Just a housewife...

He was the pillar of the family, he pampered her, took care of her, provided for her, never allowed her to do any work, in turn, she took care of his family, his children. She was the ideal housewife with an ideal husband. Then, one day, he was gone. Taken away forever by an accident. She was left all by herself.

Years of being taken care of had made her incapable. She didn't have any skills to go out in the world and make a living for herself. After his death, she had to depend on her brothers and in laws to provide for her and her children. Now, years later, she is still a dependent.

Another, housewife found herself alone at the age of 45. This one was stronger, instead of putting herself down, she started acquiring skills, even she was dependent on her inlaws but for a very short time, in less than 3 years, she was independent and taking care of her children.

I was recently talking to a colleague, he has a wife who is also a housewife. He was proudly talking about how he doesn't allow her to work and let's her be at home and take care of the house all the time.

My question to him was - What will she do when you are gone???

I agree and understand that as men and as Indians, we like to be the earning members and provide for our families, but we also need to understand that confining the family's women within the house is the worst thing we could do to them.

"Gulshan, do you mean that we should make them work and make them do the household chores too? Isn't that too much for the poor women?"

My dear, I'm only speaking about making them independent, giving them an exposure to the outside world. Preparing them to walk alone if the time comes....

When they can do what we do, it is our job to do some of what they do too...

I don't becomes lesser of a man if I washed the dishes or maybe cooked once in a while. I don't become a lesser man if I can help her shopping the groceries or take out the garbage...

Infact, I sharing some of her work only makes me a better man.

I had another colleague who lost her husband and was up and independent in less than 3 months.

It is not necessary for them to work for money, they can just work for satisfaction...

Infact, every single woman should have 3 capabilities - driving skills, English and communication skills and a work experience.

Every woman has to have an exposure to outside world, then if she decides to give that up and take care of children and family, it's fine...

I repeat, being just a housewife is like being a frog who has lived inside a well all his life...

All my girls... Please don't do this to yourself...

All my boys... Please don't do this to your spouse...

Please... Rise... And help others rise too...