There are some common assumptions about the home that many people are disproving: that it is boring, confining, and unvarying, to quote Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." (Remember her mother refuting Mr. Darcey's claim that the country was confining!) Life at home is not limited to cooking and cleaning! There are some weeks when I don't do any of these things, as we are out and about. Home making is more than just the location of your dwelling, because you carry with you, your representation of values and beliefs about the home, no matter what you do or where you are. You make statements about it in more ways than you know.
There are quite a number of good housewives who are doing many wonderful things besides cooking and cleaning. Not that there is anything wrong, or demeaning or worthless about those jobs--for indeed, I know just as many who love to clean and decorate and strive to accomplish as much as they can in that realm.
There are many women who use their talents from their home, and prosper from them. I know someone who has a housekeeping business, which she does on her own time, by appointment. Although she gets paid, she also leaves her special mark on every home that she visits, and they always are influenced by her presence.
Another person I know used to spend a little time each day painting a picture. Now that her children are older, she has had her own art show in a local cafe. Still another woman has produced a wonderful homemaking curriculum for new homemakers. I've also seen the magnificent drawings of one homemaker, who learned how to design homes. Her drawings are featured every year in a large city paper, for the annual new homes exhibition.
I know others who are costume designers, some who hold regular seminars for women about various subjects that enhance the home, and others who help people learn to do scrapbooks and photograph albums to record their family's ongoing history.
There are some marvellous inventions that homemakers have come up with, as they observed better ways of doing things throughout their daily lives. Our daughter had a card and stationery business when she was in her teens, from rubber stamps and other types of materials.
One young woman I know looks after her grandmother. She writes letters for her as her grandmother dictates them. The girl is compensated from her grandmother's pension and estate, so that she has all her needs taken care of. Another woman makes quilts for people, and enjoys her craft while being able to take special orders.
And so, life as a house wife and home maker is more than just the mechanical idea of cleaning. It is an opportunity to use talents and develop enterprises. The advantage of developing and using these talents at home, is that she can keep an eye on the urgent needs of the household at the same time. These talents and skills need not necessarily be for the purpose of making money--they can be a great addition to the comfort and beauty of the home and provide wonderful memories!
Life at home is not for the fainthearted...it is for those who really want to put their heart into it. There is an old saying that there is no use doing a half-hearted job, and that anything worth doing, is worth doing well. It is this secret that makes the difference between "having" to stay home and "wanting" to stay home. Putting the heart into the home makes all the difference.
tea sandwich recipe found here http://www.bhg.com/recipe/recipedetail.jhtml?recipeId=R082020&searchResults=true&showSearchNav=true&recipeNumber=1&resultCategory=family&searchType=null&adCategory=&_requestid=160955
2 comments:
When people find out I have stayed home to be a wife and mother for so many years they stop and comment on how lonely and boring it sounds. If they only would try it they would find it so rewarding they would wish they had done so long ago! There are not enough hours in the day for all the things you can do!! No job outside of the home can bring such joy and warmth for the soul. Yes we have had to choose to do so and sacrificed in some ways but the rewards far outweigh anything. As you have written, there are so many ways you can use your God given talents to benefit your family and give yourself outlets for your creativity. As each season of our lives plays out those talents and wishes may change and we can flow with the seasons into new beginnings. At this point in my life I have the time to start on a new project. The first priority though will remain my family and home after honoring God. Thankyou for helping us live our lives in the right order.
This post reminded me of what my husband once said to me. He commented that to be a homemaker gives a woman incredible freedom of expression. Yes, at the moment I am very busy with my small children, but I have hobbies and opportunities for creative output. As they grow so do these opportunities. For example, now that my toddler is more biddable my garden looks good! I often think homemaking is a great occupation for an artistic/aspiring to be artistic woman. My husband doesn't necessarily have these experiences, he has a different kind of freedom and responsibility. Food for thought. Thank you Lady Lydia.
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