Our Little Cottage

For Those Who Have Chosen or Want to Choose a Lifelong Career of Homemaker

{Disclaimer:  This is my attempt to bring to light the career of the Lifelong Homemaker.  We are wives and mothers who have decided to devote our lives to our husbands, our children, and our homes.  With that said, I want to make sure that everyone knows that I do appreciate the work that women do in this world when they decide to work.  This is in no way saying that anyone who NEEDS TO or WANTS TO work should not.  Just as those who have decided to work or to work in the future, some of us have decided not to.  Thank You!}

"When we view managing our home as drudgery, it becomes just that--drudgery." ~ Nancy Wilson

How do you view managing YOUR home?

Do you tend to your husband, your children, and your home happily?  (At least most of the time?)

I know that there are more wives and mothers out there that share my love for choosing to be Lifelong Homemakers.  And those who are looking to make that decision to choose a home centered life!

It is ok to love being a homemaker!
There are others who share that love with you!!

If you are a happy homemaker...be confident about your career!
YOU have chosen to be home, be proud of your choice!

Yell it from the mountain tops if you wish!

Are you going to be happy and on cloud nine everyday?  Probably not!  Just as in any high stress job, you will have good days and you will have bad days.  You will get behind on your work some days (or weeks), and on other days you will be caught up and maybe even ahead of the game!

Do I have a spotless home, laundry caught up, and hot homemade meals everyday?  No way!  Did I mention that I have 4 children and homeschool?  A cleaner home will come later on in my life.  (hopefully!)  I stand behind the line in a poem "I do not hide the fact that children reside here."   Right now, their schooling takes priority over the housework.  I have a deadline of graduation for each one of my children...and it is approaching fast! 

I also would like to be one who says that not all homemakers "technically" enjoy housework.  Some do, and take great joy in their tasks of cleaning.  I for one do not!  I do get my joy from the job when it is finally done!  Even though I do not enjoying the task of it, I enjoy doing it for the good of the family.

Now, on to the children!  Like I mentioned earlier, I do homeschool.  So my children are with me just about 24/7.  We have good days, and we have bad days.  But the good ones ALWAYS outweigh the bad ones!  There are times when my two younger children take me right to the end of my rope...some days I can even end up in tears of frustration!  But even on those days which seem to be lost in despair...they are also sprinkled heavily with hugs, kisses, love, and laughter!  The important things, in my life, that I'm not willing to miss!

What about moms who's children ARE in school?  Well, let me answer that one!  Just as I said in the "disclaimer" above, this post is NOT to say that anyone who NEEDS TO or even WANTS TO work should not.  If you feel that you must, and it brings you joy, I am def not going to be the one to tell you that you shouldn't!  That is the beauty of CHOICE!  Some may choose one way, some the other...but BOTH must be celebrated!

I am a strong believer that even though the children may be away from the home...your husband and your home still need you!  For those who have already made the career choice of Lifetime Homemaker you know how your days can fill up quickly!  For the ones still interested in what you can do all day, housework (of course, it's always there!), laundry, preparing menus, preparing grocery lists, shopping without the children, reading, volunteering, trying a new hobby, relaxing, running errends, doctor visits, visiting neighbors, friends, and family.  The list can go on and on!

Isn't it unfair to your husbands to be at home with no children with you?  The thing with this is, when you choose the career of the Lifetime Homemaker...this is a choice that is usually made with your husbands approval.  Just as a woman who decides to work out of the home has probably talked it over with her husband about going back to work after having children.  So it is not unfair if he agrees with your decision and feel that it is possible for the family to live happily on just your husband's income.  A Lifetime Homemaker learns how to support her family in many different ways. Not just with money.

But if in the end you can look back and your overall feeling is love, pride, confidence, and content for your career...

then you are in the right place!

For those women, I am going to be sharing a lot of the homemaking links that I have.  There is a wealth of information here for you to devour!

First off, we must be able to stay at home!  That means we must learn how to live within the means of our husbands paycheck!  The Lifetime Homemakers are ones who are constantly researching and finding new ways to save money and spend less!!

Here are a couple good sites to get started with...

The Family Homestead
There is so much info here on this site!  This is where I have found the recipes for homemade laundry detergent and all purpose cleaner!  Great articles and great tips here!

The Dollar Stretcher
Article after, article after, article on ways to save money!

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If you Google frugal, frual living, or simple living you will also be able to find lots of sites that talk about saving money

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Ok, let's get to the good stuff now...

Choosing Home
They have recently revamped this website.  All the original articles that used to be there are not anymore.  Now it is a newsletter type site.  You can view it here on their site, you do not have to subscribe. 

Biblical Womanhood
Although I am not a bible reader myself, I do believe in serving my husband, my children, and my home.  There is a lot of great articles on here that I'm sure many of you will recieve much from!

Home Living Helper
This is a favorite blog of mine!  I was stuck for days and days reading the archives when I first came across it!  I just can not say enough about the entries that are written here!

The Help Meet's Helper
Are you your husband's Help Meet?  If you are, or if you are interested in becoming so here you will find some good articles to inspire you!

The Generous Wife
You sign up to recieve "generous" tips and ideas that you can do for the special guy in your life!  You know he deserves it!!

Keeping the Home
Now, I have to dove into this site that much.  I have seen it recommended many many times though.  I wanted to be sure to pass it along as well!