Assuming that I have a robot that can do all these unending chores in my home diligently, from doing my laundry, mopping the house, cleaning the bathroom and toilets, sweeping my large compound, and even watching after my kids, doing the shouting for me, lol, and even assisting them with their homework? Just imagine waking up to see that all these chores in my home are done by a robot without me doing a thing. Hmmm, that looks quite tempting, but will I consider getting one to take over all my chores?
Our world keeps evolving, and we have technological advancements there to help ease us from tedious work; it's an advantage. I doubt if anyone in this era doesn't make use of different electronics at home, such as blenders, electric irons, washing machines, etc., to make work easier and better and to save time and energy as well. Lots of chores at home are quite stressful and also tiring. Sometimes I feel like commanding some chores to be done by themselves so I can have some time to rest. It feels overwhelming to me most days, leaving me tired with headaches. Most times I see myself repeating the same chores I have done before due to my kids messing up; it's annoying, I must say. You can see why having a robot is tempting to me, but then...
What would I be doing with my time if a robot should do everything for me? Lying down and sleeping? Watching movies and just resting? For how long? That would even be boring at a point. And again , there is a special kind of bonding I do get with my kids while in the kitchen preparing our meals. Most times, they help me sort out veggies and pound cocoyam for me using a mortar, and other little things I engage them all, teaching them how to cook gradually and telling stories in between. I wouldn't want to lose that bond if I am to be sincere, even though I have confessed how tiring it can be in the kitchen.
Also, parenting is something no robot can do for me because where are the emotions to teach, guide, and correct my kids properly just like a human? Merit Ahama said when we talked about this topic in Discord that "We will just be having robot kids everywhere, no emotions, just more robots to continue the lineage of helping people train more robots." That's funny but the truth! There is a boundary to what robots can do for me and anything related to parenting; no robot does that on my behalf, no matter how exhausting it can be .
Even children get attached to their nannies more than their mom sometimes because their parents allowed a nanny to take over everything, leaving no room or time for their own child. I have seen it happen to a child. The mum has had no single time for this child right from his tender age. Four months into the baby's existence in life, the mum resumed her job. She stopped the child from breastfeeding and only focused on her job. Even at night, this woman allowed the nanny to sleep with her own child, all in the name of being stressed out and not wanting sleep interruptions at night. So whenever the child cries, the nanny wakes and feeds the baby with milk. The nanny was all in all for this child, and they both became bonded to the point that the child started rejecting the mom from touching her...so it's just possible if a robot should take over our child ...we shouldn't allow it to happen; there should be a limit and boundary to what a robot can do for me and for us.
It's okay for a robot to take over some exhausting chores like cleaning the entire house and laundry while I use the free time to carefully nurture my kids , spend quality time with them, and pay more attention to both my offline and online sources of income. That way , things become a bit balanced; it's a win-win.
If a robot is affordable , I will definitely have one strictly for certain kinds of chores at home but not anything related to parenting and preparing meals.
I hope humans don't get to fully depend on robots for everything; it will make one lazy and even lose that sense of emotional connection in a family .
This is my response to the #HiveLearners contest on the topic titled, Robot Help.
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