tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post4963401021697493514..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Homemaking, the radical choiceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-22720287797672196662013-07-27T06:25:19.798+10:002013-07-27T06:25:19.798+10:00Hi Rhonda,
Great posts and comments. I have been r...Hi Rhonda,<br />Great posts and comments. I have been receiving pressure from my father to "go back to work" even though I have enough money to stay home if I live very frugally. My brother and sister in law refer to what I'm doing as "not working." (sigh...) I really enjoy homemaking, and my finances are better than they have ever been. I spend far less when I stay home. It's such a good feeling to have the cottage clean and organized, and the fridge full of delicious food. I have knit three sweaters and several pair of socks in the last year. I get a lot of snide comments about it, (especially since I am unmarried, and don't have children.) Oh well. It's a creative, productive life.<br />awakenedsoul Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-79263359903564690172013-07-23T18:38:36.830+10:002013-07-23T18:38:36.830+10:00How wonderful to hear others feeling the same as m...How wonderful to hear others feeling the same as me as I've struggled with the world judging my choice to be stay at home mum. My husband has always fully supported me and together we feel it is best for our family. Thank you Rhonda always for your sincerity and genuineness. Nicolenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-48849815665843465092013-07-23T16:09:57.668+10:002013-07-23T16:09:57.668+10:00Everything you've written here resonates so de...Everything you've written here resonates so deeply in my heart - I feel so passionate about being a homemaker, privileged that I can do so each and every day. Being responsible for a household and its family members is such an important role in my eyes. Being a young Mum, I feel I'm in the minority these days being a stay-at-home Mum. I love your words and thoughts you've shared here - Amanda xAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14697932926715802541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-66679635258630200942013-07-23T07:04:02.557+10:002013-07-23T07:04:02.557+10:00Homemakers are the salt of the earth, women have a...Homemakers are the salt of the earth, women have always played such an important role in the home and still do. Unfortunately society has now described success to a woman of today's world as one that advances their education and goes forward to have a "career" - domestic duties are less important it seems - just hired that done. Well I have a woman who has held a job outside of the home since I was 13 - necessary for financial reasons and mostly health benefits. I can assure you that the "best" feeling I get is when I can provide a home to my family. I have balanced work and home all of my life and if given the opportunity I would have gladly been someone who was home to provide the emotional, physical, and mental support to the ones I love on a daily bases. Young women of today, stand up and give up those stessed filled lives outside of the home, making money for corporation. More things, toys, hiring of someone else to do things can only cause you to "have" to work to pay for them - a vicious cycle. There are so many rewards within your homes. I understand, like myself, that not everyone has a choice not to work outside of the home and that is fine, we do what we must. But by taking a realistic view of our needs and what we can do for ourselves we can sometimes find that with some adjustments we have more choices than we think. Thank you Rhonda for the refreshing blog of everyday life. For those of you that think homemakers are not productive, contributing to society and/or are slackers - take a step back and look at the full picture, you have tunnel vision. So much happiness lies within simplicity.<br /><br />BP of Wyoming, USAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70843057499407671042013-07-22T13:56:12.930+10:002013-07-22T13:56:12.930+10:00Victoria, it's my normal bread recipe - it'...Victoria, it's my normal bread recipe - it's on the blog. This loaf was made with half rye and half white flour. xxrhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-40079594842421759382013-07-20T23:06:29.307+10:002013-07-20T23:06:29.307+10:00As always, an inspiring post. Thank you for shari...As always, an inspiring post. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills with those of us in the blogging community so freely.Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10917542327482001911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45417655391957281962013-07-20T09:08:59.381+10:002013-07-20T09:08:59.381+10:00It was of interest that I read your post and the f...It was of interest that I read your post and the following comments. I've always thought that women or men who choose to stay at home to make a home and raise their kids are very smart and progressive. I see from the comments that a lot have felt belittled for that decision. Well here is my story, I am getting the same comments from society because I decided to leave my 20 year old, stressful career that I was not enjoying, to stay at home. I do NOT have children, and thus that ranks this decision of mine even lower than all you moms/dads that have decided to stay at home. People think I am just letting my poor husband support me and that now I contribute nothing (this after being the major breadwinner for 15 years and supporting him when he went back to school). With no kids and no career now, and not legitimately retired, I have no value in many people's eyes. I am constantly asked when I will be getting a job. I take all domestic responsibilities off of my husband's plate now, but still that is not seen as enough and I am 'wasting' my university education. I'm asked, 'don't I want to do more, be more'. I know I need to focus on what makes me and my small family happy, but the outside pressure is hard especially since I am of the generation where women are expected to have a career, and my career has been a large part of my identity. Yes, my self-worth is taking a bit of a beating too during this transition.<br /><br />Thanks again for this post. I'd be interested to know if homemaking is only valued for those with offspring, or others as well in your view.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9754645948166770062013-07-18T23:32:23.446+10:002013-07-18T23:32:23.446+10:00Ditto to all the above responses to your post abou...Ditto to all the above responses to your post about the pleasures of home-making! But I have to call you out on just one phrase - "Ours is simple work" - NOT! If it was simple work to run a household, whether it be for two (in my case) or a dozen in some cases with kids and elderly parents - everyone would quit their jobs and do it. My mother had a severe stroke not long after I was born, so I grew up with her being disabled, and me having to help out with washing, ironing and cooking as soon as I was old enough to do it. I didn't mind though - I really loved keeping house for Dad and my brothers while Mum was in and out of hospital. So when I left home and got married, homemaking was not a new routine for me.<br />But I still had a 5 day week job as well until I turned 50, at which time I said to my husband "I've had enough of work. I quit". He asked what was I going to do if I didn't go to work, and I said "Get a life!" Meaning, just as many commenters above have written, I wanted to stay at home and run the house in my time, not squeeze household chores in at weekends. I wanted to cook more, do more craft work - stitching, patchwork, etc. and ENJOY the second half of my life! (and I have for the past 15 years).Gina E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07532527261977368083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-31587235539795358172013-07-18T23:19:23.119+10:002013-07-18T23:19:23.119+10:00LOL! ROFLMAO!! I really love that! Good on you ...LOL! ROFLMAO!! I really love that! Good on you for sticking it up one of those smart young things - blech ....Gina E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07532527261977368083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-38866589160112941742013-07-18T22:15:20.265+10:002013-07-18T22:15:20.265+10:00Totally agree. Just the other day the bank teller ...Totally agree. Just the other day the bank teller asked if it was my day off. I replied pleasantly (though still find myself stammering for an automatic clear answer) that no, it was my errand day and I am a homemaker. This young mans response was "oh! So everyday is your day off!" I've even had a clerk at the grocery check out ask the same question and the response to my answer was to ask me if I eat bon bons and watch TV all day! They get even more confused once they find that my children are 17 and 12. I try to find tremendous humor in it because being offended is a waste of my energy. Though it boggles my mind how the reputation of the homemaker (at least here in the US) has been redefined by Peggy Bundy from the 80's tv show Married with Children. Goodness I hope I can help change that with the people I come in contact with! :)the Mrs.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05052194018611179203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-92048961620683477332013-07-18T10:53:13.297+10:002013-07-18T10:53:13.297+10:00Hi Rhonda
I have been reading your blog for a whil...Hi Rhonda<br />I have been reading your blog for a while now and just love all the information I glen from you. I haven't worked outside the home since my eldest was born. He is now nearly 17 years and I always get asked why? I am fortunate enough that my husband has a good paying job and I can stay home especially as he is away a lot. As we have 4 children it is still hard financially and I find I need to budget well in order to afford all the extra activities that come with children. I have never received anything from the government to help either except maybe $500 at the end of the tax year, but not anymore now the children are older. So just wanted to say I love all the inspiration you give that although at times it may be hard being at home is the most awesome job in the world. My Hubby has finally come to see that being home is where I am happiest and it works well for our family. <br />Love to you and yours. HelenaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54437749497733342462013-07-18T07:07:43.716+10:002013-07-18T07:07:43.716+10:00Would you consider sharing the recipe for that lov...Would you consider sharing the recipe for that lovely loaf of bread? Please? Pretty please? <br /><br />I love your writing. I check daily for inspiration. Thank you for sharing so much.<br /><br />Victoria in ConnecticutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-91262310713608070132013-07-18T04:01:37.286+10:002013-07-18T04:01:37.286+10:00Ah what a beautiful post. My grandmothers are gone...Ah what a beautiful post. My grandmothers are gone now, but everytime I read one of your posts I feel as if one of them is talking to me. They lived in the time when homemaking was honored and respected and no one queationed their roles or the worth of it. I wanted to be a mommy/homemaker as early as when I was 4 years old or so but then chose the way of a career...no other option seemed available at the time. But oh to be back home after God tugging on my heart to get back<br />to where I belonged and wanted to be! I recently acquired a half apron that I think my paternal grandmother made cross stitched designs on. Everytime I wear<br />it, I feel the total connection of generations past and my own yearning of that 4 year old come together.<br /> Elizabethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-5187086992493560792013-07-18T03:35:15.896+10:002013-07-18T03:35:15.896+10:00Thank you so much for this post. It is so importan...Thank you so much for this post. It is so important to support homemakers.<br />Here in The Netherlands there are a lot of women that work and if you are a homemaker, you are frowned upon. I'm even frowned upon by my father in law. All his daughters work outside the home. <br />I love being a homemaker, being there for my husband ( who is on disability) and my children. We live on disability only, but we live a simple life and we don't need much. We are so happy to have eachother. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-39576132794365997002013-07-17T23:22:09.983+10:002013-07-17T23:22:09.983+10:00I too have always loved being at home. To me it is...I too have always loved being at home. To me it is a privilege that I am able to be a stay at home mum. It is a gift I do not take lightly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-75592690207601929862013-07-17T19:48:30.424+10:002013-07-17T19:48:30.424+10:00Ahhh Rhonda...once again you have written so beaut...Ahhh Rhonda...once again you have written so beautifully about your life. It truly is an inspiration when you write like this. Thank you. GayeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42936235396355573112013-07-17T17:24:54.934+10:002013-07-17T17:24:54.934+10:00Hi Robtrev,
$459 a week, $918 a fortnight, includi...Hi Robtrev,<br />$459 a week, $918 a fortnight, including FTB A&B, and all the sundry benefits. That is for 2 children - and I have a new mortgage! I figure, it is only for a few months until my son is at prep next year,but I will use this time to set up the foundation for our lives in our home.<br /><br />Everything happens for a reason. There is a time for working outside the home, inside, part-time, in the community. I am not beating myself up about the last few years outside of my home, because I simply would not have had the homemaking skills to live on the breadline, that I have now.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-40376954799327089482013-07-17T15:37:11.882+10:002013-07-17T15:37:11.882+10:00Hello Rhonda, I have been following your blog for ...Hello Rhonda, I have been following your blog for a while now, but this post is the essence of what I love about it. I love how you have turned homemaking on its head to make it the radical choice - a joy and not a drudge; something to be proud of. I have always loved being at home, for all of those reasons that you have mentioned, but it was always tempered by the fact that I never allowed myself to feel pride - to the outside world I felt like I was judged as being 'just a housewife', and so that's what I was. Small, insignificant, powerless. So thank you for giving me pride and confidence in what I do. Able to change my corner of world, one loaf of bread/tomato/homemade dishcloth at a time! I love it. I am moving up to a whole new level - growing and maturing, I guess. I am talking to others with pride, and am looking forward to seeing what more I can achieve. Thank you Rhonda, thank you.<br />LesleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70606642268454273852013-07-17T15:29:24.392+10:002013-07-17T15:29:24.392+10:00Rhonda, oh Rhonda, where have you been my entire l...Rhonda, oh Rhonda, where have you been my entire life? I've never read such a beautiful, simple piece about the wonderful satisfaction and contentment to be found in keeping one's home.<br /><br />Many people in my age bracket look at me with confusion (or worse yet, pity) when they discover I'm a full time homemaker. Keeping house still seems to be thought of as "not work", even more so than my other great love - writing. But that's OK. I'm content with my life right now, and for many of the reasons you write about.Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07065168235710418279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-15715209722606907242013-07-17T09:52:45.116+10:002013-07-17T09:52:45.116+10:00I LOVED the "Mother's Title" verse w...I LOVED the "Mother's Title" verse written by ROBTREV above....You deserve a standing ovation for that one...it made me laugh however it was all so true really when you think about it.<br /><br />For all those people who get comments about not having a job. I had two full time jobs in my life. I started work for an Accountancy Firm when I was 15 and stayed there for 13 years full time. Immediately I stopped there and started with a National Computer Company where I worked for 12 years full time. I left there to start my family. <br /><br />Here is the thing:- "I stopped work, but I didn't stop working"<br /><br />I work very hard around the clock to have a grounded down to earth family life for myself and my children. I do not think they can raise themselves when they go to prep. Even when children go off to highschool you as a parent would be needed more to be there to support them with afternoon tea, making sure there is time for homework or sports and ensuring they are not hanging around with the wrong crowd of kids because they are "latch key kids". Kids need time with parents not fancy cars to be driven around in (yes I would love one of those myself but that's not going to happen in my life time). Every mother can make their own choice for their family about working outside the home or inside the home. Both of those choices are careers and whilst one gets paid and the other one doesn't that's where the scales are tipped and society's perception of homemaker career goes out the window. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia<br />www.oursimpleandmeaningfullife.blogspot.com<br />Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13278810299840471966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29826428601932671082013-07-17T09:35:21.745+10:002013-07-17T09:35:21.745+10:00YES!
That is a beautifully written post on the b...YES! <br /><br />That is a beautifully written post on the beauty and real work of the homemaking or as I like to call it home keeping! It's valuable work. I also get the blessing of educating my children at home and am able to pass along the joy of our simple ways of life to them in addition to math, history, reading etc.<br /><br />Thank you for this post Rhonda!<br /><br />DeannaDeanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16133684514103206137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-15724124603717804442013-07-17T09:21:41.139+10:002013-07-17T09:21:41.139+10:00It's a shame that it feels decadent. It should...It's a shame that it feels decadent. It shouldn't! And it's our choice if we choose to. Doesn't matter what anyone else says! Cheers robtrev.robtrevnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-16394330324005433052013-07-17T09:19:36.313+10:002013-07-17T09:19:36.313+10:00Kali won't you be eligible for the Family tax ...Kali won't you be eligible for the Family tax benefit part A & B? That would bring your money up to about the $800 per fortnight. Cheers robtrev.robtrevnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43299050033814688592013-07-17T07:52:40.201+10:002013-07-17T07:52:40.201+10:00Great post Rhonda, you are so right the home is wh...Great post Rhonda, you are so right the home is where "its at" it is brilliant work, i never valued my work here until i read yours and other ladies blogs, todays sums it all up.<br />SueThe warm fireplacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-6919762142653400382013-07-17T04:53:04.472+10:002013-07-17T04:53:04.472+10:00Hi,
Thanks to both of you, you made my day. I am ...Hi,<br />Thanks to both of you, you made my day. I am so tired of being ask why I do not work (since I have 2 university degrees) It is like I do nothing at home. I am worth nothing. Sometimes I wish I was in the 1940's I would not be treated like that. But when anyone needs something, who do they call? me of course. We do not have a tv, I do by own bread, cookies etc . Thanks to both of you I feel better, I am not alone!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com