Susan Rios has a host of new paintings both on her Etsy shop and her website. If you'll click on the title of these paintings on this post, it will take you there.
There is a popular myth that the decision to be a homemaker will mean confinement and boredom. Some young women fear that if they choose to stay home and raise a family and guide the home, they will be locked up in their houses all day with no connection to other people.
In reality, most homemakers find themselves on the run more than they care to be, and long for some time where they can actually be home for days on end without having to be interrupted.
To answer those concerns, here is a list of things the home maker needs to do that takes her away from the house, with suggestions for finding more time to be home.
Essential shopping: If the family eats healthfully, the keeper of the home will naturally have to go to market to select the highest quality produce and other foods. I live further away from a town that most people, so it makes sense to store more supplies, especially in winter when one might be snowed in.
Family outings: A change of scenery is always heartening, as the home seems more interesting afterwards. Finding places to go each week can be educational and inspirational, but also enriches the time at home. My policy has always been to go out when there is an opportunity, but always have things to do at home when it is not possible to go out.
Favorite places and events: I remember the women at home in times past, who looked forward to getting their essential housework done (wash dishes, straighten up the house, make beds--the simple things) so that they could work on another interest at home or go to a favorite place. It might be a chance to attend a free outdoor classical concert, or a new art gallery or listening to a speaker on natural health. There are really plenty of things to attend, but of course, one must limit it to what they can manage, time-wise, without neglecting the home and family.
A Corner in the Garden
by Susan Rios
Errands: Anyone who thinks a homemaker does not get out, ought to view a list of possible errands to run: pay a bill, deposit a check, get groceries, return something to a store, stop for gas, return a library book, mail a package, stop at a garden center, feed store, pet or home builder's supply store. With the high price of gas, most people find it more frugal to do as many things in one trip as possible. Anyone who says a homemaker is not "active in the community" has not followed her around.
Appointments: Another obligation that involves leaving the house. No, a woman is not locked up at home. Most homemakers today have their own cars and are able to come and go from the home at will. It is important, I think, to analyze the amount of time spent away from home, and possibly reduce it if the home falls into neglect.
Church: For some people, this involves mid-week Bible study, Ladies Fellowship, and consequent social visits to those who may need attention. Even a very small church will create enough obligations to keep a homemaker going outside the home. I've written a post on this before, where I urged homemakers not to get overly committed to church activities, lest they find themselves away from home too much and fall behind on their obligations at home. But, for those people who think a homemaker is left out of life and without significance, just watch what she does for the local church. Sometimes the homemakers do most of the internal, behind the scenes work of the church, in benevolence and care of people, in making and preparing the communion, in cleanup of the church facilities, and in teaching of young children.
Guests: Some people are kept quite busy going to the airport, bus or train station to meet guests that are going to visit for awhile. All this takes time and takes a woman outside the home. So, who says there is nothing to do and no where to go if you are a homemaker? After enjoying the guests for awhile, she then has to take them back to the airport and train station, so a great deal of her time is used.
Visits: Keeping a list of people who need to be visited, for one reason or another will come in handy while out on other types of errands. Again, no one need conclude that women at home are deprived of socialization, for they create their own when they give of their time to others. There must be awareness of the purpose of the visit and the careful use of time, so that the most good can be extracted from this practice and so that is is a benefit to the one visited.
The daytime commerce is done with women from the home, as they use the quieter hours when others are confined to work in their respective offices and industries, etc. Women at home do have more freedom to choose where they will go, and when.
9 comments:
I love this post! Truly, women who are homemakers by choice, and find purpose and enjoyment in their chosen career to make a life and a home for those they love, do not feel "stuck at home". Though, these posts are truly helpful, as it seems almost all women today of my generation, have some level of internal conflict at one point or another, over their chosen career..the feminists have done such a grave disservice to women, and it has been difficult to remain without influence from their negativity towards homemaking.
Most women, at some point, feel a bit useless or trapped by their roles-particularly if they are choosing homemaking as a career with no upbringing as such.
These posts, time and experience, and a lot of prayer, certainly do help women not only remember that their calling is sacred, but to thoroughly enjoy their special role, and their vast contribution to "culture" by being home centered.
God Bless, and thank you for the wonderful post!
Lydia,
What a beautiful article!! There is such pleasure in keeping the home, in making it, however simple or elaborate it may be, a place of welcome, warmth and sharing for family and friends, rather than merely a 'drop in centre' for a group of loosely connected individuals. There is something very pleasing about the rhythms of work and recreation, be they weekly, seasonally or yearly. Homemaking is not equivalent to the lot of a galley slave; we can decide when to undertake a task, when to have our breaks, when to sit down with an activity, wen to engage in the public sphere... we are our own employers, our own 'boses' after all, from what I understand of the original biblical language, the term that has been translated into English 'Keeper' of the home refers to a guard, soldier or even 'autocrat'...we are indeed the queens of our domain; this is ours...we hold sway, deciding upon its running, the implementation of its ecconomy, its decoration and all corresponding activities. In Sydney during this time of year, and most of South Eastern Australia, the Autumn warmth, free of humidity, drenched in golden sunlight with cool crisp nights is refreshing and calming after the scorching heat and often dreadful coastal humidity of Summer. for those of us who follow the Liturgical calendar, it is an intense time of reflection and contemplation of the gift of salvation Christ has given to us, including everything He endured to reconcile us to the Father in Bible readings, activities and solemn celebrations. We have the time to bake, to open our homes in hospitality to family and friends, we can enjoy the flourishing of the season in all its beauty and be a balm to those around us. May you be richly and wonderfully blessed.
This is a beautiful and thoughtful description of the daily existence of a keeper at home; some which I had not thought about before. The changes of seasons offers variety to those ladies at home. I've often thought of the fall or the winter as taking a trip to my winter house, and in the summer, I "move" to my summer house by changing the drapes and the bedding to something more compatible with the weather. No day is the same, and there are no boring routines, because the homemaker can make all the doings of the home interesting. I like to listen to a favorite period type drama online while I clean the kitchen. It gives me some compamy and helps me pace myself.
Rightthinker, That's a good point. If you do not have it bred into you by a mother who guarded the home, you might feel overwhelmed and isolated. But the reason for doing it outweighs anything else.
I do feel blessed being raised among so many contented homemakers. The women I lived among had plenty of opportunity to be out and among others. They watched how much they obligated themselves to church work but they did set aside some time for such activities each season. I remember the many women who took apron themselves to keep the vestments all altered and clean and ironed on a weekly basis too. There was cleaning and flower arranging and classes and many many opportunities for service. The women of our congregation also made Easter eggs each year using a family recipe which after many years of this seasonal work helped to pay a huge sum off the mortgage of our church. The church though always asked that the homemakers thought first before over obligating their time to any activity. The women I was blessed to be around set such a wonderful example of life as a homemaker. They truly embraced and enjoyed their role. Sarah
This is such a wonderful post ! I enjoy and appreciate the time and effort that you take in presenting these articles. It's as if I have my own TItius 2 mentor who is only a click away !!
Being a homemaker for fourteen years, I can say that most of the dis-stain and negative comments sent my way are from envy and anger .The standard for being a wife , mother, homeschooling mom and Homemaker is set to high [for women who work outside the home] when it is your "profession". I relish my position of being a stay at home woman. It truly is the best place to be.
Besides my "employer" loves me !!!
This is such a wonderful post ! I enjoy and appreciate the time and effort that you take in presenting these articles. It's as if I have my own TItius 2 mentor who is only a click away !!
Being a homemaker for fourteen years, I can say that most of the disdain and negative comments sent my way are from envy and anger .The standard for being a wife , mother, homeschooling mom and Homemaker is set to high [for women who work outside the home] when it is your "profession". I relish my position of being a stay at home woman. It truly is the best place to be.
Besides my "employer" loves me !!!
Good point!!!!
I was thinking something similar the other day - I am loved by my employer! I'm loved and appreciated for what I do. I am surrounded by love...not so at many/most places of work. What I do counts...the product is beautiful, intimate, and without equal.
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