COVID-19 and Small Family Homes
We never appreciated the symbiotic relationship between home and work, until now.
We are marooned at home and we are miserable. The kids are disturbing us while we work (on Boxing Day?). They are messy and noisy, spouses want us to take a bath, walk the dog, do laundry and other things we don’t do at the office, workshop, factory, construction site etc.
All this leads to resentment or the realization that we don’t like the people we are married to or live with. Space aggravates matters. The apartment is too small for five people; neighbors are banging the wall because we live in a semi-detached; the small house has no veranda or backyard; or we live in a trailer park with music blaring 24 hours.
The Pandemic and Rich People
We are not handling this lockdown very well because we feel boxed in. Rich people on the other hand have the space alternative. They have his and hers study, the music room, guest rooms, the library, the computer room, a fully furnished basement, a gazebo and a rose garden.
The only thing the wealthy hate about this pandemic is that their money is stranded, in their bank accounts. They cannot fly somewhere to fish, ski, play golf, gamble, have fun with a little bit on the side etc. because of this ‘bloody’ pandemic.
It is inconceivable that anyone would wish to go back to poverty, to that one room with a shared bathroom. It happens in One Room, written and directed by Blessing Egbe, starring Rita Dominic, one of the best actresses in Nigeria.
Husband and wife have a big house that looks like a hotel. They use cellphones in the house to find out where they are. They have separate rooms, which she enjoyed initially. Now it’s a problem, because his room has everything he needs. She is not one of them.
The pandemic is causing cracks in already fragile marriages and relationships. It calls for creative mending, especially with families in small houses and apartments. The mending will be tailor-made because every family is unique.
This is another ‘written podcast’ by Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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