The things we do for Love! Woman walks 11 miles per day doing housework, as reported in 1922 in the New York Times. I suspect things haven't changed that much, even with all our modern conveniences. More like we do 10 miles per day chasing rugrats, and preparing gourmet meals, and keeping the house and clothes clean (I call them the "hampster wheel" chores) and 100 miles per day in the car running the kids to activities. OK, if you live in a city, this might be less! What a shame we can't store the kinetic energy from driving the car around.
Researchers from Simon Fraser University in Canada and the US University of Michigan have developed a knee brace which can generate electricity. Arthur Kuo, who is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at U-M and an author of the paper, said that it was a "cocktail napkin" idea.... Remember the days when you solved the world's problems on the back of a cocktail napkin..........
"A new energy-capturing knee brace can generate enough electricity from walking to operate a portable GPS locator, a cell phone, a motorized prosthetic joint or an implanted neurotransmitter, research involving the University of Michigan shows." Information for this article was retrieved from: University of Michigan (2008, February 8). Knee Brace Generates Electricity From Walking. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 10, 2008. (Photo credit Greg Ehlers/Simon Fraser University)
So, given the amount of walking mothers normally do around the house, my question is what would we want to power up?
Here is my best idea: a loudspeaker with special buttons for those phrases we repeat continuously to our kids. For more information on what these are go see THE MOM SONG. But I'm sure the average Mom (Mum) doesn't need help remembering what these are.......
Make your bed, clean your teeth, pick up your clothes, eat your greens....................
Apparently if you run, you generate even more electricity - I think this would be best diverted to the speaker system attached to the playback machine for the recorded phrases. Imagine the weight we could loose. I can see it now, I get mad at one of the kids - and all I have to do is run on the spot and press the corresponding button, by running even faster I could get the machine to shout it:
I'm only going to tell you this once... Because I asked you to..... It needs to be done NOW..... Step away from your brother/sister..... Put your plates in the dishwasher....please finish your schoolwork first....
Perhaps we could attach a flashing neon "NOW" sign to our heads?
I think I have just discovered a new step aerobics that mothers would jump at the chance to do.
On a more serious note, if you want to keep track of your exercise time you can sign yourself and the kids up to the Presidential Challenge online. This will enable you to track your exercise time each day (and they DO have a category for housework). It is surprising how competitive kids get when they see what they do compared to their parents or siblings. If you are already exercising a little bit, it is a nice way to give yourself a pat on the back about it!
One of the perks of this challenge is that you can get a cool pedometer for about half price. Check here for that. This would be the perfect way to see exactly how far we do walk doing housework each day! During the research for this post, I came across some music called "Happy Housework Songs", I wondered if it was put out by the same band that created "Chinese Work Songs".
One of my favorite ways to clean is documented by the FLY lady (stands for Finally Loving Yourself), she recommends wearing a beauty pageant type tiarra while doing housework, and focusing on the fact that you are cleaning your castle. Once you put one of those things on, you can't help but smile when cleaning mirrors....
Happy Valentines Day!
Aussie Kim
Recent Comments