Thursday, July 15, 2010

Lesson 1 from Parenthood- Precision

Hi folks,
 
I believe most of us would agree we all learn a great deal in parenthood throughout our hands-on on this task.
 
One of the lesson I learnt is PRECISION. Yep, what and why PRECISION?
 
Handling two toddlers who are extremely choosy and "bossy", I have to take their "orders" with precision as well as manage my task in precision timing!
 
Below are some scenarios where PRECISION plays an important role:
 
Scenario 1:
Toddler A and Toddler B "ordered" for night-time supper a.k.a. milk. One ordered for not-so-hot, another one ordered for hot and wants it to be 7oz.
 
A sleepy mom went making the milk while the toddlers are shouting and singing in their rooms at 12 midnite. Anxious to returned to the room as fast as possible to stop the two toddlers from making such a din in the middle of the night, she failed to make the milk according to the precise order made. The temperature for the milk for Toddler A was too warm and for Toddler B, it went slightly over 7oz.
 
Results:
Toddler B cannot finish the milk and left behind whatever extra mummy made.
Toddler A refuse to take the milk at all until the cool down. And when the milk finally cools down, Toddler A lose interest to finish the milk.
Wastage done.
 
Scenario 2:
As a working mom of young children (I guess even when our kids are older too!), we are often in multi-tasking mode. And to multi-task breezily, everything has to be done with PRECISION in timing, sequence and right tasks.
 
Examples:
Right Timing- Never chooses to do housework that requires you to be away when the toddlers needed you to keep an eye on them. For example, we should NEVER move away to wash dishes while the kids needed our attention to guide them on their homework. I choose to fold the clothes while sitting beside my kids, ever-ready to answer to her questions every now and then. At least, in this way, my household chores get done and my kids are satisfied with the fact that I am WITH them!
 
Right Sequence- Have you ever tried washing laundry while putting the water to boil to prepare to cook your pasta and cutting the vegetables for the pasta?
 
If you do, you would know the right sequence would be 1. Put the dirty clothes in washing machine >2. Put water to boil >3. Cut vegetables
 
When the sequence is correct, you get your pasta done within 15-20minutes followed with ready-washed clothes to be hanged after you happily finished eating your pasta 20 minutes later. Or maybe perhaps after another 10minutes after you have cleared and cleaned the dirty dishes away. Optimum use of time!
 

When the sequence is wrong, let's say you cut the vegetables first, and then place the dirty laundry into washing machine, then of course wash your hands again and prepare the water to be boiled. Then perhaps this sequence would delay your time at least by 10 minutes.

Talking about PRECISION of timing again here, 10 minutes delay is still 10 minutes spent whether how much impact or difference it would make. For some(especially working parents), it may means late to school/work. But do keep a balance between PRECISION and "smelling the flowers and taking a Slow Dance" as we do want to be "living at the moment" in every task we are doing!

 
Right Task – Have you tried putting a hot water to boil to prepare for soup or boiling pasta and then leave it to take a shower? If you do, how many times you might have forgotten to check on the water whether it is boiled or too late, it has dried up!! This is definitely not a right task to multi-task with when you need to be away. It can BE DANGEROUS and cause fire mishaps!
 
So mighty parents! Here's my thought about lessons learnt on PRECISION J

What else have you got to share in terms of PRECISION in parenthood?

Love to hear from you folks!

Cheers!

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