Challenges Overloaded

As years pass by, I am only challenged more and more and I love how these challenges help me to discover my abilities.

2020, 2021, 2022 – All these recent years saw me single handling family’s daily needs for extended periods. I never thought I am capable of it, but multiple situations proved me wrong.

2020 Feb – M travelled to India for a month for my father-in-law’s first anniversary. Thankfully he returned just few days before pandemic lockdown was announced. Kids and I got terribly sick during this time and this is the first time we stayed alone in current home.

2021 May – M had a surgery and had to be on complete rest for more than a month.

2021 August – M travelled to India for 5 weeks to take care of my mother-in-law.

2021 October – M travelled to India for 4 weeks as my mother-in-law passed away.

2022 September – M travelled to India for mother in law’s first anniversary.

2022 November – M had an accident of second degree burn from hot oil in his right hand and just days after this accident he fell down at backyard and twisted his ankle. He had to be on complete rest for next 1.5 months. During this time, I also managed to do all diwali sweets and savories by myself with no help and make 16 and more bags to share with friends and family.

I made asoka halwa, ribbon pakoda, murukku and masala peanuts (non-stop work in kitchen for 3 days with batches of snacks making and washing dishes). Adi made her staple milk peda which was a breather!

This was the first year we were celebrating Diwali after a long break of four years so I wanted to share homemade bakshanams with neighbors and friends. M was knocked out with oil burn while making very first batch of murukku and I didn’t have the heart to call off the plan though I was fully aware to not get any support!

Being a single functioning adult in the home means

• waking up early
• sending kids off to school (going to bus stop for drop off and pickup)
• cooking
• washing dishes
• cleaning
• washing/drying/sorting clothes
• garbage disposal
• recycle disposal
• homework help for kids
• all classes drop off/pickup for kids
• school pickup
• fulltime demanding work with back to back calls
• grocery store run
• costco store run
• And the list goes on…

It’s exhausting and I pulled it through over and over again and to be honest this boosted my confidence! If I can pull this off with sanity, I can achieve anything in life!

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