tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post6822113086557706891..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Homemaking - the power career, part 2Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-67351338977453612462015-01-23T17:50:21.598+10:002015-01-23T17:50:21.598+10:00love your blog inspires melove your blog inspires meAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04217637851281582683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-91356947522041095812011-12-16T10:15:19.501+10:002011-12-16T10:15:19.501+10:00I work and my husband stays at home caring for our...I work and my husband stays at home caring for our daughter. We evenly split some duties like cleaning the apartment, but I am in charge of finances and cooking because I am much better at it than he is. That means a lot of packaged food because he doesn't want to cook from scratch and I choose not to spend my weekends cooking meals for the family for the whole week.<br /><br />For us, his job is caring for our daughter (and in the spring we'll add a son to the mix). The other homemaking duties you listed in this post and the last aren't part of his job, in our household.<br /><br />I do wonder what it would be like if they were. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-21989646840713196832011-10-25T14:13:12.910+10:002011-10-25T14:13:12.910+10:00Thanks for refocusing my thoughts. My hubby and I ...Thanks for refocusing my thoughts. My hubby and I have had an expensive year by our standards, improving our home and buying things we want and need including a new car. Next year, I need to live a bit more simply by focusing on the needs. I'll come back and read this post when I need to remember the important stuff. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62796729458773089102011-10-17T00:14:18.686+10:002011-10-17T00:14:18.686+10:00I have often thought that working actually costs m...I have often thought that working actually costs money. There is day care for the children, a work wardrobe, fast meals in the form of packaged food purchased, or eating out because of lack of time. Staying home, or working from home, can, as you point out, actually save money. It is scary at first giving up a good paycheck, but soon you find that the paycheck really wasn't necessary and your family is actually happier.<br /><br />~BrendaSense of Home Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06670637532208860258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-3692991190186839322011-10-14T16:45:34.364+10:002011-10-14T16:45:34.364+10:00Love this post Rhonda thank you, very timely for m...Love this post Rhonda thank you, very timely for me, and I also love the comments, equally so! I can relate to so much of what people are so intelligently sharing regarding identity, resentment, roles.....I have been so confused as I've transitioned from independent working woman to stay at home mummy and as I commented on your first "power career" post, I am now finding my way....so glad to have found you as a resource as I continue down my homemaker path! Can't wait for your next post! :)Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11193996044232130573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17078175536952188102011-10-14T11:27:02.580+10:002011-10-14T11:27:02.580+10:00Dear Rhonda
As a 52 year old bloke, I'm also ...Dear Rhonda<br /><br />As a 52 year old bloke, I'm also a new Dad with a 5 year boy, and a 2 and a half year old daughter.<br /><br />My partner is a health professional who works in the public sector and in her own private practice.<br /><br />In the last few months, I've reduced my wage-earning hours to 3 days a week. This is principally to be available for our daughter Gracie, who has generalised developmental delay due to a Chromosome 18 disorder.<br /><br />Before Gracie came along, we had already started to make changes - by moving to a smaller house, riding our bikes for daily transport, cutting down on our consumerist lifestyle, and so on.<br /><br />But just recently I have tried to embrace more and more the notion of being the 'housekeeper', by seeking more responsibility for keeping a home: the cooking, cleaning, caring of the kids - just trying to effectively and warmly run the house. <br /><br />I'm not there yet, as my partner will attest, but I'm still trying.<br /><br />I even bought a CWA Cookbook the other day! A great book of not only recipes, but housekeeping hints as well.<br /><br />Thank you for your post.<br /><br /><br />All the best<br /><br /><br />RichardRichard Monfrieshttp://the3rdquarter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4182964473496749902011-10-14T07:08:51.644+10:002011-10-14T07:08:51.644+10:00I was amused this week when my female housemate, m...I was amused this week when my female housemate, my teenage daughter and me were out fencing the paddock for our new house cow, while my husband was inside cleaning and looking after the children. Since he has almost no interest in farm or garden work, he's taken over most of the house work while I'm the farmer (and the cook/food planner). Our household gets by happily with people doing either what they love or what they dislike least, irrespective of gender or expectations.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06559993076944364627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45709639476174229952011-10-14T06:38:22.786+10:002011-10-14T06:38:22.786+10:00Thank you Rhonda for another wonderful post. Altho...Thank you Rhonda for another wonderful post. Although I cannot yet afford to become a full time homemaker, I'm following your advice in many subjects and am trying to live a more sensible and sustainable life. I would like to tell you that I tried your recipe for laundry detergent (it was very hard to get the ingredients as Borax and Washing Soda are unknown in my country and many online suppliers don't ship these products abroad, but I finally found a pharmacy that was willing to get this for me from their supplier. Soap flakes can't be found either but that was easy, I just grated a bar of soap). And I love this detergent! It's as good or even better than the (quite expensive) one I used to buy and so much cheaper! Thank you so much for your guidance and support.<br />PaulaPaula Lemoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02209483815351012903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-76636659246134603612011-10-14T04:02:15.026+10:002011-10-14T04:02:15.026+10:00You are amazing Rohonda. Thanks for being you AND...You are amazing Rohonda. Thanks for being you AND sharing the you with all of us. You help me grow with almost every post.BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-82682372806874558042011-10-13T15:12:11.350+10:002011-10-13T15:12:11.350+10:00Such a mixed-up world we live in. When women had ...Such a mixed-up world we live in. When women had few professional choices, no one questioned that there was work in the home to be done, and that obviously someone had to do it. They may not have valued it as much as paid work, but the role and the need for it was unquestioned. Now we have choices, and the idea that anyone would choose to stay home and do those chores that magically don't get done by themselves when everyone's at work is bizarre to people. I think we may have thrown the baby out with the bath water on that one! If anyone considers themselves a feminist, then they must understand that what feminists have fought for is not the right to go to work outside the home per se, but the right (for men and women) to have choices dictated by interests and abilities, not gender. Regardless of how much my husband and I work, there are still chores to be done, and we are both too exhausted, and more interested in spending our precious off hours on other activities. My being home will change that, for both of us. I never expected to be considering a new career as a homemaker, but my body can no longer tolerate a sedentary job in front of a computer all day. I am looking forward to the work of being a homemaker, because I feel better when I'm moving in a variety of different ways, and housework certainly provides that. To me, it's not such a weird thing; there is a need for someone to be holding down the fort at home--usually it's two someones doing enough to manage, but not as much as they'd ideally prefer; some years ago, it was my husband, when he quit his job. It all makes perfect sense, if you're not hidebound by traditional gender expectations...or equally stuck in being in opposition to them. <br /><br />I just found your blog, Rhonda, as I was looking for resources as I make this transition. I really enjoy what you have to say, and the information you share. Thank you.Kristiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10846469988126773382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-16865320338432348092011-10-13T10:20:28.652+10:002011-10-13T10:20:28.652+10:00I have only just started reading your blog but I a...I have only just started reading your blog but I am very intrigued by your views! I love how you said "A saved dollar is more than an earned dollar - your saved dollar is tax-free". So true and so often forgotten! As a stay at home mum running a business from home I feel under so much pressure to earn more but after reading that I feel like my time may be better used being frugal than working my butt off! I would much prefer to just be a stay at home mum without working!Wylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10162670316853611250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-26981036407463262212011-10-13T04:11:51.155+10:002011-10-13T04:11:51.155+10:00Rhonda Jean, I have to chime in here and say your ...Rhonda Jean, I have to chime in here and say your homemaking posts are MY absolute favorite, too. We all need to stick together! And I really love the commenters' stories about all the different types of homemakers out there. For me, it really boils down to trying to keep life sane and centered around the home no matter what that looks like in each home. <br /><br />I am just now reading Shannon Hayes book, Radical Homemakers. You two are kindred spirits, and I'm in the club too. :) Thank you.Lisa Zahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491596171533559615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-90370433907841557842011-10-13T01:54:59.707+10:002011-10-13T01:54:59.707+10:00You are definitely a live and let live person, Rho...You are definitely a live and let live person, Rhonda. And a very kind and encouraging one, as well. Let no one misunderstand that. :)hopflowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-34809722959785912472011-10-12T20:51:22.730+10:002011-10-12T20:51:22.730+10:00LOL, Eco Catlady, I think you need an animal behav...LOL, Eco Catlady, I think you need an animal behaviouralist for that one. ;) <br /><br />The first hurdle you would have to clear however, is their innate fear of water.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-65223540931310605532011-10-12T20:18:44.762+10:002011-10-12T20:18:44.762+10:00Thanks Rhonda. You brought to mind my grandmother ...Thanks Rhonda. You brought to mind my grandmother who worked so hard for us all and who I try emulate. I've had a lovely day thinking of her.alison@thisbloominglifehttp://www.thisbloominglife.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-85593700047719557592011-10-12T18:06:53.621+10:002011-10-12T18:06:53.621+10:00I have a friend who I consider to be a great homem...I have a friend who I consider to be a great homemaker, but she doesn't do any cleaning herself and only cooks on the weekends. She outsources cooking & cleaning during the week to paid maids/domestic workers and this frees her up to do volunteer work full-time. She is the editor of a community magazine that is distributed free through sponsorship & donations & volunteer help. <br /><br />She also volunteers in other ways at her children's schools and helps friends and 'needy' people in the city. <br /><br />Her husband earns a very good salary, but he also does an extraordinary amount of volunteer work....serving on boards of charities and schools amongst other things. <br /><br />Both of them have good relationships with their 3 teenaged children and their home is a loving, caring place where many love to gather.<br /><br />This couple has a lot of money, but through wise use of it eg they rent out one large home and live in another large one, plus other investments & savings, they seem to be able to also give away a sizeable portion of it as well.<br /><br />About the only 'traditional' thing about my friend's homemaking is that her maid cooks from scratch. I doubt if there's any sewing or knitting or veggie gardening or canning going on in the household.....but I still consider her a good homemaker. One thing that she does do that is in line with recent things you've mentioned, Rhonda, is that she uses loose tea in a tea pot and a little individual strainer over her tea cup. But, that may be because she is British and loves her tea that way!Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18122656833028913453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55230918645812740792011-10-12T16:02:14.801+10:002011-10-12T16:02:14.801+10:00I'm interested to see where your next post lea...I'm interested to see where your next post leads - I hope you wish to not only stretch our definitions of who can be a homemaker, but also how one can be considered a homemaker. By everything I see here it can still be possible to be called a homemaker even if necessity takes you away from the home to earn an income.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-74551303186301829572011-10-12T15:00:16.005+10:002011-10-12T15:00:16.005+10:00Hey Chris - Got any suggestions on how I can get m...Hey Chris - Got any suggestions on how I can get my cats to help out with the dishes? :~)EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9766883357471733242011-10-12T13:02:00.901+10:002011-10-12T13:02:00.901+10:00This is a subject that is close to my heart as I&#...This is a subject that is close to my heart as I've been a stay at home mum since I had my eldest. I know our choices are right for us, I know I save us a bucket load of money for everything I make from scratch, and source from different places. I know my kids are getting the best start in life that I can give them, and yet still those occasional outdated comments that will come from someone completely irrelevant (bank teller, person on the street etc) cut to the bone. I could go on and on, on this subject but won't bore you... probably should do my own post.<br />Thanks for writing about this.cityhippyfarmgirlhttp://cityhippyfarmgirl.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54034440757172988692011-10-12T11:19:07.292+10:002011-10-12T11:19:07.292+10:00Good comments! I always said I am not a "hous...Good comments! I always said I am not a "housewife I am not married to a house". I am a homemaker. Did it when homemaking wasn't cool.goatldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578007710288051720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2875157212658593302011-10-12T10:56:39.972+10:002011-10-12T10:56:39.972+10:00To Catherine, I use to have mixed up ideas about w...To Catherine, I use to have mixed up ideas about who does what too - then I realised my husband and I are happiest when we do what we like best. <br /><br />While I don't like cleaning, I hate a messy place more. So the thought of not having a messy place makes me happy to clean. My husband on the other hand, has less of a radar for detecting mess, LOL. <br /><br />How I have managed to get his assitance, is asking for help when I'm doing a task. I do this with our daughter too. By asking for their help, they're not doing the entire job but it gets them use to contributing more. Eventually they feel confident enough, that I see they've jumped ahead of me to complete a task, and I go, "wow, thanks so much for taking the initiative - that's really helped me out today."<br /><br />No-one likes to work alone, and perhaps that's what you're struggling with. I said to my husband once, you have a whole team at work to help meet the workload. Imagine if you had to work on your own, every day, without a single finger lifted to help you out?<br /><br />It really helped him see I wasn't just an obsessed wife about mess and who does what. It's about feeling included and being valued. He could engage on that level, because he knows how it sucks at work when people get stroppy about carrying their load too. <br /><br />Learning to work together at home (at what we are able to engage with) has actually helped him at work too. He's asking others to contribute more than they would have before, so the teamwork is branching back into the community.<br /><br />The thing about teamwork, and adult learning in general, is understanding what level people can engaged and invite them to do that part. Do this with yourself also. Find out what you like doing and ask for help with the more challenging tasks. If no-one is able to help, then decide to tackle it a piece at a time, rather than feel defeated. <br /><br />I've got a dozen tasks I've got to do today, and I'm dedicating little pieces of time here and there. The priorities get the most of my time naturally, but the rest also get a contribution. So what if I don't achieve everything today, I'm still doing what's needed. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-88971239806578284562011-10-12T10:56:26.463+10:002011-10-12T10:56:26.463+10:00Thank you for your comment Rhonda, i didn't ex...Thank you for your comment Rhonda, i didn't expect one as i know how many you receive but you have made my day xAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07586610467519318424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-35912431346387347902011-10-12T10:46:57.945+10:002011-10-12T10:46:57.945+10:00hi rhonda jean,
you write such a positive blog for...hi rhonda jean,<br />you write such a positive blog for EVERYONE<br />i so look forward to hearing from you each day.<br />thanks for a great blog.<br />enjoy the pictures of your cozy home, too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-437745138228907922011-10-12T10:27:10.264+10:002011-10-12T10:27:10.264+10:00Thank you Rhonda for these two posts. When my cont...Thank you Rhonda for these two posts. When my contract at work wasn't extended I felt bad when I couldn't contribute to the household income. Being 60 socially it was easy to "retire" but I still felt bad that my husband had to keep working past 65 because I wasn't. However I have noticed that by not working I can make it easy for him to work. If the house is clean, the chores done and he doesn't have to do anything much more than mow our pocket handkerchief lawn and sit snoozing in his chair then he is actually very happy with the arrangement. He also takes on extra work from time to time to help out at work and the overtime makes up for some of what I don't bring in. Now I have the time to be very frugal our savings are still 70% of what they used to be despite my lack of income. I also do quite a lot of family support of grand children as both parents have taken on more demanding jobs. Plus I've taken on more volunteer work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-51281598729259419832011-10-12T10:03:50.594+10:002011-10-12T10:03:50.594+10:00Dear Shannon and Mel, thank you for sharing parts ...Dear Shannon and Mel, thank you for sharing parts of your stories. My beloved god-daughter, Casey, is also living with her girlfriend as an engaged couple. Casey is paraplegic and she stays at home while Kerry works. I have no doubt we will see Casey and Kerry married one day soon and I look forward to the day I can celebrate that wonderful event with them.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.com