Women in the Kitchen

00:00 Hi, this is Emilia Camejo. It is October 11, 2024, and I am speaking with Marlena who is my mom.

00:07 Hi.

00:09 I decided to interview my mom for this because she is one of the biggest inspirations and the strongest woman I know. She is a mother of six and is the rock in our family.

00:19 Oh, hi. Happy to be here.

00:21 So I'm going to ask you some questions about the role of women in our home.

00:26 Okay, sounds good.

00:28 What's a typical day for you at home? How do you handle everything on your plate?

00:33 So my typical day would be managing kids animals, working at my farm, managing my businesses, and maintaining healthy habits. I have six kids in an event business at a local farm, so it can be a lot. I have farm animals at my work and my home, so I am always tending to them. We have a lot of pets too, so I'm always running around and making sure everyone has what they need to handle the load. I divide and conquer. I try to manage my stress and I also make sure to take care of myself. I eat healthy, exercise, and live a wholesome lifestyle. I want to stay mobile and healthy so I can live a long time. I'm excited to have grandchildren one day and watch my children grow up.

01:17 Okay, great. How do you perceive the balance between power and responsibility in your role within the home?

01:24 I don't see my role as a lesser role, but equal to my husband's. I have a lot of responsibilities, which gives me power, but my husband also has many different responsibilities. Ideally, power in decision making, leadership or control should come with the accountability to act in ways that benefit the household's well being and harmony. This could involve managing finances, setting rules, or caring for family members, but always with a sense of fairness, shared contribution, and mutual respect.

01:54 Yeah, that does sound fair. How do you juggle taking care of the home and following your own passions and goals?

02:00 Being organized is key and finding time for myself so I do not get overwhelmed by others. I make sure to take time for myself to do things I like to do, like going to lunch with friends, exercising and reading. I use nighttime as me time. Once all the kids are in bed and the house is put together. I have people who work for me that manage some things so I don't have to do everything myself. My older children are also helpful and help me out with a lot.

02:28 Well, that sounds great. In literature, like the taming of the shrew, we see women navigating control within relationships. How do you feel your power dynamics play out in your own home?

02:41 So in my home, me and my husband are equal partners and have a lot of respect for each other. He does his roles and I do mine, and we both acknowledge each other's hard work and importance to the family.

02:54 Yeah, that does sound really fair and balanced. Do you think the roles of the woman in the home have evolved compared to past generations, and how so?

03:04 Yes. So I do think the roles of women have evolved in many aspects. However, this may not be for the better, though. Women spend less time raising children, which means more children are being raised by others, like in school. This is an issue we're seeing with newer generations because they are being taught by the public schools, which may not share the same values as our family does. I do, however, think it is great how women are allowed to do so much more and be independent. Women in America have the freedom to do whatever they want and be whoever they want. They are not limited to housework and being, quote, owned by their husband.

03:43 Yeah, that's an interesting perspective. And Lady Macbeth. Or Macbeth. Lady Macbeth influences her husband behind the scenes. Have you ever experienced where you were influencing decisions in your household without being in the spotlight? Like, behind the scenes?

03:59 Yeah. I believe women are good at coming up with plans because we have insight that a man may not have, and the man implements the plan. In my home, I use this strategy, and we work together to come up with ideas, and he is very good at acting on them. I counsel him about how the parent our kids, how to manage the money, how to manage his businesses, and growing a stronger relationship with God. All these things have built him into a stronger man, and he, in turn, builds me into a stronger woman.

04:33 Aw, that's nice. In Titus Andronicus, we see women facing dark fates tied to their family. How has your role in the home influenced your well being, either positively or negatively?

04:46 Raising children is a gift, so I cherish it greatly. It is not always easy, and doing it correctly often means putting yourself to the side for the sake of your children. I don't see this as a burden, though, because I was blessed with this task. I manage it well and make sure I do not lose myself. So wouldn't say that it has any negative effect on my well being. This job comes with a lot of stress, but it's all worth it.

05:12 Yeah, it does sound worth it. Do you think that the behind the scenes work you do at home often gets overlooked? How do you see your influence playing out, even when it's not so obvious?

05:24 Yes, I do think the work I do is overlooked. My hand is on everything moving in the house, but I do not do it for praise or admiration. I see my influence playing out. While I watch my children grow immature, I remind them that it is through my sacrifices that they have everything that they have and they are who they are becoming.

05:46 What was your favorite thing about being the woman of the house?

05:51 My favorite thing about being the woman of the house is probably the love. It was given to me by God, and I am the only one who can do it. I get to watch them grow and see my influence in every one of my children. It feels good that I'm able to provide, nurture them and nurture them, because I did not have a lot of this growing up. I like to cook, and I went to school for it, so I know how to do a lot of things.

06:20 Yeah, you definitely do have a lot of tricks up your sleeve. What's your favorite thing to cook?

06:25 Lastly, my favorite thing to cook will probably be a roast con pollo. It is a good, easy dish that my family loves.

06:32 Yeah, the family definitely does love it. It's definitely a favorite. I think that's all the questions I have for you today. Thank you so much for being here, being my mom. This is great, and I hope everyone else learns from this.