money to afford of course.

What say you?