IS PARENTING A HUGE TASK?

Somebody is at the door! says Teju a 5year old boy to his mother who was cooking a meal which aroma had taken over the breath of some neighbours in the neighbourhood. Alero replied hastily that she would get the door, and quickly she washed her hands and left the vegetable she was cutting on the chopping board to attend to who was knocking aggressively at the door.

Oh! honey, you were the one, says Alero to her husband whose face looked like a monster that was ready to devour. Emma got angry the more as he stepped into the house. He yelled at Alero saying; why is the sitting room so unkept! Zoe is a 9 months old baby who is learning how to crawl,  and her urge to stand and pick things got very high in her own bit to explore. Read through Alero and Emma's conversation....

Emma: I wonder the kind of woman you are?

Alero: Emma, you would have greeted me at least.

Emma:Greet you for not keeping my home well?

Alero: I was cooking in the kitchen and I told Teju to look after her for me. I was checking on them every five minutes  and each five minute I put all these things back in place, but they kept pulling them down.

Emma: Why did you not put them beside you?

Alero: Do you want me to pour hot water on Zoe, or Teju to keep opening the freezer to get all the foods defrost?

Emma: Do you want me to answer your questions?  You lack proper       management,  that's the answer.

Alero: Emma, I had a hectic day like you   had, and the day is still hectic for me, could you please let me have a breath?

Emma: If you're tired of your duties, there are many women out there to relieve you.

Alero: Emma! Remember that I work like you do. I take the children to school  every week day, rush to work, close from work to pick Zoe from the day care and Teju from school. I get to  buy some things from the market some time, and I journey home to cook for the family. These have been my routine my dear husband. I don't even get to enjoy my weekend because that is when I  always have time for my thorough cleaning which includes dry cleaning your own wears and Sunday for my God. I wake up before every other soul in this     house to prepare breakfast, and I  bath my children before setting out. Emma, in all these I have not asked for your assistance, and I am not complaining. If you permit me, may I take my leave because I have some foods on fire? (She leaves)

Emma sat on the sofa dangling his car keys with his head downcast. Alero got back to the chopping board to finish her vegetable cutting. As she did that, she began to ruminate on how to keep her children in order to avoid the house looking unkept. She thought;  should I pack all their toys? So what do they play with to distract them from disturbing me from doing the chores. Should I get a maid? I am scared to leave my children in the hands of a stranger. So what should I do? A loud noise came from the kitchen and Emma rushed to see why Alero shouted in pain. Blood had filled the chopping board and immediately it dripped down the cabinet. Alero had chopped her left hand fingers after the thumb finger with the vegetable, and she groaned in pain.

Emma carried her into the car, put Zoe in the baby car seat at the back and Teju sat beside her, and he hurriedly went back to the kitchen to put off the gas before zooming off to the hospital. At the hospital, Alero's fingers were stitched and she was given a sleeping pill that relieved her of her chores all through the day. Emma's baby sitting time had arrived as he finally took over from Alero. Alero in her dizzy mood was supported by Emma till she finally rested her back on the bed.

Emma moved downstairs pacing round the house, and shockingly, an oozing odour came from no where. He started checking for where it must have come from. After lots of searches, he passed by the sofa where he laid his sleeping Zoe, it was then it dawned on him that Zoe had pooed. Hmmmm! disgusting he said as he fetched another diaper and wipe to suppress the odour.

He was engrossed in wearing another diaper for Zoe, then Teju's cry of hunger from the other end. The air conditioner couldn't control the sweat rolling down Emma's face as he rounded off taking care of Zoe. He moved to Teju to soothe him with some words. Look after Zoe, and I will be done with mother's cooking in some minutes. It was 9 O'clock in the evening, Emma poured the vegetable in the sauce prepared by Alero in the afternoon before she sustained the injury. He made some garri in a bowl, and dished the meal.

A step he took out of the kitchen made him to sight Teju and  Zoe playing with his office suitcase. Oh thank God it has a lock! He collected the suitcase and they all set to have dinner. As he was dinning with Teju and Zoe sitting on his lap, suddenly Zoe started crying, she was hungry. Let me get your milk says Emma. He rushed to prepare her milk which he succeeded in feeding her with. Emma left his food to bath the children and put them to bed.

At exactly 4:52 am, Zoe woke up crying, Emma woke up angrily and started grumbling. He tried to feed her with milk, but she refused to sip it. This time Alero forced herself to wake up because of her baby cry. She could only make use of her right hand as she struggled to feed her baby. The couple's conversation goes thus;

Alero: Emma, bring the baby. She is tired of processed milk, she wants breastmillk.

Emma: Okay then ( handed her over to her mum).

As Alero fed Zoe, he hums....mother's love is the best and knelt down in front of her.

Alero: Definitely, it is.

Emma: Baby, now I know what you pass through daily. I promise never to yell at you anymore, to always support you. My half day of babysitting was hell, so I wonder your whole day and the year since we had Teju. No woman can take your space, it was only a threat. I wonder how you have been coping without a maid. I promise this day that I will always give a helping hand to put the children in order and i will always respect you. I will call your office to  notify them of your absence from work, and mine to notify them of   my absence to take care of my wife. The family is on holiday! I love you Alero.

Alero: I love you Emma.