Home is where the heart is but at the moment, I feel home is where the hearth is. The cook has gone for his annual holiday and I'm wondering when do I go for mine. But for now, its running helter skelter in the sweltering smelter-the kitchen, where women spend a good part of their daily lives.
Its breakfast time and the father-in-law needs to be served at the precise hour. A nephew comes hurrying wanting his tiffin to be packed immediately; another comes groggy eyed asking what’s made this morning; and yet another plonks himself on the chair, drumming his fingers and feigning patience. The daughter is glued to the television and refuses to budge inspite of umpteen reminders to brush her teeth. On top of that, the three year old menace spills milk all over the floor. The husband looks on , amused and compassionate, both at once. Sigh! hands heavenwards ; I'm a woman, after all, I say.

The trials and tribulations of a homemaker are worth writing home about. It would definitely stump and perplex a newly wed, not used to such a rampage.
Here are some tips to further their competence-
Plan ahead , preparing the basics the day before and leaving the finishing touches for the next morn(i.e. if you still don’t have an unfinished list of that days work)
Break-up chores into smaller tasks and time them.
Put things to boil first so that while the stove does its work, you can do yours. The point to remember is to not let the the burner free.
Make purees and pastes ready for quick use.
Finally, be thick skinned and switch off from the chaos around you just like the oblivious driver who is deaf to the honking around him, lest he give way to panic.