Drawing by Alfred William Parsons This is the first in what I hope will be a series of interviews with homemakers. Other professions have career development, professional journals, continuing education, etc. to help inspire and sharpen skills. I’d like this series to provide a little of that for homemakers.
"It also looks like having a master spreadsheet of how we are stewarding the categories of our hearts, souls, minds, bodies, and the many aspects of the home (those are literal tab categories.)"
I love life Considered. Something that’s been really helpful in my homemaking journey has been keeping a logbook (mine is digital). I log daily what we did that day and things I read or listened to. I then do a weekly review to summarize and a monthly review to summarize again at a higher level. It helps me stay grounded in the present, especially with so much mental work going into running a household. Interestingly, being more grounded in the present keeps me in better continuity with the past and better able to calmly look to the future and prepare for it.
Thanks for this insightful interview - looking forward to following your series! I find myself in the surprising position of being a homemaker /homeschooler of older children (now ranging from 11 to 17), spending daily instruction time with my youngest while my oldest still lives at home but is in her second year of university. I say "surprising" because I still very much remember the phase of trying to keep an organized home with babies and toddlers around...Speaking with friends who have a similar family dynamic, we find that a big shift in our expectations of family time, a great deal of flexibility, and the ability to "let go", is required during this phase. I would be interested to hear about the experiences from homemakers with older children and teens as well :)
Such a good point about interviewing parents of older children!! Ruth, if you would ever like to be interviewed please let me know! My email is: Ivana.d.greco@gmail.com
Yes, I'm excited to hear from any such women as well! (Including yourself if you decide to jump in.) Gleaning from other life stages is so helpful - and a great way to remember that circumstances, needs, and prioritization will shift throughout the years.
This should be a neat series. I enjoyed this interview! I do think it is wise to see one’s role as a homemaker as a job— because it truly is one: we are CEOs of our homes. When we take it seriously and organize our lives around what is most important, realizing that we don’t control outcomes, we only control ourselves, it is very satisfying, fulfilling work.
Such lovely and insightful thoughts! I've also found that investing time and energy in some organization helps provide scaffolding that can hold & contain the chaos to some extent...it gives me margin to have those days where I just simply can't seem to move through the mud.
"Thoughtful organization." Yes! What a great insight. There are so many balls to keep in the air that the background work of figuring out systems, planning, etc. is really important even though almost invisible.
So interesting to learn more about Haley and her deliberate approach to management and growth in her homemaking!
Haley, I am late in getting to this. But I wanted to say how much I appreciated reading this. I resonated with much of what you express here. I moved in 2021 to a new state/city/community/church (From Michigan to Florida). I have boys ages 4, 6, and 7.
I especially was nodding along as you wrote this:
"I have loved how being the maker of our home allows me ownership that is endlessly creative. I have so much freedom in that. It has truly challenged me to be diligent is ways I didn't need to previously, to be free to do things on our schedule, and to work with my husband in creating the family culture we want. There is a lot we are still figuring out. But I'm grateful for this current vocation that gives me the margin to cultivate the tangibles and intangibles of family life -- while being present for all the tender, wild, and funny parts of their baby and toddlerhood. Tangentially, it's also been rewarding to cultivate my own intellectual curiosity in the cracks. Far from being mindlessly stifling, I have found myself flourishing more intellectually as a mother than I ever have before. Add I hope that, too, is a gift to my family."
Thank you for articulating the gift it is to have so much creative freedom and the responsibility we have to steward it well.
I want to know more about this spreadsheet!
"It also looks like having a master spreadsheet of how we are stewarding the categories of our hearts, souls, minds, bodies, and the many aspects of the home (those are literal tab categories.)"
I love life Considered. Something that’s been really helpful in my homemaking journey has been keeping a logbook (mine is digital). I log daily what we did that day and things I read or listened to. I then do a weekly review to summarize and a monthly review to summarize again at a higher level. It helps me stay grounded in the present, especially with so much mental work going into running a household. Interestingly, being more grounded in the present keeps me in better continuity with the past and better able to calmly look to the future and prepare for it.
Such a great suggestion, thank you!
Thanks for this insightful interview - looking forward to following your series! I find myself in the surprising position of being a homemaker /homeschooler of older children (now ranging from 11 to 17), spending daily instruction time with my youngest while my oldest still lives at home but is in her second year of university. I say "surprising" because I still very much remember the phase of trying to keep an organized home with babies and toddlers around...Speaking with friends who have a similar family dynamic, we find that a big shift in our expectations of family time, a great deal of flexibility, and the ability to "let go", is required during this phase. I would be interested to hear about the experiences from homemakers with older children and teens as well :)
Such a good point about interviewing parents of older children!! Ruth, if you would ever like to be interviewed please let me know! My email is: Ivana.d.greco@gmail.com
Yes, I'm excited to hear from any such women as well! (Including yourself if you decide to jump in.) Gleaning from other life stages is so helpful - and a great way to remember that circumstances, needs, and prioritization will shift throughout the years.
This should be a neat series. I enjoyed this interview! I do think it is wise to see one’s role as a homemaker as a job— because it truly is one: we are CEOs of our homes. When we take it seriously and organize our lives around what is most important, realizing that we don’t control outcomes, we only control ourselves, it is very satisfying, fulfilling work.
Understanding you don’t control the outcome is the most important part of motherhood.
Such lovely and insightful thoughts! I've also found that investing time and energy in some organization helps provide scaffolding that can hold & contain the chaos to some extent...it gives me margin to have those days where I just simply can't seem to move through the mud.
I loved this!! Looking forward to reading and learning more from this series.
I love learning from Haley. Such a great interview (and series) - thank you!
Me too! She has so much to share!
"Thoughtful organization." Yes! What a great insight. There are so many balls to keep in the air that the background work of figuring out systems, planning, etc. is really important even though almost invisible.
So interesting to learn more about Haley and her deliberate approach to management and growth in her homemaking!
Haley is so wise! Homemakers provide so much (often invisible) infrastructure...it’s hard to see it unless you’re missing it.
Haley, I am late in getting to this. But I wanted to say how much I appreciated reading this. I resonated with much of what you express here. I moved in 2021 to a new state/city/community/church (From Michigan to Florida). I have boys ages 4, 6, and 7.
I especially was nodding along as you wrote this:
"I have loved how being the maker of our home allows me ownership that is endlessly creative. I have so much freedom in that. It has truly challenged me to be diligent is ways I didn't need to previously, to be free to do things on our schedule, and to work with my husband in creating the family culture we want. There is a lot we are still figuring out. But I'm grateful for this current vocation that gives me the margin to cultivate the tangibles and intangibles of family life -- while being present for all the tender, wild, and funny parts of their baby and toddlerhood. Tangentially, it's also been rewarding to cultivate my own intellectual curiosity in the cracks. Far from being mindlessly stifling, I have found myself flourishing more intellectually as a mother than I ever have before. Add I hope that, too, is a gift to my family."
Thank you for articulating the gift it is to have so much creative freedom and the responsibility we have to steward it well.