Don't you just love it when other people criticize you for not accomplishing everything they think you should be doing every day? And then they try to pile on even more projects, so you won't have idle hands for the devil to put to use.

Of course, none of us should be sitting on our keesters day in and day out either, without trying to increase our skills or our knowledge in some positive way, even if we're too fatigued to be of use to other people for a time. A day wasted can never be reclaimed. And we accomplish more real projects if we're organized. But not getting enough done?

Some recent studies even seem to show that multi-tasking isn't good for us, too stressful, in fact. Really now? Women could have told the researchers that a long time ago! Unless we are of the total loner mentality, we know we're trying to do too many things at once, and for too many hours a day.

Even losing one's job doesn't free up any time for a person to relax. Outside of the stressful job hunt, once other people find out you're at home, the phone solicitations start: Since you're home right now, would you mind helping us with... A little of that extra load, enough to get you out of the house and feeling good about assisting others, can go a long way.

Man works from the rising to the setting of the sun,

But a woman's work is never done.

There's a reason for all those old bromides! They're true. But since spouses and significant others rarely do the same kind of chores as women do, multi-tasking is the only way for women to survive and keep up with everything we need to get done. This includes reaching out to help other people, when we hear of their sorrows. Nurturing is instinctive with the majority of females in any species.

Truly, most of us are run ragged 7 days a week. There's nothing very restful about the Sabbath even, with religious responsibilities to take care of, including members to visit, then family to telephone, letters to write, perhaps upcoming scriptural lessons to prepare. This is on top of preparing food three times during the day and/or stopping long enough to eat it.

So before you tell me (or anyone else) again that without challenge, there is no growth, would you mind walking a block in my shoes first? I ask because I know you wouldn't survive the proverbial mile in them. Even though you yourself must have time on your hands, a little compassion could work wonders for both of us. And please do keep in mind that I may be almost as much an expert at dealing with challenges as anyone else. I just come at them from a different set of life experiences.

Thank you on behalf of all our harried sisters.

© 2003 Shirley Ann Parker. Reprinted from The Corner Desk, January 2003

Shirley Ann Parker is a full-time technical writer, as well as an author. Her acclaimed short story collection about the joys and frustrations of family and friendships, Discoveries: A Journey Through Life, is available through Infinity Publishing at http://www.bbotw.com and at http://www.amazon.com Each delightful story contains a strong sense of wonder about the world and a good dash of humor where it fits. Learn more about Shirley's writing and other interests at http://www.shirleyannparker.com

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