January 19 2007: A Dire Prediction
Filed under Asian-ness & Family & Relationships/Men
My mother has made a dire prediction.
Philip is quite stereotypical of an Asian only boy child mollycoddled by his parents in that he can’t cook, clean, or really look after himself in any practical life-skills type of way. I used to clean up his room when we were in Shanghai because I couldn’t bear to sit in a pigsty.
Other than being a neat freak, there’s really not much I can do. I can’t cook, I can only organise, I can’t actually clean (as in scrubbing the floors, etc.), I don’t wash the dishes, I don’t know how to iron clothes, etc. etc. I have no real concept of mortgages, superannuation, or paying bills. I’m pretty pathetic myself.
And therefore, armed with these prejudices against an Asian only male child, and her knowledge of me as a generally incompetent person, my mother said “You should never move in together or even consider a long term relationship. Your house would be a pigsty and you’d both starve to death”.
I disagree.
I mean, has she never heard of cleaning services and takeaway?!
8 Responses to “A Dire Prediction”
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Yay takeaway. :D
I think when people are in a situation where they’re forced to have to cook and clean, you’ll eventually pick it up. It’s not something that you need to learn before you’re 18 or something, or you’ll never be able to learn it at all.
Belinda on January 19 2007 #
Amen, Belinda. My parents always used to make comments about how the real world would chew me up and spit me out if I couldn’t cook and clean, but I always thought those were skills I would just learn when it became necessary. These days I’m still not much chop at cooking and cleaning, but I was reading my SAS Survival Guide — specifically the chapter about skinning animals — and thinking, “I could do that if there wasn’t anything else to eat.” I’m sure nobody skins animals for the hell of it, but if we’re talking life or death it’s a whole ‘nother ball game.
Jordie on January 20 2007 #
What is the world coming to???
Anastasia on January 20 2007 #
your mom reminds me so much of my mom it’s scary :P
and ditto on the cleaning service and takeout :)
Noemi on January 20 2007 #
Cleaning services and takeaway all the way! That’s probably what my household’s going to run on too. ;)
Susie on January 20 2007 #
well if one of you coud cook and was super clean, you might get one each other’s nerves, so…cleaning service and takeout it is!
marilyn on January 20 2007 #
Amanda, seriously I think it’s time for you to learn how to cook, or even attempt to wash dishes, it makes life so much easier if you’re able to take care of yourself without having to depend on cleaning services and takeaways (mainly because it saves you a lot of money you can spend on cool things instead!)
I’m very happy that my parents taught me how to clean, iron, wash clothes and dishes and cook.
Chans on January 20 2007 #
I really do not want to be the wife and mother who can’t cook nor clean for my own family but it looks like that’s what I’m going to become. I do no housework or cooking as we have two household helpers and unless my mum gets rid of them, it may become a reality. I have to learn!
Kat on January 21 2007 #