Moderation

It's Chinese New Year around the corner, every household is having their year end clearance - cleaning up the house.

It was since 2 years ago when my big younger brother found a part-time cleaner to come to our office cum house to do cleaning. So slowly we have adapted the habit of having someone to help maintain the house's cleanliness instead of us doing the sweeping and mopping and window-washing.

At first mom was rather reluctant to have a stranger coming to our house who practically accessing every single corner of the house unattended. She had heard too many bad incidents but somehow we talked her through as none of us at home is a good cleaner (we do disaster better) and she'd never have to grumble so much seeing all the mess and never manage to have the tidiness for too long. Besides, we also got a good point - age is catching up for her so she should rest instead of doing the housework after she finishes working.

We like kakak and we think she likes us too. She's paid RM5o plus one meal covered per day job. As she lives in the vicinity, it seems no trouble for her to keep her routine until lately which I bet too many household need helper to preparing their house to welcome the biggest day of the year. Kakak is over-0ccupied with work at other places until she couldn't come to ours. That is when the whole thing start - (now I only know not only it is difficult for a stranger to get mom's trust, the same distrust is also applicable to dad!) Kakak recommended her sister to help us out but instead of paying by job she's charging by hour. She charges RM10/hour whereas kakak takes RM50/day.

I do not know what is the twist-and-turn in dad's and mom's mind but the final decision made this morning is to not take kakak's sister for the house cleaning. Reason: MYSTERY (although dad first said it's mom who doesn't trust another stranger and also he wants someone to clean up the office instead of the rooms upstair; and mom claims it's dad's idea of not taking substitute as solution).

I was talking with dad about the issue and I said, "just because of all the uncompromising excuses and principles, the consequence leaves mom to do all the work".

He kept silent.

He knows his extremist character is, although on one hand defended his principle but on the other hand, creating others trouble.

I walked out from his room and went upstairs. Without another word, I picked up the pail and fill it with soap water - although I have a bad back, I just won't bear seeing my mom doing all the work herself.

All these troubles can be avoided if only dad understands and practices moderation.