Three Tasks to Bring Joy as Homemaker

Setting my sourdough starter out — post coming on this soon!

If you had to think of your role as a homemaker, how exactly do you feel about it? Does it bring you annoyance when you think of all the laundry you have to do? Does it make you frustrated when you think of all the constant picking up after others? #hellokids

One of the roles I love and cherish in my life is the role of being a homemaker. And honestly, while not every mother stays at home, I still feel that in a sense we are all homemakers. We are all still doing all of the things (maybe with some help here and there) to make our home safe, happy, cozy and clean. So essentially to me - we all have a little homemaker in us.

I’d be lying if I said that sometimes the role doesn’t overwhelm me. I’d be wrong if I said that I didn’t fall behind on laundry, get annoyed with clutter that builds up and dread bathroom cleaning day sometimes. I think it’s okay to acknowledge that sometimes we are just off, we are having a bad day or we just “don’t wanna.”

However sometimes I find there are certain aspects of my role as homemaker that make me cherish the role even more. There’s something about creating things from scratch, making things cozy and making a home a “home," that bring me such joy!

So during this slow season of life we are in, what if we took the time to learn new things, create new things and find joy within the walls of our home and the work of our hands?

Three Tasks to Bring Joy as Homemaker

Bake/cook from scratch. Within the last year, I’ve worked on trying to bake more from scratch. Maybe it’s the fancy mixer I finally got or maybe it’s just that I wanted to save money, but we have been baking many things from scratch and I love it. There are some days that I truly love being in the kitchen and other days where I dread the thought of starting dinner and beg to order pizza. But when it comes to flour, sugar, butter and eggs…I’m all in! I find it truly fulfilling to bake things from scratch. For starters it’s wonderful to know exactly what went into your food - which should be all real ingredients if you’re baking from scratch. It’s fun to involve your children and it’s rewarding to taste a warm set of muffins or some fluffy pancakes and know that you made them. Not to mention, you save money this way! Start easy by choosing to make all of your cookies from scratch then work your way up to things like pancakes and muffins from scratch.
Take up gardening. Whether it’s food gardens or flower beds, I think getting your hands dirty and digging in the dirt is SO rewarding. My husband can’t understand why I enjoy pulling weeds so much, but honestly for me it is therapeutic to get lost in the moment of it. My kids will play nearby in the grass and I’ll tend to the flowers and weeds. I sincerely LOVE this and let me say, I used to kill everything; anyone can develop a bit of a green thumb! You may find some personal therapy with a little greenery.
Have a good morning routine. I feel like this is an odd one to throw in there, but truly having a solid morning routine feels SO rewarding. As I am currently in the phase of a newborn baby, my typical morning routine is gone for the moment and I surely miss it. But there’s something about waking up before your family, sitting in the quiet with a good book or a devotional and enjoying the coziness and stillness before the day gets crazy. You can also use this time to quietly and peacefully begin breakfast, start the laundry and tidy up anything that needs it before the day starts. Having a morning like this puts me into the right mindset for the day and helps me feel much more put together. I challenge you to try this for a week. Set your alarm around 30 minutes (or an hour) before your family and see how much better your days flow.

Homemaking and finding joy in the mundane isn’t for everyone, that’s okay. If cleaning your house, choosing how to style it and cooking in the kitchen brings you no joy - it doesn’t make you any less of a person/mother. However I think sometimes if we were slower in our days, less rushed and less committed on the calendar, then perhaps we would find joy in the little things.

During this season, look up a good recipe to make from scratch. Keep your kitchen stocked with baking essentials and try things like bread, muffins and homemade cookies. You never know the joy you’ll find in a little sugar or a little dirt.

Happy Homemaking!