What Does it Mean to be a Woman?

I've been thinking about this for 6 days and I still have no idea...but it is an assignment for the next 6 years...

I'm just wondering why when I think of "woman" the words that come to mind are: cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, gardening, sewing...and just plain work. Granted most of that stuff is necessary for survival, and guys can cook and clean too.

But why do guys get to never grow up and that's ok? When I think of men, I think of: adventure, explore, conquer the world,and maybe being a little crazy - like taking 2 toddlers hiking up the burnt mountain...

As a kid, I always thought growing up and getting married sounded great. My husband will provide, protect, and fix whatever is broken. While I get to stay home and play with my kids. I guess I've realized since then that maybe there's some responsibility in that whole wife/mother role...in fact, the whole idea just sounds kind of tiring. The same routine of cooking, cleaning, and caring for kids. I do like the playing with kids part, but that's rather childish... But when Daddy gets home, he can take the kids on adventures, so Mama can make diner in peace. Who says I even want to make dinner?

Why is it that to be a woman sounds to be so serious and boring? There is grown-up fun: ladies' retreats, scrap-booking parties, make-up parties (which supposedly are fun) or baking together.The fun in all of that is pretty much talking and laughing with other women, while the actual activity is just an excuse to get together. But it is nice to do more than just sit around and talk...

For the most part, we have the most fun by acting like kids - snowball fights, or putting plywood and mattresses in the rafters in the big bathhouse, and food fights - I mean carving pumpkins.But why is it that to have fun is to act childish? Or maybe, why do I think that fun things are childish? Maybe I am the one who is serious and boring...well that's lame...