Recently, I saw a reel on Instagram that talked about how women sacrifice their whole life for their family. I have to also say a few things here, right? 😉
I have always thought about this for a long time. I have seen many, many women in my own family sacrifice their entire life for their husband and children. If you are from my generation or earlier, you would have definitely done it because you were conditioned that way.
Did you know many women from Tamil Nadu from my generation will be allowed to study but not allowed to work and earn money? I don’t know the exact reason why, but it might be because the men are protective of their women and they don’t want them to slog in the office?
Working in an office is entirely a woman’s wish. But I think in today’s high cost environment in bigger cities, two incomes will definitely make a family’s economic life better.
If the woman does decide to stay at home, it might mean that she gets wrapped in all the household duties and household people. Of course, the household members are her own family members. The focus shifts from being together with the family to cooking for my son, daughter, husband, in-laws and caring for them always.
There is no cooking for “me” in the house or cooking what “I” like. There is no more getting up for me, rather it becomes getting up for my family members to get their “breakfast” ready or “lunch ready”. If the woman does it on her accord, it is great. If she has been conditioned to do it and feels frustrated about doing it after a certain point of time, the woman has reached a breaking point. It will be good for the man and the rest of the family members to step in and share all the chores that are involved. After all, nobody wants to be a “doormat” all their life.
If a woman can be taught to practice self care(hobbies, health, food, entertainment) and focus on themselves along with the other family members, it will be the best thing for any family. It can be simple things like going for a class, having their favorite food made for them, buying clothes for themselves, and not getting into the routine of the same things and thinking what they want to do with their life as a whole. It is always important for the woman to have some good personal goals in life apart from family.
So, what do I do?
Luckily, I am a writer and I have a little profession for myself by having an eagle eye perched on my family! (though, it pays nothing) I make sure to distribute all work to everybody in my family (my kids know better! :))
Like I always tell my daughter…after all, who else to take care of you, but yourself?