Homemaking is a full-time job and one of the most rewarding jobs. Daniel Wise articulated the popular sentiment when he proclaimed, “Home is woman’s world, as well as her empire.”
Twenty-four percent of women entered the workforce between 1940-1945. The gap in the labor force created by departing soldiers meant opportunities for women. In particular, World War II led many women to take jobs in defense plants and factories. According to the labor force data, this number has doubled gradually over time.
Women entering the workforce full-time has offered enormous benefits to businesses, the economy, and a work-life balance; there is always a trade-off. On average, kiddos are away from home for eleven hours a day, which includes before and after school care, starting as early as infancy.
While searching for statistics to provide you, it dawned on me that statistics usually do not matter when weighing our life choices. I have always valued working hard, advancing my career, and earning more as we move up the ladder. I still do! But in the world we live in today, I see a culture that is losing its children. I see a culture that is outsourcing parenting.
This phenomenon has taken me to a new place, homemaking. A job that continues to decline, yet it is so precious. Of course, the role can interchange between males and females, women and men, but there is a natural law. Women are the ones who bear a child and the only ones who can nurse them (should their bodies allow them to). Nurturing them is a natural part of nature.
What better role to enter than an engineer engineering a healthy, peaceful home?
One hundred years ago, women had side hustles, selling products or services to their community; they worked to live, not lived to work. I only mention this as some may conclude it’s all or nothing; we, too, can pursue passions or earn money while simultaneously being anchors in our homes. We now have online work-from-home opportunities; it’s a great time to get creative!
Enough about that. When managing our home routine is extremely important to have a successful day. I wanted to share with you what works for us; they are not rules but ideas to help customize yours.
1. The Early Bird Gets the Worm
“The early bird gets the worm” is as true today as in 1605 when William Camden coined the phrase. I wake up about two hours before my family. This allows me to read, pray, work out, and plan the day. The most valuable time of the day is my early mornings; the quietness of the morning gives me time to think with no interruptions.
2. Clean & Prep
I clean and prep our dinner during this second part of my morning. From here on out, the rest of the day is not about me; I shift from me to my family. Trying to toggle between the two has only frustrated me, merely carving out specific time for myself gave me a sense of peace.
I don’t have a rigid schedule; I look at what needs to be done and do it, prioritizing the most important. My daughter is included in the process, it teaches her good habits, and she enjoys having a task. The house’s exterior is typically done on the weekends; we all patriciate; it’s a time to bond.
3. Homeschool
In the third part of the morning, we start our homeschooling lessons. We use the Abeka curriculum, which streamlines our teachings; it’s fantastic! I love being part of our daughter’s education, and I am genuinely grateful; it’s a privilege. No job could pay me enough to trade these moments.
4. Break
Mid-day, we take a break, eat lunch and play. If I need to do any budgeting household paperwork, I do it during this time.
5. Run Errands
After our lunch break, we finish our home school studies. Depending on the day, we either run errands during this time or go to enrichment activities. I also value this time; it’s a teaching moment. While grocery shopping, our daughter learns about food and finances.
6. Cook
Since dinner is prepped in the morning, it takes about 40 minutes to cook. We eat dinner, not always together, but we try. Eating at home saves a ton of money annually and is typically healthier. We rotate between the same simple meals, making it easy to plan.
7. Relax & Play
During this time of year, we love riding our bikes in the evening. Here are some other fun fall activities, 10 Cozy Things to Do in the Fall.
With all the hustle and bustle in the world, I find it necessary to enjoy each other’s company doing the simple things.
8. Tidy Up,
Ending the day by tidying up and putting things back in place provides a clean start to the day.
TIDY TIPS from A monk’s Guide to a Clean House by Shoukei Matsumoto:
- Cleaning is training for staying in the now; a clean house is a clear mind.
- Cleaning is not something we do when we find time; it eliminates gloom in our minds.
- Laundry needs to be done every day. Wash. Dry. Fold. To make laundry tasks less demanding is to reduce the number of clothes you wash. Doing this will make you look neat and no longer require many garments.
- Repair rather than re-buy. If we treat our items carefully, we will treat people the same. People who endlessly chase new things have lost their freedom to earthly desire.
- Don’t push yourself too much with tasks. Always leave a little in the tank; you will always be ready to work.
In conclusion, we focus more on routine rather than a schedule. Routines structure our day and help create good habits, accomplishing all we set out to do with ease. We work around things that have a specific time and stay flexible enough to pivot when necessary. Ultimately routines are personal to each home, and creating one is a wonderful way to live each day intentionally.
Photo by Valentina Locatelli on Unsplash