When my kids were young, I loved being home with them. The trendy moniker for my job – stay-at-home-mom was appropriate. I worked with intention and purpose as I built a home my family would be happy to come home to. I loved teaching my kids things that would help them be successful in the world. I loved watching them develop physically, intellectually and spiritually. Then they went to school. At the time I wondered if I should go to work. But it turned out that I still had all the same things to do; laundry, dishes, meal planning, serving in my church and community. There were even extra things to do – volunteering in school. Carpools. You know the drill. So, I continued staying home.
Then my kids left home. At the time, my husband was traveling a TON for work – so I didn’t really want to get a “real job” because I wanted to be able to go with him (I mean, who wouldn’t want to bum around Rome??).
I have worked for a travel website for about 7 years VERY PART-TIME – so I could do SOME work and take it with me when I traveled. Travel stopped with the pandemic, and then my husband took a different job which doesn’t require so much travel. This left me asking the question again, “Should I get a real job?” The answer continues to be the same. I LOVE the lifestyle I provide for myself and my family by being home. I am done apologizing for being a homemaker!! My husband may be the bread winner, but I am the lifestyle creator!!
What does that mean exactly? My time is divided among the following areas:
- facilitating household management: cleaning, meal planning, cooking, laundry and decorating.
- building and supporting relationships: gift giving, talking to kids and grandkids on the phone, helping aging parents and entertaining friends and family
- Serving in my church and community
- Personal care – exercise, doctor’s and therapy visits
- Spiritual development – prayer, study and meditation
- Hobbies – I love to sew, quilt, hike and read. Jana loves to garden
We hope that Empty Nest Home Exec supports others making this same choice. The things we do are valuable! My husband is so grateful when I get up and make breakfast for both of us! My children are grateful I am there to talk on the phone when they have questions or just need a listening ear. I’m glad I’m able to talk to my sweet grandbabies when they are awake and available. I have many friends who successfully juggle more balls than me – and I’m impressed with them. But that doesn’t make me less than. It just makes me grateful for the discretionary time in my life. It also makes me feel like I need to be a good steward of that time. I want to use that time to make life better for my family, friends and community. I want to be the best homemaker/stay-at-home-spouse I can be. So, send a text to cheer someone up! Drop a loved one a card (in the MAIL!!). Plan those meals. Clean those bathrooms. Take someone a meal. Finish that unfinished project. Only you know what will make your life and the lives of those around you better – get after it!!
Leave a Reply