Women, Strength, Home

I grew up in the warmth of kitchens where my Paatis patiently taught me how to make murukku. They weren’t just "homemakers"; they were the CEOs of the household, mentally and physically unbreakable. They taught me that peace is found in a slow life, but strength is found in the backbone.Then there’s my mother, the woman who balances the precision of Math with the chaos of life. She did it all: teaching her students while managing us and the house. The beauty of my upbringing was that nothing was "gendered." I grew up thinking this was normal, and today, I realize what a gift that normalcy was.I’m lucky to have grown up in a house where strength wasn't a "male" trait and compassion wasn't a "female" one. My mom took care of the tax payments, and she was the one I’d run to if there was a lizard in the house. Meanwhile, my dad would sometimes cook and wait excitedly for a review like he was Gordon Ramsay. I’d go to my mom to open a tight jar, but I’d ask my dad if a dress looked nice because both my mom and I have terrible color sense.And if I wanted to gossip? It was always my mom. The kitchen tabletops where she works while I pretend to be of help, the two of us imitating people and laughing endlessly. My dad would sometimes try to eavesdrop and join the conversation, but nah, my mother and I have our own dark jokes that no one can compete with. It is just… us. Our house, our equations.I often wonder....how does a person wake up every day, decide what to cook for all three meals, handle the laundry, and manage a whole house? How do they get a consensus on everyone's likes and dislikes?“ Amma Idu yenga irukku ?? for everything. This monotony is often misinterpreted as "normal," but it’s something most people miss. It’s hard, it’s repetitive, and it requires grit to do it every single day. People get awards for staying in a company for ten years; this is a lifelong commitment that deserves wayyyy more recognition.You should see our house before a celebration. It’s my Paatis imparting knowledge and traditions; my mom, chithis, and perimas sitting down to decide implementation plans and logistics; while my cousins and I plan to bake another cake that probably won’t turn out well. It’s chaotic and filled with drama over who to invite and who to skip. But the people running the show? It’s always them. They might not agree all the time, but they always reach a consensus. The "committee" always pulls off great things. I used to think all that talking was unnecessary, but I’ve realized that high-level people management is a skill.Femininity is complex, beautiful, and holds a power that is truly magical. It’s an energy that varies, a cycle that strengthens the soul, and a journey I am so proud to be on.To all the women in my life: thank you for showing me that power isn't always loud; it’s consistent. We move on, with or without a shoulder to lean on. I am privileged to have such strong women around me, but sometimes that strength requires a small, cute appreciation - a smile that acknowledges everything we carry today.Women need women. Women understand women.Happy Women’s Day!...