Daddy Does Dishes In a Zen Like Way

Donovan Grant
October 23, 2012

Donovan Grant

Lives in: London
From: London
Occupation: IT Business Analyst, Performance & Youth Coach
Web: http://www.donovangrant.com
Twitter: @donovangrant
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Is it possible for a dad to feel sad because he can’t wash the dishes?

If you can’t go to the gym? Maybe you’d be sad.

If you can’t drive your car? Most definitely.

But washing the dishes! You’ve got to be kidding me.

After breaking my arm and having it in plaster for 7-weeks, I can’t do one of my favourite past times. Now before someone picks up the phone to call in the men with the white coats, just hear me out for a minute…

In our house we wash the dishes by hand now. Our super dishwasher broke down a while back and we decided rather than get a new one, we’ll wash the dishes by hand. What a nice idea and a fine opportunity for my two teenagers to help out with chores around the house. The plan was okay until my eldest left home to go to university.

So, guess what?

Up steps dad to fill the vacant dish washing slot. My shift was every other week and I was up for the challenge.

The first week was a real slog. Standing over the sink full of plates thinking of all the other things in the world I could be doing apart from washing up. But I persevered.

By the second slot I started to get into it. If I may say so, I was starting to enjoy the washing up. By week three I was making the glasses and plates squeaky clean and putting a shine on all the silverware.

What would make a dad want to do the dishes?

Well, just imagine you’ve had a tough day in the office and you come home, have a nice meal with the family. Then all you fancy is to relax and have some quality ‘Me Time.’ Some guys go into the den, the study or go do some exercise. My me time was doing the dishes! Seriously!

The kitchen became like escaping to a sanctuary.

No one seems to disturb me washing the dishes. No one wanted to help me wash the dishes. And everyone was glad that it wasn’t them doing the dishes.

But the real bonus is the peace.

Amazingly, the scented, warm bubbles in the sink brought about a relaxed mood. Call me an old softie, but after a session of washing up I feel good. How can this be?

Could the monotony of doing the dishes as well as the completion of the job hold some hidden zen powers? Maybe we’ll have to get a CSI researcher on the case to dig a bit deeper. But in my books doing the dishes is a sure fire winner.

There’s still another 3-weeks to go with the plaster, so not long to wait now and those dishes will be mine!

Sounds incredible?

Let’s be honest guys, every once in a while you come across a new idea that could change your life. I wonder if washing dishes by hand could become a new life of dad phenomena . . . who knows?

What weird and wonderful ways do you have to relax? Are you a dishing washing convert too? Share a comment below, we’d love to hear from you.

Keeping it real

Donovan

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