Is it wrong if the wife does not cook?

It seems unclear why the issue of a wife not cooking has become such a point of contention.

Perhaps, for some husbands, the expectation of coming home to a prepared meal feels like a given, but is that really fair?

Is it truly wrong for a wife not to cook at home? This writer isn’t here to blindly defend wives, but we do believe in fairness.

Today, many wives are out working just as much as their husbands, leaving early and coming home late to earn a household income.

The exhaustion they feel can be just as great, if not greater, than their husband's. So, if there are a few occasions when the wife can't cook, whether it's not having time to gut the fish or go to the market, it shouldn't be seen as a grave mistake.

It's unrealistic to think a wife would deliberately refuse to cook and starve her family.

Nowadays, many wives go out in the morning and come home late in the evening to gain household income just like the husband. The exhaustion is just the same as the husband, sometimes felt even more. Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Additionally, times have changed. With just a tap on a touchscreen, food is now available through services like GrabFood, ShopeeFood and Foodpanda. In this day and age, can we really expect food to only come from the wife’s kitchen?

The truth is, the wife isn’t a paid chef; she’s our partner for life, the person we turn to during both the good and bad times.

The journey is meant to be shared, so why not show understanding when there are occasional lapses?

This writer believes many husbands are happy to pick up food from nearby restaurants, as long as there’s communication and love between the couple.

The real issue arises when husbands become overly demanding and forget the importance of mutual respect.

If you truly love your wife, try to be understanding. Maybe one day she didn’t have time to cook, but the next, she might surprise you with the best teh tarik you’ve ever had.

The key is not to jump to conclusions or “punish” her for an occasional lapse.

Some wives prioritise spending quality time together over cooking, which can be just as meaningful as sharing a meal prepared at home.

Sitting together and deciding what to order, maybe just a simple packet of rice, can be far more rewarding than cooking with religious devotion only to eat separately, glued to gadgets and missing out on connection.

What’s the point of having a variety of dishes if there’s no communication at the dining table?