Homemaking Taken Seriously

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade.  Oh, I realize that God doesn't make mistakes.  And I love modern technology, such as ebooks and smart phones.  I do have a great love of the past though.

I'm not sure that times were necessarily simpler, as "The Good 'Ole Days" cliche seems to indicate.  I think we complicate our lives ourselves much of the time.  But I do think that there were values in the past that we've allowed to go by the wayside. 

For instance, working hard is no longer respected.  It used to be that a full days' work was respected, even if the man didn't earn a lot.  Character meant something, as did a man's word.  Now it is as if working hard means little, as so many would rather avoid hard work.  If you don't make big bucks, you aren't respected very well. That's just a fact.

It used to be that being a homemaker was respected as a noble choice.  Yes, careers for women weren't as open as they are now, but the belief system at the time was different.  Family was held in very high esteem.  It was seen as something that took work and needed time and attention.  Now, we don't even use the word "homemaker".  We are stay-at-home moms, domestic engineers, homeschool moms (for some of us), or sometimes...housewives.  Most of those terms are looked at in a derogatory manner in this day and age. 

Making a home a priority and sanctuary for our husbands, children, and even ourselves;&nbsp is no longer important to many.  The very fact that I stay home and teach my children myself makes feminists everywhere shudder.  It is assumed that I am wasting my intelligence, that I am doing nothing while home, and that I set women's rights back about 60 years.

I have been a stay-at-home mom for thirteen years.  I prefer the term "homemaker".  I see my home as a mission field, where I serve the Lord by serving my family and teaching my children about Christ.  We live simply and sacrifice greatly because it is important to us.  I've already had a career out in the business world.  I did that while my oldest girls were young.  I felt a sense of satisfaction from my work, but it never made up for what I missed in their lives as they sat at babysitters' homes for hours every day.

Posting about the joys of being a homemaker always draws sarcastic comments from others.  Single moms feel attacked because they have no choice but to work.  Working women feel you are attacking their choice to work.  But actually, I've been all of those women at one time or another in my life.  I am not judging other's choices.  Many have no choice.  Some wish they could be home, but simply can't.  Others have found creative ways to create warm, loving homes while still working. Staying home has not made life easier in some ways as the finances needed in today's world are based on two-income households.

All I know for sure is that making a home a wonderful place for my family can be  challenging.  It takes more creativity than I ever used in marketing while running a business. It takes the skills of a business manager to keep the house, schooling, and finances in order.  It takes more manual labor than setting up holiday displays in a retail store in the mall, and it takes more patience than customer service. 

I read recently that most married working moms often spend more to work than they make.  After gas, car maintenance, wardrobe, child care expenses, lunches, etc, the expenses exceed income.  That was initially one of the reasons I stayed home!  Nearly all of my check went to babysitters and gas expense...and the gas prices were much more affordable thirteen years ago!

Sometimes I forget, in the busyness of life, to really remember that being a homemaker is important.  It's not a choice that is popular.  It's easy to fall into a lack of contentment trap when money issues crop up or it seems as if everyone else has exciting lives and you are "just home with the kids". 

I must confess that recently that I was feeling discontent. Bills have been overwhelming, and prices just keep escalating.  I was beginning to feel quite frustrated because it is so difficult in this economy to cover essentials.  It's not as easy to just "cancel the satellite" or the "cell phones" because, in the middle of contracts, the break fees are outrageous and would only compound the problems. 

But, as I was praying one day, I felt at peace.  God placed me here for His purposes.  Before the day was over, I felt such peace over it all.  My creative juices got flowing a bit too! 

I've recently discovered a love of aprons after ruining a few shirts while cooking.  Sound silly?  Maybe, but there is something about putting in an apron that just makes me feel feminine.  If a business suit can boost a woman's confidence in the corporate world, an apron can have the same power in the realm of homemaker.  Or not...maybe I it's just my imagination taking flight from those creative juices.

The internet is loaded with creative ways to make your house a home, to save money, to add special touches to your environment, and whatever else you may need.  Pinterest is a new beloved favorite.  Making a home is challenging at times, but the fact that it is fulfilling as well send to be a secret lost over the last few decades.