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  1. Beautifully said, Brenda. I have had many jobs, but my career has always been homemaking. It saddens me that women feel they need to look down on someone who has made a life of caring for others and finding self expression in domestic activities. We are all so much more than what we do. Let us just celebrate each other.

  2. I, too, am proud to have been a homemaker and able to stay at home while my children were growing up. My children still thank me for spending time with them during those years, taking walks and playing games. I did occasionally work outside the home part-time when they were older. I'm still being asked what I do all day as if I don't do anything!

  3. I see your post struck up some interesting conversation. I always looked at the 'woman's movement' as permission to just be, Me. Many hats and careers: student, homemaker, mother, teacher, artist, floral designer, daughter-caretaker, and now blogger and best of all, retiree. But the home, is where it all begins, and if that doesn't function well—neither can anything else. Interesting conversation, Sandi

  4. Truly great post and one older moms relate to and pray younger women do a turn around and love being a woman and let men be men and the world would be a better place for all children. Children are young only once and if we get it wrong we cannot do it all over again but we can work or go to school, learn a new skill later in life and appreciate it knowing we are free to enjoy this time of life.

  5. Thank you for your beautiful post. I agree, I love being a homemaker. I do have to work part time, because I was left a widow at such a young age. But my family and my home is where my heart is. I love creating a clean, lovely home. A place of serenity and peace from the storms of life. I love being a homemaker and a homekeeper.

  6. Amen to Homemaking as a career! I have had many "jobs" in my life, none of which I ever considered a career, but homemaking has always been my favorite endeavor. Now that I am in my early seventies and "retired" I enjoy being "just" a homemaker and a grandmother. I've never apologized for not wanting a high-powered career. That just wasn't who I was or am. I stayed home to care for my children because I didn't have them for someone else to raise. I know that economically it put us behind, but life is more than the amount of money you have.

    I am happy doing the things you love to do. They are what feeds my soul. It's fine with me that not every woman wants to stay home and be a homemaker. I am not critical of that choice at all. We all should be allowed to live whatever we feel is the best choice for us with no criticism. May it be so.

    Great post, Brenda!

  7. I've never understood the disdain shown to SAHMs and full-time homemakers. First off, why should anyone outside of your household care? It's not like people spend all their social talking about work so who cares what jobs anyone has, right?

    I worked full-time for 11 years and I have been a full-time homemaker for the past 27 years. I never saw what was so great about working. I love being a homemaker. Lots of freedom. No one tells me what to do nor when to do it. Plus I've always loved the domestic arts.

    I didn't make my job my identity and I don't as a homemaker either. I am a person with value no matter what and I have the same likes, dislikes, interests, strengths and weaknesses whether I am employed or not.

    In the early years of being a homemaker I would sometimes get a look just short of a sneer when I would tell a woman at a party or some other social situation that I was a homemaker.

    It always kind of amused me because it's not like anyone who did this was a doctor, astronaut, CEO, or any other lofty and exciting position. She, and it was always a she, would be working as a receptionist at an office or something equally mundane. Men didn't care if I had a job or not I guess.

    I'd chuckle to myself and think, "Honey, I've been where you are and I found it a real drag, nothing to feel superior about".

    I mean, I could understand if a brain surgeon thought she was superior to me but not someone in an average drone job. 🙂

    No matter what side of the fence you are on, you will have boring days, stressful days, soul-sucking days, and wonderful days. And we are all living our lives and taking care of our families the best we can.

    I am extremely grateful that we can afford for me to stay at home. And I am grateful that I have a choice to go to work or not when so many others don't.

  8. Brenda, I miss being a homemaker. I was able to stay-at-home as a single mom with my daughters until they were grown (except for a couple of very short periods). I work full-time and I miss homemaking, and having time for my family, so badly. Thank you for this beautiful post.

  9. Bravo!!!
    I too am a homemaker. I raised 2 kids,I was married 31 years when my hubby passed in 2006.
    Today it's me and my 2 kitties.
    I still love a clean,organized home.I don't cook nearly as much as I used too but that's a good thing:)
    I never had an occasion to feel demeaned by anyone for my choices.
    I consider my son and daughter my greatest accomplishments and my 3 grandkids are just a bonus.
    I'm not quite as adept at decorating as you.
    I did but 2 glorious bunches of silk tulips today,they're in a mason jar on my table and they're perfect!

  10. Homemaking and raising children has been the best part of my life. I was surprised by this "realization" as I was also raised in the 70s when the world told us we needed a career to be fulfilled. Having the career opportunities women do now is great, but it's also great to choose the "stay-at-home" route. Each family needs to make the choice that is best for their particular circumstance, but there is certainly no shame in being a wife/mother/homemaker. In fact, I think those who can stay at home are blessed, as are their children.

  11. What a great post. My DIL had a great full-time job but when my son went after getting shared custody of his son, in order to make that possible ( with all of the scheduling ) she changed to two part time jobs that were flexible. She manages that, dealing with five kids, running every one to and fro, and the household. She takes off work in the summers. She might work to help with expenses but as a HOMEMAKER she's extraordinary.

  12. I've always been happiest when I worked as a full time Mom & homemaker. The satisfaction surpassed the 35 yrs. I worked outside our home as a clinical social worker. You're a wise woman. Thank you for blogging: it adds beauty to my days. Sandy in California

  13. I worked part-time with no benefits when our girls were young, and that's why I'm still working now. As far as I'm concerned, I had the best of both worlds and wouldn't change a thing! Home is my favorite place to be. I only wish our daughters didn't have to work full-time and could be home to enjoy more time with their children. I'm just waiting to win the lottery so they can!

  14. Brenda,
    I have been a homemaker and raised my children. I was really good at it and I love it. I wish I could still do it but I have to support myself. I finished my Masters in my 50s so I am a librarian now and I love my job , but I would choose to be a homemaker if I could. I never could trust my husband to support me. Some day I'll be able to be home again but until then I make the most of my days off.
    Clara

  15. I'm right there with you, friend. Homemaking has always been my favorite! Like Kim, I have two degrees and I did love teaching. Being home and with my kids was the best! I still love it.

  16. Good morning Brenda,
    When asked, "what do you do?" I never said I was a stay at home mom because in my mind it always sounded as if I left my career to care for my family. It doesn't make any one understand that My Career IS My Family! Be proud! Be loud! Be a homemaker!

  17. Amen, Brenda! I have always loved being a homemaker. Even when I was newly married and working full-time, my heart was always at home. I worked at various PT jobs ever since my kids were babies and babysat other kids in my home too, but it hasn't been until the past four+ years that I've been at home FT. I have no desire to go back into the working world unless I absolutely have to. I feel very fulfilled at home and am never bored.

  18. Yeah…. even now people look down on it. Maybe not like they did in the 70s, but it's still pretty bad. I remember one time when Annie was about 10 and her friend's mother asked what I did for a living. When Annie told her I was a stay at home mom, the lady said "Well, it must be nice to sit around all day." HAHAHAHAHA…. I was lucky if I was ever able to just sit. Later on, she came over to pick up her daughter after a sleepover and made a comment about how clean my house was and said she could never keep up with hers. I wonder if she ever put two and two together.

    I don't have any issues with anyone that works, so I can't figure out why they have an issue with those that don't. Women can be so catty.

    Anyway, glad to hear Abi is doing better!

    xo,
    rue

  19. A great post. One can hear your love for being a homemaker in your words. I always needed to work outside the home and am not sure if I could have been the homemaker you describe. I was blessed to be a teacher during the years our son was growing up. He was able to ride to school with me each morning and home each afternoon. This gave me more time at home in the evening for preparing meals, taking care of family chores and time to participate in his various activities.

    I wish more ladies could be full time homemakers. It would relieve so must stress that is placed on families today. My heart goes out to ladies who get home at 5:00 or 6:00 and only have 3 hours or so to visit with family, prepare dinner and do a variety of chores.

  20. I too have felt that I was looked down upon because I was "just a housewife." I married very young and started my homemaking career. That marriage ended in divorce and I remarried and was able to keep house and raise children for my full time "job." I have worked outside the home at times but homemaking is my true love. Now the children are grown up and have homes of their own. Just my dear husband and me but I still enjoy everything about keeping house.

  21. Brenda, everything you've written about loving being a homemaker rings 100% true because it has come across in your posts over the years. So I'd say you were an expert at the subject! Homemaking is exciting, whether you also work outside the home or not. I learned that from my two main mentors–Gladys Taber and then Dee Hardie. Whenever my interest in homemaking faded away a little, I turned to them for inspiration and it worked every time. And now when I read blogs about the things women and men are doing to love on their homes, they inspire me also.

    Taking care of a home is something that many people in this world don't have the privilege of doing. I'm so thankful for being able to be a homemaker.

    Wonderful post!
    Dewena

  22. I also love making a home. I never wanted to be a career woman but life sometimes dictates otherwise. I still enjoy keeping house, trying new recipes, and I also used to quilt and sew and preserve food, etc. when I had a family to care for. Many women today do not even know how to sew on a button, and some do not know how to cook. I am amazed when I see women who take it for granted that their husbands will go out and work all day, come home and do laundry, cook dinner, and manage the kids so mom can get some "rest" after slaving all day taking care of the kids. It is a sad state of affairs.

  23. I remember the looks I got when I stayed home withmykids and didn't work. I remember someone saying they felt sorry for my husband. Yes we gave up some material things. When my children were older and when I did go back to work, I didn't make the money that others were making that never stopped working. But my kids today say things that make me proud of making the choice to stay home. I did go back to college when 2 of my kids were in college. And after a cancer diagnosis we adopted a special needs child.

  24. We are close to the same age, and I took the opposite route, career first–and ended up not having a baby until I was 43. I don't regret it, and I completely and utterly adore being a mother. I think I do make a home and enjoy it (creating an ambience of love and rituals of family vs. keeping house, which I detest every minute of), but my husband contributes to it just as much. When I was younger, it was harder to find that kind of arrangement.

  25. I have been a home for almost 19 years, left work when the kids were born. I have two college degrees and have worked in several industries, but I can say that being homemaker has been the most fulfilling "job" I have ever had. I feel blessed that I have been able to do it for so long…

  26. I have never been blessed to be a homemaker, even when my kids were small I always worked. It was often at night, after my husband got home, but there was always the need for two incomes. However, I still delight in being a homemaker when I have time off – the art of keeping house is one that I treasure! Great post, Brenda.

  27. I am proud (and a bit of exhausted, lol) from having been a homemaker, a mom and a full time business woman all at the same time and I thank the women who went before me who fought for my rights to do so.

  28. That's quite an interesting board you created. You did all that in one day?! I was looking for the 'how to store eggs' pin but couldn't find it. I was interested in that because I learned that the U.S. is one of the few countries that stores eggs in the fridge, and was curious to see what it suggested.

  29. I too have felt the wall go up when I said I am a homemaker. I am proud to be a homemaker. Thank you for your post. Your home always looks nice and clean and fresh. I look forward to seeing what new arrangement you do or if you add something new. Have a great day Brenda.

  30. I agree with your post Brenda. I did go out to work out of necessity but would have loved to stay home and look after the house and garden, cook and sew etc. Anyway now I am retired I can do just that. I too love seeing a clean tidy house and luckily my husband does too.

  31. Great post! I felt so lucky to stay at home with my children until they were both in school. Being home and cooking and making a nice home was the best thing I could do for my family. Too many young people will never get the chance to do that now.

  32. I too have been and still am a homemaker – been married for 45 years and although I did work outside of the home for short spells I mainly took care of my family and my home – I have always hated being put down for it and women can be the worst for doing that. If you think about it men do not usually say anything that makes you feel bad for being a homemaker it is usually other women!

  33. I enjoyed being a stay at home mom too. I enjoyed learning how to run a household and being a mom. I married at 18 and really didn't know how to do anything. I learned how to sew, bake, garden, decorate, etc., and I enjoyed it all but I hear you about the 70's and what people thought of stay a home moms. Today, many mothers would like to stay home but can't due to cost of living. Your patio looks so neat and I love the way it looks – you always do neat things to your home. You are a very talented lady and I always enjoy your pictures and stories.

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