Home Is Where the Punching Bag Lives

Let’s start with a confession, my mom is the reason I can’t lose weight. No, seriously. Her cooking is too good. She’ll make multiple types of curries, fluffy chapatis, and dessert, then casually say, don’t eat too much; it’s not healthy. Like, woman, why did you unleash a buffet on me if I’m supposed to eat like a rabbit? And of course, who ends up taking the blame for my non-existent abs? My mom.

But it doesn’t stop there. Bad Wi-Fi day? Dad’s fault—why can’t he just call the service provider and fix it? Wrong order delivered? Did my sister jinx my food. Fight with my partner? My family gets the silent treatment like they personally staged the argument. And don’t even get me started on the days when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Everyone in the house becomes a target, as if they collectively conspired to ruin my morning.

Sound familiar?

Let’s be honest here, we’ve all turned our families into emotional punching bags at some point. The bad day at work, the extra 2 kgs on the weighing scale, the ridiculously slow customer service guy—none of these things are their fault, but they still get the brunt of our frustration. Why? Because it’s easy. Because they’ll understand.

Here’s the thing, though. Families do understand, but they’re not unbreakable. Every snarky remark, every dramatic sigh, every I’m fine when clearly, you’re not - it chips away at the relationship. And let’s face it, we’d never dream of doing this to anyone else. Can you imagine snapping at your boss because your gym session sucked? Or giving your friend the silent treatment because your coffee order was wrong? Yeah, no.

But somehow, when it comes to the people who love us the most, we let it all out - uncensored, unfiltered, and, frankly, unfair.

And here’s the kicker, we didn’t always do this. Remember the pandemic? The one time the universe forced us to stop running around like headless chickens and just be at home? That’s when my family of four went from being awkward housemates to an actual, close-knit squad.

We talked. We laughed. We celebrated everything, from birthdays to hey-we-didn’t-argue-today milestones. We also danced. We became inseparable. And it feels… good.

Fast forward to now, and life’s back to its chaotic normal. Deadlines, social obligations, and the occasional existential crisis keep us busy. But we hold on to one tiny ritual, tea time. Every single day, no matter how busy we are, we sit down together for a cup of tea. Sometimes we chat; sometimes it’s just showing each other reels. But it’s our time.

And let me tell you, no amount of work success, gym progress, or Instagram-worthy brunches can replace that. Because at the end of the day, when you’re done being annoyed by bad Wi-Fi, wrong orders, or random life frustrations, who do you come home to? Who puts up with your I hate everything days without walking out on you? Your family.

So, here’s a wild idea, maybe don’t treat them like human stress balls? Smile when you walk in. Say thank you when they make your favorite meal. Laugh when they tell you that lame joke you’ve heard 500 times. And please, for the love of God, stop blaming them for your weight.

Nothing precedes family. It’s the one jackpot we never knew we won. So, cherish it, nurture it, and remind them every once in a while, that they matter. At the end of the day, they’re the ones who hold you together—even when you don’t realize it.

Home is where the heart is, sure. But it’s also where you’ve got people who love you even when you’re acting like a brat. For me, it’s sitting down with my family for tea and realizing that no matter how messy life gets, I’ve got my people.

Where’s your heart?

Thanks for reading

Love

Priyanka Ashokanand