This evening I got a further glimpse (and it's still just a glimpse, of this I am certain) into what life might have been like for women many decades and centuries ago, and women in other countries. I have often said that I wish I had been born in earlier times, simpler times. But the more of it I see, my desire for that lifestyle is slowly slipping away, the 'chore' side of it all anyway.
My first idea, came with hand washing dishes for the last year. Something I have despised since day one, and have only grown to hate more each day since. That is one modernity I am positive I can never again live with out! (Only 2 days left!) But tonight brought the second glimpse. We bought our washer and dryer off Craigslist for $300 for the pair, I believe. Pretty good deal. And they have served us well for the last 10 months, presenting us with clean, fresh clothes each day. Until tonight, that is. Tonight the washing machine has decided it no longer has a working 'drain' function. It will gladly fill up with somewhere around 40 gallons of soapy water (probably more I am not sure), swish around for 15 minutes or so, and then stop. Just stop. And sit. Am I prompting it to use an 'extra long soak' function I am not aware of?? I don't think so.
As a result, I had the joy of using a pitcher that probably holds 1 gallon of water, to empty the washer of most of its water. But that is not the tough part, though very annoying. My glimpse into the past came next:
Ringing out by hand, an entire load of laundry.
I now have blisters on both.
Today, most girls I know are so excited about the idea of being a 'stay at home wife/mom' someday. Shoot, I know I am! And most stay at home moms I know will argue to the ground that it is a job and a tough job, and I agree completely. But man we don't even have a clue. Stay at home wives and moms have it beyond easy these days. We don't pull our entire pantry from the ground ourselves, we don't sew our own clothes by hand, we have machines to wash our dishes and our clothes, we have restaurants for those nights we don't really feel like cooking -- I mean the list goes on and on! I wonder what a woman back then would of thought if you handed her a phone and said, "Dial this number, tell them this, and in about 45 minutes a man will show up and knock on your door and bring you a hot meal." HA!
Thought my hands are in pain, I am thankful for my experience tonight. I am so much more thankful for the things we have than I have ever been. And I have so much more respect for women of the past. What strong, disciplined women they must have been. And still are, in other countries without all of the luxuries we have here in America. We are very spoiled.
true!
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