Sometimes when you hear women tell you their stories about menopause you might think to yourself they are exaggerating. It is only when you experience these symptoms firsthand that you realise just how much they understated the matter.
As if the hot flashes are not bad enough on their own (and it's like living in your own little tropical zone let me tell you), there are the mood swings. I turn from a relatively nice person to the devil in yoga pants. It is a surprise that my wonderfully forgiving and long-suffering husband has not seen fit to divorce me. I'm a total cow sometimes, and my fuse is exceedingly short.
I eat a diet high in soya, and soya is supposed to help somewhat with menopausal symptoms, so I wonder how bad it would be if it wasn't for the soya.
The worst is that this can go on for the next ten years. Urgh.
Somebody rescue me from this menopausal madness before someone murders me.
Thursday 20 January 2011
Thursday 13 January 2011
Sinking to new highs
In my serious quest to have a tidier house, I have had to have a really serious chat with my inner feminist. I have worked my whole adult life. Since my systemic lupus became unstable due to high amounts of stress, we decided that I would not work full time anymore. Instead, I am a part-time genealogist, which brings much needed extra income in, but we still live on a whole lot less. Half the money to be exact. This means we went from having a full-time live in domestic, to not being able to afford one.
The challenge for me is not the same as for others. Having a debilitating chronic disease means I do not have the energy or strength that other people take for granted. Throw in a total lack of motivation, and it's a recipe for chaos. I've decided that instead of beating myself up about the state of my house, and by now you understand this topic worries me a lot, I've decided to take a balanced approach and do some research on how best to go about this. I read up on various sites on the internet and found a few handy tips. I already have some handy tips of my own from my days as a full-time working single mother with no maid. For example, if you are so tired in the evening that you just want to plop down in front of the TV, then do small chores during the ads. You'll be amazed how much you can get done in the time the ads are on. Unpack the dishwasher, or load up the washing machine, or just tidy up, etc. Small chunks with long breaks in between. I find this works.
But the problem is bigger, so I needed to call on outside help. I found this website www.flylady.net. This was where my feminist wasn't too thrilled. By signing up to a site like this that offers advice on house cleaning, would I be admitting to being...*gag* ...a housewife? The one thing I never wanted to be was a housewife. There is nothing wrong with it, but I always saw myself as shattering these glass ceilings as I sped my way up the corporate ladder, and that is precisely what I was doing until the SLE chose a different course for my life and things got turned a bit on their head.
Anyway, back to FlyLady. You start off with these baby steps. The very first thing you do is scrub your sink until it shines. That's it for day one. The only thing you really have to do. So, smiling wryly to myself, I though "what's the harm?" and scrubbed my sink. You won't belive me, but it felt empowering. I felt like I'd taken a step towards making life more ordered, less chaotic. So what if I'm a part-time housewife. At least I have a clean sink!
The challenge for me is not the same as for others. Having a debilitating chronic disease means I do not have the energy or strength that other people take for granted. Throw in a total lack of motivation, and it's a recipe for chaos. I've decided that instead of beating myself up about the state of my house, and by now you understand this topic worries me a lot, I've decided to take a balanced approach and do some research on how best to go about this. I read up on various sites on the internet and found a few handy tips. I already have some handy tips of my own from my days as a full-time working single mother with no maid. For example, if you are so tired in the evening that you just want to plop down in front of the TV, then do small chores during the ads. You'll be amazed how much you can get done in the time the ads are on. Unpack the dishwasher, or load up the washing machine, or just tidy up, etc. Small chunks with long breaks in between. I find this works.
But the problem is bigger, so I needed to call on outside help. I found this website www.flylady.net. This was where my feminist wasn't too thrilled. By signing up to a site like this that offers advice on house cleaning, would I be admitting to being...*gag* ...a housewife? The one thing I never wanted to be was a housewife. There is nothing wrong with it, but I always saw myself as shattering these glass ceilings as I sped my way up the corporate ladder, and that is precisely what I was doing until the SLE chose a different course for my life and things got turned a bit on their head.
Anyway, back to FlyLady. You start off with these baby steps. The very first thing you do is scrub your sink until it shines. That's it for day one. The only thing you really have to do. So, smiling wryly to myself, I though "what's the harm?" and scrubbed my sink. You won't belive me, but it felt empowering. I felt like I'd taken a step towards making life more ordered, less chaotic. So what if I'm a part-time housewife. At least I have a clean sink!
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Operation New Broom
So, the new year is getting into full swing again. Children go back to school again from tomorrow, and I can't tell you how happy this makes me considering how nice it will be to not have a teenager lounging around the house, eating everything in sight, making dishes, and just generally being slovenly. The best was being told this evening that I don't do my job properly, because the dishwasher had not yet been packed full of the dishes made by Madam herself. The cheek of it!
I am not in the habit of making new year's resolutions as a general rule, but I did make a few promises to myself that I would try to tidy the house a bit more often, and perhaps walk the dogs...ah yes, the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions, but hey, I packed the dishwasher tonight. :)
As for keeping the house cleaner, I really do mean it. I don't know how other people's houses always look so clean and tidy. Or is it a case of them running around all over the show before guests come and it is merely a guise? My parents' house, and it was so when I was growing up, is always immaculate. Sigh...Between one teenager, three dogs and four cats (and probably a few Parktown Prawns) I just don't seem to have the formula. I also don't seem to have the energy. Bought myself a multivitamin with extra B vitamins today. I hope it doesn't just make expensive pee. I really hope it works.
Operation New Broom...starting tomorrow. At 05h30. I think.
I am not in the habit of making new year's resolutions as a general rule, but I did make a few promises to myself that I would try to tidy the house a bit more often, and perhaps walk the dogs...ah yes, the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions, but hey, I packed the dishwasher tonight. :)
As for keeping the house cleaner, I really do mean it. I don't know how other people's houses always look so clean and tidy. Or is it a case of them running around all over the show before guests come and it is merely a guise? My parents' house, and it was so when I was growing up, is always immaculate. Sigh...Between one teenager, three dogs and four cats (and probably a few Parktown Prawns) I just don't seem to have the formula. I also don't seem to have the energy. Bought myself a multivitamin with extra B vitamins today. I hope it doesn't just make expensive pee. I really hope it works.
Operation New Broom...starting tomorrow. At 05h30. I think.
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