I have just come out of a three-month stint where homemaking was my last priority. Or rather, what I defined as homemaking was.
My job as a homemaker is to manage my home. To ensure everyone and everything is taken care of.
It’s easy to forget how broad a job description that is.
I would like to believe that my job only includes cooking, cleaning and chasing babies around but that is just the foundation of it all. Those are the pillars to which everything else is based.
I have spent the last two months trying to eradicate fleas and so much of my days were consumed with the various flea-icide methods. Today we are flea free (almost) and I was enjoying a day of normalcy. For the past few weeks I have been desperate to get back into a normal routine. No more late night carpet shampoos or early morning flea sprays. No more vacuuming 12387134 times each day and mopping before a foot takes a step on linoleum. I just wanted to worry about what I would make for dinner.
Now that today is almost over I realized I was already anticipating the next “project” I had to accomplish (sorting toys into bins).
I love my job. I love organization and implementing my vision of what an organized house looks like. I love always having something to do and often it is something I’ve not experienced before. I love being those moments of quiet where the world stops turning and Boaz cuddles with me on the couch. I love being comfort to my husband after his very long days. I love that I am able to learn various crafts and experiment with new skills.
It’s important to remember that the job of homemaking is really indefinable. There will constantly be different obstacles and roadblocks, new projects and most definatly, more babies. I must strive to find contentness and be worshipful even if I am in a less-than-pleasing season when it comes to my home.
Like anything else, it is easy to believe “once x,y, and z is done, I will be content.” But, like everything else, I never am.
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August 21, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Whitney
I think homemaking, along with other things, is undefinable. I know I get that way sometimes too, the “grass is greener” mentality, once I’ve done all these things, then I will be content/happy. That is something I struggle with all of the time though I try really hard not to.
But I am glad you are taking your housewife-ish duties outside of the box!
August 21, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Elisabeth
I am sorry to hear about the flea problem. I had the same issue about a year ago and dealing with it felt like a constant, nagging dark cloud over my head. Hopefully once it’s all over you will never have to see a stupid flea anywhere in your home again!
One thing I just learned today – the essential oils lavender and peppermint are natural flea deterrents. Who knew?
As for homemaking, I enjoy it in the same ways you do. I get so much satisfaction in a clean and tidy home, as well as daydreaming about things I could do or create to make my home a more pleasant place to be. I have a long list of hobbies I want to pursue (photography, sewing, more blogging, crafts, etc.) And, I am so thankful that when our baby comes I can be at home, taking care of him there.
But of course, it is a job and all jobs have their times of frustration and weariness. Thanks for sharing what you love about your job and what is currently irking you.
August 22, 2008 at 7:14 am
Mom to the L's
Regarding fleas: I’ve been through that flea thing too! Ugh! On the off chance that you haven’t unearthed this solution: An expensive, but really effective, way to avoid future outbreaks is to treat your pets with a product like Topspot. I do this as soon as the weather starts to heat up (because a pest control guy told me that fleas need warm weather to hatch), but I do it less frequently than recommended by the package… A way to economize, but it works–this year I treated the cat once in late May, and still–mid-August–no fleas on her indoor-outdoor self. (Big advantage: she’s mostly white and those fleas really show up!!)
Regarding homemaking: I have been thinking for YEARS about the job of homemaking and still keep finding new dimensions to it. Maybe this is because the daily activities we engage in are so much connected to the constantly evolving ages and stages of ourselves and our family members. The job evolves accordingly, which is different than most jobs “out there”. I’m thankful for that fact–it has kept things interesting for almost 18 years now!