I am an empowered woman - On Women's Day

The dictionary meaning of empowered is ‘having authority, power, strength and confidence.’ I have them all and much more for I am an empowered woman.

My day does not start with the bed tea or breakfast or gym. Nor does it start with a smiling face telling me to get up or I’ll be late.

It starts with me looking at the watch, getting up with a jerk and heading straight to the kitchen. I don’t look for the morning newspaper; I look for things to cook. I don’t take hours to decide what I am going to wear for the day I spend hours cooking breakfast for everyone. I am an empowered woman.

There are a hundred things that bug me throughout the day. No it is not a list of comments on social networking websites nor is it whether I am going to get a promotion or not. It is whether I had been too harsh with my teenage daughter or is my son getting into the wrong company. Simple things like my children staying in their room for hours on end make me wonder whether they are doing drugs. I am scared for them. I am an empowered woman.

I protect my family, I provide for them. I support whenever required without thanks or sorry. I fade into the background when everything becomes all right. It does not matter whether I earn a six figure salary or not. What matters is whether I am ready to spend that money on every one except myself. I pay the bills and loans without any question. I give expensive gifts on birthdays and anniversaries. I stay in touch with both the extended families. I don’t complain when someone forgets my birthday or the husband forgets our anniversary. I am an empowered woman.

I don’t smoke or drink. Yet on my husband’s demand or social pressure, I do it as if I am habitual. I want to be a one man woman. Yet when my husband wants me to swap partners, I do it without a hitch. As if getting intimate with someone other than my husband is every day business. I am an empowered woman.

I pack my husband’s bag for every trip he takes. For business or pleasure, I never ask. Yet when I get the same opportunity, I call him to ask if it is ok with him. I don’t get to decide whether I can go or not. I am an empowered woman.

Time and again, I have to prove I am loyal to my husband, caring towards my family and earning my own money has not made me rude and arrogant.  I have to make small or big sacrifices to prove I am not one of those ultra modern, career oriented, so called selfish women. My husband can’t afford to lose me yet he behaves as if he’ll get women like me a penny a dozen. I bear all this silently. For I am an empowered woman.