Quite honestly, I would have always described myself as a stay-at-home-mom. After reading this post however, I will have to change my answer to homemaker, or as I prefer, domestic engineer. I encourage you all to read the post & let me know what you think. It just reminds me that there is so much more to my job description than childcare, and really, that is only just a fraction of what my duties entail. I agreed with so many points that were made about women being reduced to just child-care workers & being expected to work once the children enter school or leave the nest. I think a lot of elements of making of a home have been lost over the years {although I'm trying to revive the sewing aspect, y'all!} and I think many of these areas can be reclaimed by those of us who consider our homes as a sanctuary and a soft place to land for our husbands, ourselves, our children and others {how's that art of hospitality?}. What are we, as the new generation of homemakers, doing to rebuild the image of "home", especially as a Christian one where that applies? We can start by referring to ourselves as homemakers or domestic engineers, as opposed to stay-at-home-moms. After all, isn't the working mom {if her priorities are in order} just as much as a homemaker as a "stay-at-home-mom"? We are all called to be homemakers and I was reminded today that it is a title I should wear proudly and should actively look for ways to reclaim areas of this art that have been lost & to encourage the next generation {or even my friends
} to do the same. I will leave you with this quote from the post I read: Homemaking should become a respectable occupation for a married woman once again, whether she lives in the city or in the country, whether she has 1 child or 20 or no children at all.Amen!
P.S. I only got 5 hours of broken-up sleep last night so please bear with me if I am not thinking clearly!
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7 comments:
Many times I have been asked what I do all day, and it hasn't been by my husband. I think it is so true that the title doesn't get much respect and many wonder if we just sit on the couch watching Oprah all day. However, I would just like to say that I don't think it really matters all that much what title we are given or choose to call ourselves(just don't call me lazy!). I think that most women are looking for their title to sound more important when the fact is, we are doing the most important job in the world. So, call me what you want. I am a stay at home mom and a homemaker and I am thankful that I get to do both.
I am just going to claim the title of "mom of 5". That should give EVERYONE a jist of what my life is like. It doesn't get easier the more kids you have and it certainly doesn't get cleaner :) Having a big family was something that I always wanted and although I move all day long(mostly), I wouldn't trade my big family for anything. And to say that I am the mother of five girls should get me a CEO postition when they are grown. I can certainly multi-task!
I don't get caught up in titles either. I guess I am getting to the point that I just don't care what others think of my day. I know how much work I do. And that is enough for me.
When people ask me what I do I simply say, "I'm a wife and a mommy, and I work part time at a bank." The most important title (or titles) I could ever have is to be called someone's wife and someone's mom! What I do outside of my home doesn't matter to me, it's what is done inside that matters the most! I agree with Beth... call me what you want (just not lazy)!
I guess the reason I think that the title is important is not to make us feel more important, but because that title often affects what we consider our main job to be. Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in the mothering aspects of staying at home and not put as much emphasis on the homemaking part. I believe that is what the post that I was linking to was about. :>)
I read most of the post you linked to and I thought it was a little silly...now, I am going on 6 hours of broken up sleep too so I might have skipped over some and read some wrong. I guess I always thought that we are mothers at the moment and have the whole rest of our lives to be the best homemaker we can be...why is it such a shame to get caught up in the mom side right now? I think it's what our main job should be if we have kids at home.
Beth~ We probably both need more sleep ;>)
I'm almost sure that you are more of a homemaker than you think. I know you have become interested in planning your meals & cooking ahead for your family. It seems you keep an organized home. You have decorated your bedroom so it will be an enjoyable place for your you and your lover. You have had people over to enjoy their company & minister to their needs. All these things, to me, are part of "making a home". I;m not saying it's a shame to get caught up in the "mom side" of things, but our husbands & children enjoy and benefit from all the things that we do that I mentioned above {entertaining guests, well-prepared meals, an organized lovely home}.
Maybe I am not explaining myself clearly enough or maybe we just disagree ;>)
i always feel that when you define homemakers as something different than working moms, it implies that women who work are not really looking after their family or household, and are somehow neglecting them for their jobs. I think that is pretty inaccurate. I think whether they stay at home or work, both kinds of moms have to put in a lot of effort, love and time and sacrifice a lot of sleep to raise their family. I am the daughter of a career woman and a working mom myself and I am very proud of the upbringing she gave me and what i do for my child. I have seen spoilt children of stay at home moms and well adjusted, well behaved, bright children of working moms - and vice versa. I do not think it is the economic status of the mom that counts, but the quality of love and effort she puts in and the time she devotes to her child(ren).
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