The truth about marriage!

I remember many years ago, when my mum will say in yoruba language that “ile oko, ile eko ni” literally meaning “your husband’s house is a place for learning”. I was a teenager at the time and marriage was the last thing on my mind…so I called her bluff….typical teenager stuff and wondered what on earth I would probably learn in my husband’s house. I mean she already taught me how to cook, clean and be a lady. *winks*

Some years later, I found out about love, started dating and couldn’t wait to be married. She echoed it once again and this time I really must have chuckled out loud. I mean, I was filled with love with my knight in shinning armour was showering me with affection and other fun things associated with dating…hehehehehehe. 

Fast forward to many years later and I am starting to understand what she meant by one’s husband house being another learning ground. Recently I was walking through a row of shops , looking for something nice to get for my husband.  I got what I was looking for and I was so thrilled with my purchases because I knew he would be happy with them. Then it hit me how much I have learnt to be selfless.  Here I was, a lover of shoes, walking past tempting shoe stores without a second glance and looking out for just the thing to buy for him.

Ok to the interesting part. Growing up, I never knew that for everything to work well, there was someone in charge of monitoring. I mean the cooker works when you switch it on, the taps run when you turn them on and there seems to be foodstuffs whenever you needed them.  So I have finally realised that a woman is in charge of ensuring that things are in their places in the home. Of course, our men sometimes help but truth be told, you will be the worst hit if you run out of gas while cooking a pot of rice or if your tap stops running while you are bathing your baby.

So whenever I pick up the phone to call the plumber, electrician, carpenter or any other artisan. I remember the words of my mom….have I learnt?…oh yes!!! I now know what priming of a pumping machine is all about,  I know how to change light bulbs, assemble a standing fan and switch on the generator.…. Jokes apart, I have learnt to be patient, tolerant, creative, supportive and also to listen and I cannot wait to tell my daughter that "ile oko, ile eko ni"