Woman Power

She is..Urmila Samson, married to John Samson, a dental surgeon. They have two children, Sahya, six and Rayn, two.How important do you fe...

She is..
Urmila Samson, married to John Samson, a dental surgeon. They have two children, Sahya, six and Rayn, two.

How important do you feel is your role as a homemaker?
I don8217;t think I alone can be called a homemaker. Everyone is building the home. I see the family as a team with each one performing a role. One earns the living, one keeps the home front going and the children too, have an important role to play. They are the balancing factors. The wishes of each family member counts, the decision of each one is incorporated and that is what makes our home.

Well then, how would you define your role as a housewife?
I think the term housewife8217; is quite outdated and old fashioned. With the coming of computers, a lot of work will soon be shifting to the home front. And not only women but men too, will probably not find it necessary to leave the home. Most of the work will be conducted from the house. Both the husband and wife will have more time to focus on the children, on family values.

Did you feel it demeaning when you were first called a homemaker or housewife?
No, I have opted to stay at home because I prefer it that way. I love children and housekeeping. But yes, in the beginning, sometimes I did feel that it was demeaning when I was serving my husband and children. But then I realised that I liked doing things for them and that I was only being true to myself.

How much say do you have in the household?
Well, as said before, we work as a team. We discuss everything together, it8217;s a democracy. But as to who has the most say, I would say in our family it works backwards. The youngest has the say and my husband is the one with the softest heart.

If I want something all I have to do is decide. Now just a couple of months ago, when it became too hot, I decided we needed a cooler. I immediately rang up my husband, got the money, went out and came back with one. But normally, I leave the once-in-a-while purchases to my husband because he does a very careful market survey.

What is your husband8217;s participation on the home front?
As a team member, he puts in a lot. His job is such that he can spend the mornings with the children. Saturdays and Sundays too. He is the sporty type and loves to roughhouse with the kids. I am more of homely person, I do quieter things like reading to them. Then again, my husband is good in Mathematics and Science, so he takes care of those queries.

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What values do you impart to your children?
I tell them to respect the world around them, to respect the people around them, to respect the gifts and abundance they receive everyday.

You have opted not to put your children through formal education. What are your views on children and education?
I feel that the school system of today is outdated. Schools measure only a small part of a child8217;s intelligence. It is not that children cannot cope up with school, it is the schools which can not cope up with our kids. Prior to my marriage, I worked in a school with non-formal education. I feel that each person, if left to himself, wants to learn. If children can take charge of their own education, they will learn whatever their interest lies in and make a better job out of it.

Coming back to housewives, do you feel society tends to look down on them?
It sometimes happens, that I feel that housewives should be given respect for the work they are doing. At the same time we should give the working women their respect too. They have chosen their vocation and they should not be made to feel guilty for concentrating on that. As I said before, respect figures highly on my agenda.