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My sweet friend Lana sent me an email awhile ago ago that got me thinking about how fortunate we are as women to be homemakers. Whether you work outside the home or not, whether you have little ones running around or they're all grown up, and even if you're a single woman without children, I truly believe God created each woman's heart to yearn towards homemaking. (I'm assuming not too many men hang around Passionate Penny Pincher; if you do, bless your heart and please bear with me!)
So I thought I'd share a weekly brief series on homemaking, because that's what ultimately is most important, whether we're pinching a few pennies or cooking up a yummy meal. Hopefully you'll put up with me through this one, and feel just a little as inspired as Lana made me feel.
Here's what Lana (who has recently gone back to work after sixteen years as a full-time homemaker to her three sweet girls) had to say that got me thinking . . .
I am a homemaker at heart. I never liked the term stay at home mom because I think it sounds too indulgent – a stay at home mom could literally be sitting on the couch watching Oprah and eating bon-bons and sending the kids away to watch a movie…but a homemaker, how can they be anything but striving to be a Proverbs 31 Woman?
Isn’t that a beautiful word, homemaker? You can make a home for anyone, the babies, the pre-teens, the teenagers, the husband, the dogs, and cats. It's an art to make a home and even though it is an old-fashioned word it makes me tear up thinking about the job description. It’s all I ever wanted to be…..
- It's cream cheese bagels and coffee in the morning before rushing out the door
- It's Easter bunny cupcakes for the school party
- It's a strategically packed pool bag so every possible calamity that can happen out of doors can be remedied (with a sucker in the pocket for the 2 year old because that can fix anything that the bag of tools can’t . . .I hated it when that trick stopped working. . . .)
- It's Saturday night efforts so that everyone looks really cute (and sometimes coordinated) for Sunday morning worship
- It's one-cent school supplies and pulling them out to pack in a back pack and watching your children react when it looks like $100 worth of goodies
- It's fresh fruit smoothies, and boxed mixed muffins, and all those things that LOOK like they took a long time to prepare and how your children look up at you like you are Betty Crocker. . .
- It's organized doll clothes, and DVDs and board games and hair bows, and littlest Pet Shop Toys (and I am sure all those little boy toys too!)
- It's the reason little girls play “baby” and “kitchen” because they inherently want to do it well someday. (Maybe little girls that are a product of this generation will play “couponing” . . .)
Lana has it just right doesn't she? Homemaking is so much more than simply creating a meal or pinching a few pennies, it's turning your house into a home. And as a couponer, it's why I like to be reminded to take on those five minute challenges or bake up a yummy treat: I simply don't want to spend every moment of my life only penny pinching, instead I want to also take time to be the wife and mother God desires me to be. (And it's often hard to recognize the value of those things when I'm too busy looking for another deal!)
So how does homemaking look to you? Do you love it or fight it? (I think I do a little of both . . . ) Stop back next week for more of the story, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the value of homemaking in your own home.
Photo courtesy of Cake Girl on Flickr. Isn't that one cute cake?
My mother was a stay at home mom during the 1950s and 60s. I never gave it a second thought at the time but now I marvel at how well she kept the house with no help from me or from my father. She did extensive spring and fall housecleaning that included moving the furniture and hanging the venetian blinds on the clothesline outside. All this as an older mother with major health issues. I wish I had appreciated it while she was still alive. If she were alive, I am sure she would tell all the mothers out there to enjoy the time with their kids because time passes so quickly.
Thank you so much for sharing – goodness, our time with our kids just goes so fast! I think finding balance between making a home for our family and enjoying it with them is TOUGH, so I appreciate this reminder so much today.
my girls actually DO play coupon-ing! they use my expired coupons for their play kitchen and buy “products” from each other, then turn to me and say ‘it was only $.25 after my coupon!!’ LOL! 🙂
Whoa! I am totally struggling with staying home. I loved working and thought I would love being home even more, but alas….I can’t get no satisfaction! Good reminder of the good that can come from it. Helps to put a positive spin on the drudgery!
Hang in there Crystal 🙂 I love being home but (obviously) there are days that it makes me nuts. We are so blessed to be this fortunate but there are definitely days when our blessings can be a little overwhelming!
I have trouble finding the joy in staying home. I absolutely loved my job teaching Kindergarten music. My husband travels a lot (almost half the year) so it can be really difficult to not see another adult for days at a time, much less have the time to talk to one. I know it is a blessing to be able teach them and guide them each day, but learning to choose happiness in the drudgery is a daily struggle. Thanks for your inspiration to be happy and appreciate that I have something many wish they had.
Reading this and all of your comments reminds me of how VERY blessed that I have been given the gift of staying at home for almost 9 years. I have always loved being a homemaker; however, sometimes cleaning the same thing over and over everyday would almost drive me crazy (especially toilets with 3 little boys in the house!). My youngest will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall – while I feel God is preparing me for a new season where I may be going back to work outside of our home, I will cherish every day of this gift until He tells me it is time for a change! The funny thing is – I just now feel like I am starting to get the hang of it! LOL!
This post made me cry 🙁 All I have ever wanted to be was a home-maker, homeroom mother, classroom volunteer, crafter, seamstress, etc., but I have always had to work! I have literally worked for 22 out of 32 years of my life (my parents owned a business that I worked in while a kid). All I want to do is to pick my kids up from school and be there with them in the afternoons for homework and snack time, and sports practices, and home cooked meals. Hopefully, when my husband graduates soon, I will be able to do all of this! It is my dream!
Oh no Faith! You are STILL A HOMEMAKER! You do so much more than you could ever know! You are providing for your family by working as well as all you do for them to care for their physical needs – what an awesome responsibility you have. I hope that I didn’t word that in a way that was obnoxious to working mommies (I try to watch it, but I’ve been home myself for so long that sometimes I forget!)
There is so much value (and WORK!) in what you are doing, and I hope that this wasn’t offensive (I would just hate that soooooo much!) Please know that what you are doing is such a blessing for your family and I know God will lead you to exactly the place you need to be (Jeremiah 29:11)
Great post! There is absolutely no other job that I would want in this entire world. Sometimes, I wish it were a little bit easier (hee hee), but I feel so blessed and fortunate to be called to this duty.
There is nothing in this world I’d rather be! Thank you for this post 🙂
I love this website what a blessing to start my day reading this stuff! I am a homemaker and I love it too. The only bad part is how society seems to look at in now. I have had people think I am lazy or uneducated because I do not work. Well there is nothing lazy about keeping house and teaching little ones so I praise the mommas that do. When my daughter was born I could not go back to work. I decided I would do whatever it takes to keep me at home with her. I shop at Goodwill and garage sales I babysit whenever someone needs me for a little extra now and then. I stopped wearing expensive clothes and makeup and make everything last just a little longer. We drive very used cars and spend most nights in. My husband is blessed with a middle class job and we live on a tight budget. The time I have had with my daughter is worth anything material we have missed out on. The funny thing is we are much happier and owe a lot less money now then we did when I worked.
I needed to read this! I have a 5 month old and have struggled with being a homemaker (leaving the work world) and learning how important my new job is. I have always valued success by education and the career one holds. I am learning that there is so much more and it is SO Important to take care of your family. This is a great topic! I found your name on another site and am so happy that I did! Thank you for sharing!!!!!!
I love this and OMG is that a cute cake. I love being home and doing it all for my family. I’d love to stay at home but since I do not, I make the best of my time at home. I am blessed to teach and have my eldest with me at school. I don’t hang out and try to score any brownie points with my fellow teachers because the most important thing is for me to get to my family after school. I look forward to having quality time after school, the weekends, weeks off and the summer. Thank you so much for this post. 🙂
I am a homemaker to 3 sweet girls and a wonderful husband. I hate it when people ask what I do all day. I love being at home, I truly believe that it what the Lord designed me to do. Is it hard sometimes? Yes. Is it always worth it? Yes. Thank you for this post and for all that you do. God bless you!
I loved reading this, what a great way to end my night, after a long week of my oldest being home from school !
Thank YOU ! For all that you do 🙂
I loved reading this!
Thank you for this post; I loved reading it. I needed to be reminded of these things, especially what you said about taking the time to be the wife and mother God wants us to be.