This one word covers a plethora of definitions, nuances and mental images that spring to mind. When I envision homemaking, I envision a tidy, decluttered and calm home. I see a space that is welcoming and exudes a personality which is an accumulation of all of the people/animals who live there: big or small. As we edge increasingly nearer to two momentous occasions: a) having our second child and b) moving into our newly renovated cottage, I feel a profound sense, or calling, to nest. Quite fitting really, I feel the need to nest which ironically coincides with the name of my blog.
Anyway, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts and inspiration on homemaking, hopefully to inspire you to also recognise or even re-establish your bond with your home. So, what is homemaking? Personally, I believe it to be important to have structure within the home, clear boundaries of what tasks each person has. You could interpret this in a broad sense of the term, thinking of children having daily chores like setting the table, cooking done by the mother and the father has the more laborious tasks of DIYing and general maintenance. Equally, I understand that these different roles I have mentioned may insight a stereotype and could discourage you from reading on but please, I ask that you do continue reading. To turn away now may prevent you from critically assessing your own context. Also, I think it is important to highlight here that this version of homemaking coincides with my own personal context. I am a mother and wife, I am not currently working and my husband is. I think it is important to state that as then you may understand my reasoning further on.
To have clear roles within the home creates clarity amongst everyone, a sense of calm and equilibrium. For me, I deem it important to do the cooking and cleaning within the home, ensuring that it is a beautiful space for my family to reside. I know that my husband works long hours as a joiner, a physically-demanding job and therefore it would be unjust of me to expect him to come home from a strenuous day at work, to then have to start hoovering, scrubbing the toilets and cooking our dinner from scratch. I want my home to be a place where my husband can reside, relax and recuperate after a busy day out in the hustle and bustle of the world. Yes he does offer to make the dinner, to hoover up, to change the beds, but I don’t want that to be an expectation that I routinely have of him. I want him to feel as though he can take time to rest, eat homemade nutritious food and spend quality time with me and Olivia (and eventually our new daughter).
Equally, homemaking with children in the mix is something definitely worth talking about. Our home is a space where I want Olivia to feel safe, secure and inspired. When I envision us moving into our cottage, I imagine her playing in the living room with her toys, building complex wooden train lines and reading books in front of the fire. I also hear the laughter, the soft pitter-patter of her feet on the floor, the cuddles on the sofa. I also see her as an older girl, communicating to both myself and my husband about her thoughts, worries and problems, I want our home to be a place of transparency, love and understanding. However, I also deem it very important that she understands her role within keeping the home beautiful and therefore I will expect her (as she already does) to clean up after herself, make her bed and help set the table for meals as well as side the plates after dinner. These chores create a sense of ownership and responsibility that I think it critically important to foster.
For me, I see my role as keeping the house in order, cleaning and managing the home, making sure that it is organised and decluttered. I have found a great sense of solace in the words of Bindi Marc who is a YouTuber, mother, Christian and entrepreneur who has done a series of videos on homemaking. She reflects on her own beliefs and also uploads comprehensive chapter reviews and analyses from books that she has read. One that she has spent a great deal of time exploring is the book Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin. I have also included a series of biblical verses that I wish to explore:
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might” Ecclesiastes 9:10
&
“Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters” Colossians 3:23
I believe that these excerpts from the Bible highlights the importance of living intentionally and ensuring that everything you do is done with the correct intention. When I apply this to my own understanding of homemaking, I can see that if I am, for example, going to clean the floors, then I need to clean the floors to the best of my ability. I need to ensure that all that I do, whether it seems like a mundane task, that it is done well and that I continually strive to ensure I am trying my hardest in all of my pursuits.
“She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27
Here the woman’s role within the household is upheld and encouraged. His Word reveals that a woman is to be hardworking within the home, making sure that it is clean and well-organised. This concept of the home being well-organised correlates with God’s Creation, which is itself impeccably organised and considered. The symbiosis of life itself, the ecosystems that live in harmony with one another is a form of inspiration that I take for my home. I want my home to be a habitat where my family lives harmoniously, respecting the home and each other through the highs and the lows. I also want to instil this sense of respect for the home in my children, demonstrating to them through my own hard work that it is important to keep a home clean.
Over the course of the coming weeks I am very much looking forward to sharing the developments of our lives as we move into our home and start our new family chapter. I would love to read your thoughts on what homemaking means to you in the comments section below. Taking the time to leave a comment means a great deal to me.
With love,
Katherine x
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