Homemakers With A Purpose

I wrote this post to link up with the Homemakers Challenge over at Joyful Mothering, but I missed the linky because I didn't do it in time. Nontheless, I thought I'd post it anyway.

I became a homemaker eighteen years ago. My purpose then remains very much the same as it is now... to fulfill the needs of my family and to create a home, a place that is a haven and retreat from the outside world.

Unfortunately that is easier said than done.. my family's needs are diverse. That's what happens when you have such a huge age gap.

My husband... he needs a peaceful, loving home, a loving partner, a prayer partner and exercise partner and healthy, nutritious meals.


My almost-20 year old.. she needs to be able to have long conversations with me on Skype whenever she wants ;), prayer support and advice

My 18 year old... she needs practical help sometimes, guidance, one-on-one time and for me to just listen

My 14 year old... needs lots of guidance, practical help and one-on one time

My 4 year old... needs less tv-more me! practical work, teaching of her faith, to learn chores, values and skills, exercise, play time, fun time

They all need love, healthy meals, downtime, family time and to have more fun together.

I have identified my most pressing need right now as the need to balance things properly so that everyone's needs are met and the house is organised, uncluttered, peaceful and inviting.

What gets in the way:

1. Low energy
2. Too much to do in a small amount of time
3. Lack of maintenance/help from others
4. A major lack of order and discipline

Tools needed:

1. Schedule - proper goals and strict discipline
2. Co-operation and assistance from the rest of the household.

First of all, I need to get a proper schedule and stick to it. Then, I must enlist my family's help. Too often in the past I have done up schedules and could not enforce them because of lack of support. Everyone is firmly entrenched in their habits and change doesn't come willingly or easily!

I also have to address my own health. My lack of energy probably stems from my poor eating habits, the fact that I don't take vitamins or exercise. Scheduling time to be my husband's exercise partner will benefit both of us. I need to start eating the healthy meals I make for my family, instead of skipping them to make sure I get everything done.

I have had to sit down and carefully work through the things I have no control over and those that I do. For instance, I cannot control the amount of time I have to spend outside of our home, picking up our children from school, or paying bills, in traffic etc. I also commit the first part of my day to the Lord, that cuts back on my time but I believe it is important. Therefore, I need to make sure that I use the time I do have in the home wisely.

My immediate goals are:

1. Sit down with my family and plan a schedule that will enable everyone's needs to be met (this is necessary because some things affect the others.. like asking them to babysit while I go walking with their father)

2. When everyone's happy with our schedule, I have to enlist my husband's help to enforce any new rules that are put into effect.

A couple of things we will discuss are the bringing forward of my 4 year old's bedtime so that I can have an extra hour at night to spend with my older girls and my husband and so that I can write. Her sleeping habits are changing and she's now rising at the same time as the rest of the household.. 5:30am! This means that I don't get quiet time to do anything until after I drop her to school.

Also, how everyone can chip in to help make things go smoothly... I need to do some delegating around here! I have to acknowledge that I cannot do everything and that its okay for my family to help with certain things. They are certainly old enough and capable enough.

Lastly, I need to be realistic in my goals because I do have a family whose needs are different enough that we sometimes have to go with the flow. Strict schedules may not be possible. For instance, sometimes my husband works on a Saturday and it means that I have to do the chauffeuring. Nothing can be completely written in rock around here.

Also, while my main goals are to create a more orderly household and to try to be more effective in meeting everyone else's needs, I have to acknowledge that I also have needs. For me to be truly joyful in my homemaking, I have to start taking better care of myself so that I can give the best of myself to my family.

I am blessed to have a husband who supports my blogging and anything else I do to witness for and glorify God. He doesn't mind me taking whatever time I need to minister to others because he says I am serving God. I do, however, believe that there must be a proper balance for all things and I know that I also serve God in the most important way by fulfilling my duties as a wife and mother.. this is my true purpose... one I hope to carry out with greater joy, love and skill in the future.

Thank you to Christin for hosting this awesome challenge, as well as the others. You are certainly encouraging others to better themselves in their vocations as homemakers.

Love & Blessings to all!