కూతుళ్లు కన్నమ్మ కుశలేసులలో, కొడుకులు కన్నమ్మ లజ్జీసులలో

kutullu kannamma kushalesulalo, kodukulu kannamma lajjisulalo

Translation

The mother of daughters is in comfort (Kushalesu), while the mother of sons is in hardship (Lajjeesu).

Meaning

This traditional proverb highlights the domestic support system in olden days. It suggests that a mother who has daughters will have help with household chores and emotional support, leading to a comfortable life. In contrast, a mother with only sons might have to work harder to maintain the house or face difficulties in old age if the sons or daughters-in-law do not provide the same level of care. It is used to express the value of having daughters in a family.

Related Phrases

For the woman who heard, her back burned; for the mother who gave birth, her womb burned.

This proverb contrasts superficial sympathy with deep, genuine pain. While an outsider (the listener) might feel a momentary or mild annoyance (back burning), only the person directly involved or the parent (the mother) feels the true, excruciating agony (womb burning). It is used to describe situations where bystanders can never truly understand the depth of a victim's suffering.

Having only one son is like having only one eye.

This proverb highlights the vulnerability of relying on a single source of support. Just as losing one's only eye results in total blindness, depending solely on one child or a single plan is risky because if that one fails, there is no backup or alternative support system.

The mother who gave birth to children and the mother who gave alms will never perish.

This proverb emphasizes the virtues of motherhood and charity. It suggests that those who perform selfless acts—such as raising children or helping the needy—will always be blessed, protected, and will never face total ruin in life due to the good karma they have accumulated.

The lady who has daughters is given a chair, but the lady who has sons has to lean against the wall.

This traditional proverb highlights the cultural observation that daughters often provide better care, comfort, and emotional support to their parents in old age compared to sons. While sons were traditionally preferred for lineage, the saying suggests that daughters ensure their mother sits comfortably (chairs), whereas sons might leave her with no place but the outside of the house (eaves).

The back of the woman who heard burned, the stomach of the woman who gave birth burned.

This proverb contrasts the depth of empathy with biological maternal pain. It means that while a casual observer or neighbor (the one who heard) might feel a superficial or outward sympathy (back burning), only a mother (the one who gave birth) feels the true, deep, internal agony (stomach burning) when a child is in trouble. It is used to describe how a mother's suffering for her children is incomparable to anyone else's.

One eye is no eye, one son is no son.

This proverb suggests that relying on a single resource or individual is risky. Just as losing one's only eye leads to total blindness, depending on an only child (or a single point of failure) leaves one vulnerable. It is used to emphasize the importance of backups, security, or having multiple supports in life.

Vinnamma's back burned, Kannamma's belly burned. The first mourned the loss of a son-in-law, the second that of a son.— Kannamma signifies ' she who bore ; ' Vinnamma signifies ' she who heard' [ of the death.]

This proverb highlights the profound difference between superficial sympathy and true maternal grief. While an outsider (the one who hears the news) might feel a fleeting pain or 'burn' on the surface (the back), the biological mother (the one who gave birth) feels the intense, internal agony of a 'burning' womb/stomach. It is used to express that only those directly affected by a tragedy can truly understand its depth.

* Det kommer vel der ske skall.

The eyes of the woman who saw are spears, my mother's eyes are popped grains (popcorn).

This proverb describes a double standard or partiality. It refers to a situation where a person criticizes or sees faults in others (comparing their gaze to painful spears) while viewing their own people's similar actions or flaws as harmless, soft, or pleasant (like light popped grains).

Chairs and stools for the mother of daughters; wall corners for the mother of sons.

This traditional proverb highlights the observation that daughters often take better care of their aging parents with comfort and respect (represented by chairs), whereas sons may neglect them or leave them with no proper place to stay (represented by the eaves of a wall or corners of a house).

The woman who serves food is better than the woman who cooks it.

This proverb highlights that execution, presentation, or final delivery is often more recognized or appreciated than the hard work behind the scenes. In a practical sense, it means that even if someone does all the labor (cooking), the person who manages the final distribution or interaction (serving) often gets the credit or gratitude. It is used to describe situations where the person at the final stage of a process holds more influence.