An Ode To the Modern Homemaker

Posted: June 4, 2014

One of the most underrated jobs in the world is to be a homemaker. Here is a tribute to the modern homemaker, her issues, and desires.

Morning, 8 am.

Husband (getting ready for office): Hey! Did you see my watch?

Wife: “Yeah, just a minute,” as she slides a steaming puran poli in her son’s tiffin box. And then, she goes searching for the watch which could be anywhere in the house, but at her husband’s study table where it ideally should be.

Husband: Hey! I am getting late! Never mind, I got my watch! Now, where are my spectacles?

Wife (still thinking where the watch could have been): “yeah, I’m searching…”

Son wakes up and enters the scene: ” Maaaaaa…” with his tiny hands up in the air, the groggy eyed toddler tugs at the mother gesturing her to pick him up.

Mother: “One minute my munchkin!” as she continues searching. When she sees him turning the study room upside down, frantically searching for his specs, she quips, “you’re wearing them!”

Husband (with a discomfited look): Ok! Ok! Such things happen all the time! By the way, I can’t find my wallet and car keys!

Wife (looking at her teary eyed toddler): “why don’t you brush your teeth and wash your face until I get your glass of milk ready?…Bournvita!”

After some extensive searching, she gives him the car keys and wallet, having found them in his one of his many track pants that were strewn all over the bed that was made just an hour ago. And she reminds him, as usual, “Make sure you write the complaint for the leaking tap.”

Husband (mumbling, as he takes a bite of his breakfast): “Why don’t you do it? You are the home maker! You have the time too. My hands are full. Ok! bye!”

Husband: “Why don’t you do it? You are the home maker! You have the time too. My hands are full. “

Wife (nodding her head in resignation): “Oh yeah! Bye!” as she gets her son ready for school.

The above morning conversation is something that most (if not all) homemakers face on a daily basis. All the running, screaming, and multitasking becomes a routine for the lady of the house. She is one indispensable entity on whom her world depends for everything and yet, her job is most underrated. In short, her job is a no-salary, no-vacation job, for which she demands only love, care and sensitivity as her reward.

I never really valued a home maker until I became one myself. Yes, I have been grossly arrogant. I had decided that I am never going to be one of those who would be sitting at home, tending to household chores, and the needs of family. This was about four years ago, when I was a working woman, and then, just engaged. And now, with a son and a loving husband, perceptions have changed. And are still changing.

I had decided that I am never going to be one of those who would be sitting at home, tending to household chores, and the needs of family.

We tend to agree on things we vehemently disagreed on, and strongly object to ways of life which we ourselves followed religiously at one time. That said, we’ve become more sensitive to people around us and realize our strengths and weakness in a much better way. And, a lady realizes, as a home maker, that it is not just about money earned and spent, but it is about respect towards a job and respect earned from it. Most importantly, she experiences the truth- being a home maker is no child’s play!

And now, as I start with the confessions of a home maker, women sailing in my boat will totally relate to it. I have been one, for three years, ever since I quit my job. Here is a home maker’s perspective for people who think it is not something to be proud of!

No matter what you do, there will not be a moment when you can sit and sigh, “aaah! Work over! Time for a siesta”
At any point of time, the sink is always going to be a quarter-full or half-full or three quarters full or full or overflowing. And why not? Breakfast, preparing lunch, an eleven am tea break, four pm tea break with snacks, occasional guest visits, dinners followed by supper – are just the known ones in the routine.
Then, there is housekeeping that demands that curtains be of the right shade, the hall must be inviting, dining table must be adorned with appropriate cutlery and cloth napkins, etc
There are always going to be guests, irrespective of which time of the day it is. So, she has to be prepared with a stock of snacks (ready-made or home-made)
Then, there is the laundry. Although washing machines are a saving grace for today’s homemaker (unlike the previous generation who did all of it by themselves), the drying and folding part is still an exhausting task. And it has to be done everyday!
The beds have to be made more often than not. No matter how hard she tries keeping the beds clean with pillows and comforters in the right place, it doesn’t remain the same way for long. Needless to say, with children, it is a nearly impossible task.
And then, there are groceries, fruits, and vegetables to be bought. Being the home minister of her home, she drives her sedan to any corner of the city to get the best stuff at nominal rates. And then, there are bills to be paid too.
With a dog at home, she has to walk it too. She is his master and he is her friend, the one who is the sole witness to her endlessly busy routine.
Also, from her routine, a part goes solely for the children, attending to their (extra)curricular activities.
If she were lucky enough to get some time for herself, she watches some TV or maybe spends her time doing some yoga and meditation.

There is no end to the list above. The tasks are too many to list. Despite this, a modern day homemaker carries out her tasks with aplomb. Sometimes, she is also one of those who has a flair for business and works from home. Yet, family comes first and she is the anchor to whom the family clings.

Evening, 8 PM

Husband: “Hey, want to take you out for a movie and then dinner… What say?”

Wife: (No words, just tears of joy)

That is all a homemaker needs once in a while!

Pic credit: hellojenuine (Used under a CC license)