From Big Dreams to Bigger Responsibilities...

Bigger goals, big achievements, targets—do achieving these things bring happiness? They probably do... definitely. There was a time when I had them too. Scoring a certain number in matric (secondary school), getting this grade in FSc (higher secondary school), securing admission in that university, earning a distinction. These are the kinds of academic goals teenagers usually have. To become something, to prove something.

Mine were the same… and then time changed. I became a wife, a mother, and all of life's priorities shifted. Goals changed… or rather, this list of "to-do-things" took their place. Isn’t it funny how our goals evolve over time? Sometimes, I laugh at how I now Google life hacks instead of academic research papers. Such shifts!

This brings me to the past few days, where I found myself knee-deep in the seasonal ritual of packing and unpacking—or rather, folding and unfolding. As a Pakistani living in a place with four distinct seasons—long summers and relatively short winters—seasonal changes mean seasonal clothes and, of course, seasonal bedding. So, I have at least two sets of both.

In winter, we use razais (comforters) and blankets. As summer approaches, the first task is to remove and unstitch the covers from all the razais, wash them, and then re-cover and re-stitch the comforters before storing them away until next winter. This year, I had at least five, plus additional ones for my parents-in-law. Needless to say, it was a lot of laundry and a lot of work.

_{I've covered the razai/quilt, and now it's ready to be stitched—time to do the laganda (To sew/stitch the quilt cover" or "To secure the quilt covering)}

The next daunting task is bagging up all the bulky winter coats, clothes, boots, hats, scarves, and mittens from the house and stashing them away since they take up so much closet space. Then, I bring out all the light clothing, making room for them in my closets—putting them on hangers and all that!

In case you’re wondering—I’m a housewife, and most of the household duties fall on my shoulders. My husband is a really good guy, progressive in many ways. But his priority is his job—providing for us, making sure we have the necessities like shelter, and everything that falls under that umbrella. He may not even know what I’m up to all day. He might not notice that the comforters are all clean or that the seasonal clothes have been put away.

Okay, we’ve divided our duties (household being mine obviously), but honestly, even in most heterosexual partnerships where both partners work, women still end up doing the bulk of childcare and domestic work. This thought comes to my mind with such intensity—especially when I tell my daughters to excel academically. I wonder, what’s the point of all this struggle?

It’s not that I’m unhappy with my life. Everything I’ve read and learned has been useful to me in some way. Not working is probably my own choice, too. But still, the same question lingers—why aren’t our priorities set from the beginning?

We insist on educating our daughters in science no matter what, yet we expect them to master household skills as well. And then, like me, they end up learning life hacks from YouTube and Google. So why don’t we integrate these skills into our academic curriculum? Why not earn a degree in them instead? Learning how to run a household, basic life hacks—why don’t we promote home economics properly?

And if girls genuinely want to pursue technical degrees and become doctors or engineers, then why don’t we teach our sons some household management as well?

And yet again, I drifted from the main agenda. Do you even remember where I was?

Oh yes—the piles of clothes! Managing them is a skill one should have. After all, seasons don’t change overnight. There’s always that in-between phase with intermittent clothing and bedding. Knowing how to manage it all, what’s necessary and what’s not—that in itself is an art. What do you say???

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The past month was consumed by fasting, and now, with Eid approaching, it's all about tidying up and making preparations. I haven’t been very active on Steemit lately, but even amidst this whirlwind of activity, there’s a blessing—where there are people, there’s work to be done. Amidst all the busyness, I wish for everything to unfold beautifully for all of you!