Chores and Chaos: The Other Side of the Break

You may think, “Oh wow, the holiday, finally!” But I promise you, that’s just you. In the eyes of your parents, you only resumed a different kind of school.

You’ll hear things like:

“Oya, since you are not busy…”

“Since you are not going anywhere…”

“What else are you doing at home?”

Translation: you are now the official house help, secretary, and errand-runner.

Life on campus is filled with independence. You wake up when you like, eat when you want, and if you don’t feel like sweeping, no one questions you. But at home, that independence doesn’t exist. Being subjugated under home authority is a rude shock.

Even relaxation is suspicious. Try lying down in the afternoon and you’ll hear, “Are you sick? Why are you sleeping in broad daylight?” or “Is this how you do when you are in school?”

Holidays have a way of humbling you. They remind you that no matter how independent you feel at school, at home you are still somebody’s child.

Holiday Survival Guide

Because we can’t all keep crying that we want to go back to school, here is a playful manual to survive the other side of the break(adhere to it at your own risk):

• Do the heavy lifting in the morning. Sweep, mop, wash, run errands, frontload the suffering. That way you’ll have time for yourself later in the day.

• Master the art of disappearing. After breakfast or lunch, vanish into your room like a ninja. Pro tip: headphones are your best invisibility cloak. This is not foolproof, because you may still hear, “Why are you always putting that thing in your ears?”

• Always look busy. A laptop open with a blank Word document is better than sitting idly. Parents fear idle children.

• Volunteer strategically. Do small things before being asked. It reduces suspicion and might save you from bigger jobs.

• Claim “online classes” if all else fails. Even if the only class you have is that free course you are taking, it works. The upside is that you get to add knowledge to yourself. So if you are not taking a course, go and take one.

If you follow these steps then you just might survive the holiday without being converted into a full-time domestic staff.

You're welcome