Teaching My Daughters to Love a Life at Home

Over the past few years I have felt a very strong need to instill a love for home in my daughters. I want them to see the beauty, strength, and freedom that can be found as a Keeper at Home. I want them to realize a life at home is NOT what the world would have them believe it is; it is not limiting and smothering. The opportunities for skill and thought that come from keeping house are limitless. There have been so many occasions in my "career" at home to learn new skills, expand my knowledge, and stretch the boundaries of my creativity and intellect. I do not find this life boring or monotonous in any way.

However, there was a time in my life when I would have sworn I would never be "forced" into staying home and "wasting my life." Throughout my high school years, I was firmly entrenched in a feminist mindset. I remember even writing an essay belittling my mother for her choice to stay at home and "waste" her college education and intelligence on doing dishes and folding laundry. (I also remember how heartbroken she was when she read that essay as I proudly showed it off to her for the 'A' it received.) I had high aspirations to be a writer, and a college English professor. I was not going to waste my life at home!

It really is funny what high school does to a teenager. Before high school, I had wanted the life I have now. I wanted to stay home with LOTS of kids (I'm not there yet, I don't think 4 is a lot, no matter what anyone says!) and a wonderful husband. Luckily, my mind began to shift back to the thoughts of my younger self when I graduated from high school. I used to tell people that I would be a complete feminist if I weren't so old-fashioned. That, too, I have moved beyond.

Now, I see home as the place where God created me to be, doing the work I was designed to do. And no, I did not have to give up myself in the process. I still have the same dreams and aspirations, though they have been nudged in a different direction. I still write and read voraciously. The research that I've always loved so much now focuses around the Bible, child-rearing, homeschooling methods and materials, frugality, home organization, cooking, and on and on. I'm working everyday at achieving my Masters in the Fine Art of Home Management and "Helpmeeting" (aka the Proverbs 31 woman). I am far from there, but that is my goal now. My thesis will be written in the legacy I leave for my daughters. My diploma will proudly declare, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' " (Prov 31:28-29)

I want my daughters to have this as their firm foundation so that they can avoid going down that fork in the road I travelled down for a time. I never want them to view a life at home as something not worthy of their ambition. So far, I am doing an okay job at this. Isabelle loves to plan meals and cook, to fix up and decorate the rooms, and she is really looking forward to learning to garden once we are in a home. Her grandmother has taught her a true love and appreciation for sewing, and although she has not yet learned to sew, I am hoping she will so that she can teach me. :-) Olivia is 100% a keeper at home in training. She has a remarkable servants heart. She loves to mommy all of her baby dolls. She loves to be my right hand as I go about the tasks of my day, including sitting on the counter every single time I am in the kitchen. She is learning to cook and I can see the pride she takes in simply stirring a cup of flour for me. Gracie is in line next. She will be truly blessed to have not just mama, but also her two big sisters showing her the ropes.

As I have been working through the process of re-creating my Home Management Binder, I keep remembering a blog post I read a few months ago. It was about creating binders for our daughters that match our own where they can take notes, keep recipes, have their own schedules, etc. I really wish I could remember where I came across this wonderful idea so that I could link to it. When mine is complete, I believe Isabelle and I will start on one for her. This will make a wonderful summertime activity for both of us. I can not wait! (If anyone has any book/curriculum recommendations for me regarding this, I would love to know about them.)

I truly look forward to teaching my daughters the way of the home and learning new things together. I am anxious for the days when we can manage the home together as a team in preparation for each of them managing homes of their own. I am so thankful the Lord has put my mind in the right place and been a patient partner in my journey down this road. I trust He will continue to guide me in love and admonition as we go about the process of teaching these girls to embrace their roles at home.