A day in the life of a housewife
"The career of motherhood and homemaking is beyond value and needs no justification. Its importance is incalculable.”
― Katherine Short
Today I am dealing with a very difficult but at the same time useful and interesting subject which is the concern of every body. Recently I read an article written by a friend of mine
Ms Shilpa Garg .The article mentioned that about fifty ladies were present for a meeting.None of them present knew each other. The co-ordinator asked them to introduce themselves. Some of them introduced themselves as "only a house wife" or "just a house wife".After reading this I was flabbergasted. What is wrong in being a house wife. Why this self pity , degrading and demeaning themselves.
The job of a housewife is very challenging, Lets call her Veena. Just sample this.She gets up before anyone else gets up. She prepares tea for her husband,the master of the house.She warms milk for her children . She suddenly remembers that their favourite beverage is over, without which they will not take milk. However she takes the milk to their room ,and as expected both of them screamed and shouted at their mother and left the milk.She controlled her tears and entered the kitchen. She gets busy in making breakfast for the family and packs tiffin boxes for the kids. Now enters the maid, Laxmi. Veena tells her to put the tiffin boxes in the kids' bags. Coolly and nonchalantly the maid says, "Let me have a cup of tea first," Veena hurriedly prepares a cup of tea for the maid. She takes the tea and comfortably sits in the courtyard. Veena keeps tiffin boxes in the school bags. Screaming and shrieking noise attracts her attention. She enters the kids room There a fierce fight is going on. The boys were engaged in fisticuffs trying to settle an issue as both wanted to go to the bathroom first. The Mother was at her wits end. It was getting late. Some how she settled the issue by a draw of lots. Father and sons hurriedly took breakfast and left. Father mumbling, "if the bus has gone I will not leave you to school." After they have left Veena heaves a sigh of relief!! She enters the kids room. It resembles a battle field. Towels, under garments ,books and what not carelessly and haphazardly are strewn all over. One by one she organises every thing and prepares the bed. The situation is no better in her bedroom. Hubby is equally irresponsible! Veena comes out and is shocked to see the maid in deep slumber. "Luxmi, get up. Wash the utensils.This is no time to sleep". The maid, as if to hide her embarrassment, mutters,'Madam, I have severe headache." Veena gives her a tablet and another cup of tea. She proceeds to the kitchen to wash the utensils herself. When the work is almost done, the maid enters and as if apologetically says ,"Madam why are you doing all this?." Veena ignored her question and asked her to sweep the house. She then quickly puts the clothes in the washing machine which had been soaked in water the previous night. She just gulps her breakfast. It is already 11.30 am and there was so much more to do!! She takes vegetables from the frig and starts preparation for lunch . Kids reached home by 1.30 p.m. and wanted lunch immediately. She some how managed to cook the food before they had arrived and went for her bath. The kids narrated their experiences in school. There is no respite even after lunch. She irons the cothes washed the previous day, checks the kid's school diaries and helps them in the tasks assigned by the school. She has also to go and buy groceries, vegetables and other requirements of daily use. Evening again is spent in preparing dinner. All these are daily routine chores. On holidays, festivals and when guests arrive she has no breathng space.
This is a general review of an educated housewife. She is the master and controllor of the house. Without her the husband and the kids cannot manage the house. Even though she has a hectic day she has the satisfaction that her husband and the children are getting attention and good food.
Sometimes her husband remarks in good humour ,''What do you do the whole day except sleeping, watching TV or gossipping ?. But he knows and understands the reality. Veena envies her neighbour Mamata , who is a working lady. Soon we will have a peep into the daily schedule of Mamta.
"The career of motherhood and homemaking is beyond value and needs no justification. Its importance is incalculable.”
― Katherine Short
Today I am dealing with a very difficult but at the same time useful and interesting subject which is the concern of every body. Recently I read an article written by a friend of mine
Ms Shilpa Garg .The article mentioned that about fifty ladies were present for a meeting.None of them present knew each other. The co-ordinator asked them to introduce themselves. Some of them introduced themselves as "only a house wife" or "just a house wife".After reading this I was flabbergasted. What is wrong in being a house wife. Why this self pity , degrading and demeaning themselves.
The job of a housewife is very challenging, Lets call her Veena. Just sample this.She gets up before anyone else gets up. She prepares tea for her husband,the master of the house.She warms milk for her children . She suddenly remembers that their favourite beverage is over, without which they will not take milk. However she takes the milk to their room ,and as expected both of them screamed and shouted at their mother and left the milk.She controlled her tears and entered the kitchen. She gets busy in making breakfast for the family and packs tiffin boxes for the kids. Now enters the maid, Laxmi. Veena tells her to put the tiffin boxes in the kids' bags. Coolly and nonchalantly the maid says, "Let me have a cup of tea first," Veena hurriedly prepares a cup of tea for the maid. She takes the tea and comfortably sits in the courtyard. Veena keeps tiffin boxes in the school bags. Screaming and shrieking noise attracts her attention. She enters the kids room There a fierce fight is going on. The boys were engaged in fisticuffs trying to settle an issue as both wanted to go to the bathroom first. The Mother was at her wits end. It was getting late. Some how she settled the issue by a draw of lots. Father and sons hurriedly took breakfast and left. Father mumbling, "if the bus has gone I will not leave you to school." After they have left Veena heaves a sigh of relief!! She enters the kids room. It resembles a battle field. Towels, under garments ,books and what not carelessly and haphazardly are strewn all over. One by one she organises every thing and prepares the bed. The situation is no better in her bedroom. Hubby is equally irresponsible! Veena comes out and is shocked to see the maid in deep slumber. "Luxmi, get up. Wash the utensils.This is no time to sleep". The maid, as if to hide her embarrassment, mutters,'Madam, I have severe headache." Veena gives her a tablet and another cup of tea. She proceeds to the kitchen to wash the utensils herself. When the work is almost done, the maid enters and as if apologetically says ,"Madam why are you doing all this?." Veena ignored her question and asked her to sweep the house. She then quickly puts the clothes in the washing machine which had been soaked in water the previous night. She just gulps her breakfast. It is already 11.30 am and there was so much more to do!! She takes vegetables from the frig and starts preparation for lunch . Kids reached home by 1.30 p.m. and wanted lunch immediately. She some how managed to cook the food before they had arrived and went for her bath. The kids narrated their experiences in school. There is no respite even after lunch. She irons the cothes washed the previous day, checks the kid's school diaries and helps them in the tasks assigned by the school. She has also to go and buy groceries, vegetables and other requirements of daily use. Evening again is spent in preparing dinner. All these are daily routine chores. On holidays, festivals and when guests arrive she has no breathng space.
This is a general review of an educated housewife. She is the master and controllor of the house. Without her the husband and the kids cannot manage the house. Even though she has a hectic day she has the satisfaction that her husband and the children are getting attention and good food.
Sometimes her husband remarks in good humour ,''What do you do the whole day except sleeping, watching TV or gossipping ?. But he knows and understands the reality. Veena envies her neighbour Mamata , who is a working lady. Soon we will have a peep into the daily schedule of Mamta.
"House Wife" , I guess the phrase is Indian English. Well would one call someone an outdoor wife?
ReplyDeletePerhaps "home maker" may be more appropriate for a woman who confines to maintaining her house, taking care of her family.
All said and done there is no reason for self pity,but pride and satisfaction And others must hold admiration and only admiration besides gratefulness .
Hi Anil I originally titled this as Home maker but after rethinking changed it to Housewife.( A usage commonly used) The Dictionary also approves the word. Thanks for the comments.You are correct. People must hold these ladies in high esteem.
ReplyDeleteI think the the 'CCO(Chief Cuisine Officer)' does not give herself any ratification whereas she is key of the family.What mentioned here is word to word a reality.Nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarala.I like your term Chief Cuisine Officer.
DeleteSo true, call her a housewife, homemaker or stay-at-home-mom, she has so much to do and a lot of the time, people don't see what she does. I guess one day when she doesn't do what she normally does, people will know. :)
ReplyDeleteThaks a lot Divya. You are welcome to my site.You are very correct. If one day the lady of the house is not in action the whole house will go topsy turvy.
DeleteHi Usha
ReplyDeleteI have been switching between the roles of working woman and housewife. Now I am the latter and yes , it's a 24x7 job where you cannot take leave or call it a day .
Thank you Jaishree. I am honoured by your visit. You are absolutely correct that the house maker's job is tough and time consuming job.They should not crib and indulge in self pity.
ReplyDelete