4 tips in becoming a Happy Homemaker
- breakmyheartminist
- Jan 1, 2024
- 4 min read
How to become a happy homemaker...
If you are like me, you didn't even know what homemaking was until you got married and moved out of the house. Maybe, you are way ahead of the game, and you had an amazing example of a homemaker growing up. Or by chance, you came across homemaking on social media. What would be really lovely is if you were a natural born homemaker, and you didn't even know there was a name for what you do. Whatever the circumstance, I am so glad you are here!
What is homemaking?
Have you ever heard that a man is an extension of his work, and a woman is an extension of her home? I believe that to be true. When my home is a mess, I am a mess. Homemaking is the art of taking care of the home and making it a cozy, welcoming space.
How do I become a Homemaker?
When I got married, I was not prepared for all the newfound responsibilities. My husband was running a business while I was taking online classes through a local Community College. I was a month shy of twenty years old when we married, which was only three years ago, but looking back I think of how immature and ignorant I was when it came to responsibility. Growing up, chores were a punishment, thus making them a burden in my adult life. I remember the days/weeks before my husband and I married worrying about how I was going to cook because I had never cooked in my life. Laundry, grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, are just a few things I was responsible for, for the first time in my life. I had to figure it out and fast. My husband was patient with me. Managing my time and getting in a routine was the most difficult task. Here are some tips to help you become a Happy Homemaker:
1) Find your problem areas.
Be honest with yourself!
You have to isolate the problem before coming up with a solution. My problem areas were mainly cooking and laundry. I was inexperienced at cooking, and I just flat out despised doing laundry. Be honest and realistic with yourself.
2) Look for resources to help you.
Pinterest is a good place to find free resources if you are just starting out. My first year of marriage, I made a house cleaning binder. I found the idea on Pinterest, but I customized it to meet the needs in my home.
More Helpful Resources:
"Thankful Homemaker: A Christian Homemaking Podcast" podcast is an easy listen. Marci Ferrell talks about the highs and lows of homemaking. I often listen to her while I'm cleaning.
"Passionate Penny Pincher- Home Planner" has been a life changer. It combines a planner with a house cleaning checklist. There is also a Bible reading assigned each day.
"Passionate Penny Pincher- Meal Planning" is also a resource I have found helpful. Each meal plan box is themed; I have the Slow Cooker-Volume One and the Low Calorie Menu Plans packs. In the box, you will find tabs breaking sections into weeks. Each week you will find affordable meal options including a dessert. To top it off, there is a dry erase grocery list for the week that you can shop with marking things off your list and reusing later.
3) Find joy in homemaking.
You have overcome the looming laundry pile. What a joyous occasion. Your husband comes home to a clean, freeing space because of you. I have had my husband tell me that his favorite thing is coming home after work, having a meal on the table, and relaxing before bed. An important factor in homemaking is also your attitude which I've heard Marci Ferrell say often in her podcast which is linked above. I always meet my husband at the door, and there is almost always food on the table when he comes in. Once, while I was out of town, he told me he missed me greeting him at the door the most. It really is the little things in marriage. Whatever you can find joy in, do it. Celebrate the small victories.
4) Find your why...
The infamous saying in teaching right now is "Remember your why". It's an all encompassing solution to our problems as teachers, but I share it with you because I believe it to be helpful in becoming an efficient homemaker.
My why is Jesus. I want everything I do to reflect Him, and it helps when my mindset is to make my home pleasing to the Lord. Also, my husband is the main provider in my home, and keeping a tidy, happy home is the least I can provide for us.
Finding your why will help motivate you to accomplish your homemaking goals.
What if I fail?
I have a tapestry in my classroom that we have embraced as our motto this school year: "Progress over Perfection". Keep that in mind as you embark on the homemaking journey. I have days where I feel completely defeated and know I could have done better. Thus, we wake up in the morning and try again.
Goodluck, friend. I am rooting for you!
Soooooo good! I needed this. Going to try to practice this. 🤍