Who is a homemaker?
Hi. I’m Laura. I have a husband and four kids. I am a stay-at-home mom. I work a full time job from my home. I homeschool my children. We eat whole foods. I don’t like cleaning. I have a big garden. I am a homemaker.
Allow me to introduce you to my friend Gail. She is a college professor who spends many hours in a classroom and in an office each day. She has blessed thousands of college students through the years. She and her husband are empty nesters, enjoying their children and grandchildren when they have a chance to see them every few months. Gail doesn’t like cooking – never has, never will. Last I heard, she pays someone else to clean her house for her. Her home is always open, and I always feel comfortable and welcome when I am at Gail’s house. Gail is a homemaker.
Please meet my friend, Michele. She is single, with no children. I often see her serving those around her, particularly those with many small children. She involves herself in many ministries at church, at camp, and in the community. She frequently invites people into her home. She knows how to feed an army, and does so regularly. Michele is a homemaker.
I have to tell you about my dear friend Madge. She is in her late 80’s (or early 90’s?), a widow after enjoying a lifetime of marriage to her sweetheart. Madge is lonely. She can no longer drive on her own. Her adult children and grandchildren, as well as some Christian friends, help her get around and make sure she is always at church and involved in other activities. Each time I see her, she has a smile and words of wisdom to share with me. “Let go and let God.” That will always be my favorite quote from her. Madge always cuts out my newspaper articles from the weekly column I write and sends them to my Nana. Madge is a homemaker.
Have you met my friend Brenda? She just received her masters degree. Her three kids are teenagers (one is in college) which has her frequently on the go with their public school events and extracurricular activities. She hates to clean, and claims that her housekeeping skills leave much to be desired. I beg to differ. I’ve seen her piles of “clutter.” They resemble my own, helping me know that I’m in good company. She has people in and out of her home daily – particularly her kids’ friends and neighbors. Brenda is a homemaker.
And then there is my friend Lindsey, who, unlike Brenda and myself, loves to clean. Loves it. Her house is always spotless, and her smile is beautiful. She is so much fun to be with, and she is intentional about keeping her marriage and family strong and growing in the Lord. Her two little girls go to public school, and she is very involved in their classrooms. Even though her daughters are young, I see Lindsey instilling in them a desire for purity, love for others, and love for the Lord. Lindsey is a homemaker.
I wish you could meet my friend, Margaret. She gives the best hugs. She and her husband are retired, and loving every minute of it. She used to work full time outside of the home. Now she can often be found at her grandkid’s sports activities or serving at church. Margaret is a homemaker.
So who is a homemaker? A homemaker is all of us. A homemaker is you. A homemaker is each person who works to make a home heavenly. A person who serves, gives, loves, and cares.
Whether you work outside the home sixty hours a week or stay home full time – you are a homemaker. Whether you homeschool, public school, hate cooking, love cleaning, have too many piles of mail in your kitchen, can’t remember when you last washed your windows, decorate your home with elaborate handmade crafts, or wouldn’t know a piece of raffia if it hit you in the face – you are a homemaker.
Thank you God for the beautiful gift of homemaking – in all its forms. We are blessed!
Rebecca Laird says
This may possibly be my favorite post of the month … of all web sites and blogs anywhere. THANK YOU LAURA FOR KEEPING US ALL ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD WHEN MANY WOULD CHOOSE TO DIVIDE US!
deborah says
I love the heart of this post! We all wear different hats and do different things and we’re all unique, yet share so many commonalities at the same time!
I love that God made us all individuals. How boring life would be if there were no contrasts.
Kristin says
Thank you, Laura for this beautiful post! It’s funny how God works sometimes……I was just thinking today of all the areas where I am inadequate and wasn’t feeling like a good housewife at all when I stumbled upon your post. I just assumed that fellow housewives had it all together all the time in all areas! I’m glad for this post and this realization! I had been working full time as a Physician Assistant until I met my husband who is in the Navy. I left my job and transitioned into full time house wife ( for the past 2.5 years). I love to cook and bake and am learning to incorporate real, whole foods into our meals. Where I seem to fall short is on my organization skills. I pick up and clean but I could be more organized…..well, a lot more! I’m working on this area in my life…please pray for me! Thank you for sharing all your recipes and stories about your family! Blessings,
Kristin
H. Lew says
I really enjoyed your examples of “homemakers.” I put myself as a non-cleaning, food-loving single person who volunteers and to serve others.
Anne Kimball says
Hi, I’m Anne. I’ve been married going on 25 years, I have six kids (three by adoption), and I work part time as an Occupational Therapist. I don’t mind washing dishes or doing laundry, but I hate dealing with the clutter and I despise cooking, though I usually force out about four or five home-cooked meals a week.
Love your post, Laura!!
Jill Roper says
Good morning all. I am Jill and I am a homemaker! We are about to empty the nest after 35 years of full time homemaking. I am a homemaker and now I am also a midwife. God’s blessings
Jessica says
very good post… we do all wear different hats
Janine says
I’m Janine. I write a blog. I raise chickens and goats. I drink raw milk. I raise four beautiful children and one awesome husband. I do dishes and laundry and floors. I am a home maker, and I’m a Mormon!
Rachel E. says
It is very easy to compare ourselves to others because we try to measure up to what the world sees as the perfect one. It can bring us down. Knowing there are others out there just like us can help keep our chins up.
Courtney says
Thank you for this! God made each one of us ON purpose, FOR a purpose. He has a different plan for each of us for HIS glory!
Cindy says
Beautifully written!
Kimberlee says
I am a homemaker. I am terrible at cooking, but have to do it because we have no other options. I am terrible at cleaning, but do it so I will not go insane due to the mess. I do not enjoy homeschooling, but do it because it is what is best for my family. However, I love being able to be at home with my family. I love interacting with my children all day every day (most of the time) and making memories with them that will last a lifetime. I love a flexible schedule so I can serve others in our family, our church and our community. Homemaking is definitely not my gift, but I am making it work because I think/feel this is what I need to do at this season of my life. Thank you, Laura, for leading by example.
Carol Arnold says
Yes! All of the gals you mentioned are not just homemakers – they are heavenly homemakers! Love you, Laura.
Kelly O says
What a wonderful post! I am a homemaker who is about to literally become a HOME-MAKER! We are in the process of trying to do what God is calling us to do in getting rid of our mortgage payment and debt, so we are selling our home and building a log home, ourselves, on a paid-for piece of land God provided for us years ago. I am so very thankful for this beautiful place with the gurgling creek, the free cured logs my dad has been preparing for us, an amazing, wonderful husband who is excited to get started and willing to work on his computer in a shed if he has to if our log house isn’t finished when the house sells and that he has so many wonderful skills to build our home. I am so thankful for our boys who work so hard on their chores and their school, and that they are so excited about this change.
I am so excited and a little scared of the challenge, but in the meantime, I can still bake like I love, clean like I hate, and take care of all the animals that we are blessed to have, while preparing for all the 4-H events coming up, teaching our precious sons their school, helping my husband in his business and trying to build mine! I am even attempting to prepare enough homemade soaps, lip balms and skin cream to take to The Red Ants Pants Music Festival just South of us where there are projected to be up to 12,000 people this year!! All 3 of my “boys” are pitching in to help.
I could keep going on about all the things I am thankful for, but I need to go get my day going. Thank you Laura for being so encouraging to women and their “homemaking” roles.
Katherine Boone says
I can hardly put into words how this post has touched me today. I often get down on myself thinking that I am not doing enough for the Lord and my family. I work fulltime, am involved in several community activities, sponsor a service club at a nearby University, and am helping my husband take care of his seriously ill mother who lives with us. I often have a resentful attitude toward her because she takes up my time and always wants something. I have struggled mightily with being content to serve her and not be impatient with her needs. I know that God is teaching me lessons of patience and long suffering as well as being content to serve where I am.
I am thankful for my friends that offer me relief and listen to my struggles.
Colleen M says
Thank you! What a beautifully written post today and just what I needed today.
Karen S. says
I am thankful for your blog. I am often saddened that people, often women, are critical of the life decisions others make for their families. We are all homemakers, regardless of our circumstances. Thank you for reminding us.
T.R. says
Thank you for this blog. I am thankful that God is gifting me with peace and calmness because these past few weeks have been extremely emotionally trying. I’m also thankful for the friends he has blessed me with because they have been wonderful in their support. Thank you. I am a homemaker like Michele. :O)
Kara says
Thank you. That is what I needed to read today:-)
Tara says
Beautiful post! Encouraging words for me today.
Lori says
Love this post! Thank you Laura!
Jennifer L. says
Laura,
Don’t know if you are able to read all the comments you receive about your blog posts. That was perhaps the most grace-FULL discussion about what makes a homemaker I have read in a long time. It’s a beautiful reminder to me that we were not all born in the same time or in the same circumstances, nor do we grow up to be the same woman. And THANK YOU for being honest about your enjoyment (or lack thereof) of housekeeping chores. Thanks for not telling us that we are lacking spiritually because we do not like certain aspects of our jobs. I love my family, but I do not enjoy the endless cycle of laundry and dishes. So, thanks for not trying to heap more supermom guilt on our heads. Blessings!!!
Pamela says
You just gave me a good answer! Thanks, Laura!
I am graduating in two weeks with a PhD, and everyone keeps asking me what I’m going to do after graduation. I now have an answer: I’m going to go on being a homemaker!!!
Ana says
you don’t understand how much I needed this. Thank you!!
Judith at WholeHearted Home says
I’m dropping back in to say thanks for hosting this week. I enjoyed the variety of homemakers that you shared.
Erica says
I loved reading this, thankyou.
Lori says
Can I just say that of the 37 windows in our home I wash none of them? God made rain and since it is outside, I think that washes the windows well enough for me. No sense in redoing what God has already covered :).
Lisa says
Oh, I needed this. THANK YOU.
Margaret says
Awwwww….what a wonderful column! As I ponder my role of homemaker the past (almost) 50 years, I just want to tell all young homemakers with children to please embrace these years you have with your children. The days, months and years are just like God has told us in the Bible, “life is like the blink of an eye”. I was a stay at home Mom for several years and never regretted it. I loved to cook and clean for my family, run those kids to ballgames, etc. Four children – husband and I were truly blessed. Now that they are all grown with families of their own and scattered here and there, I thank God they have love in their hearts for Him and strive to follow in His footsteps.
Thank you Laura, for being you and loving the Lord like you do. You are always a ray of sunshine!