A study done a couple years ago claimed that the services of a stay-at-home parent are worth upward of $100,000 per year. SOURCE  This estimation is probably accurate.

Without factoring in childcare as part of one’s homemaking responsibilities, it takes a lot just to manage a home.

Almost all of the websites I have found that talk about homemaking are written with a religious slant. I don’t say that in a critical way, but I am curious about why Christian bloggers seem to be more interested in homemaking.

Religion doesn’t play a role in my thinking, but I still care about creating a peaceful and pleasant home environment. As the CEO of my house I know that I set the tone, so I want my work to be appreciated and acknowledged. Not by God necessarily, but certainly by the people that share my space.

These days working in the home has been glamorized by all of the Real Housewives shows. Many women consider their “at home” status a mark of social or economic success.

No matter where you stand on the political or religious spectrum, homemaking is an important and valuable service.

What’s The Point Of Homemaking?

more family time

Most of us thrive on predictable routines and structure in our days. When we are finished with our daily work, we crave a comforting and positive place to relax our bodies and brains.

Keeping our home (semi) clean and uncluttered allows us the mental space to really relax at the end of each day. Have you ever noticed how much you enjoy your weekend when your chores are completed?

This is exactly why I try to do most of the cleaning and laundry during the week. As a family, we like to have a Lazy Sunday and spend time together. My work during the week makes this possible.

Setting an example

Cleaning up spills, scrubbing toilets and doing laundry is not exactly fulfilling. If someone tries to tell you it is, feel free to laugh. I know I would.

Doing the dirty work of life sets an example for our children.

I want my son to understand why it is important to take care of our possessions. If we drop a carton of almond milk on the floor, we clean it up. Same with our clothing and toys, we take care of the things we work to acquire.

By cleaning up after myself and teaching my child to do the same, I am giving him a living, breathing example of how I want him to take care of his possessions in the future.

Better financial management

In every household there is one person who makes most of the decisions about how money is spent. Money is a huge issue in many relationships. Couples must decide who will handle the bank accounts and bills.

Since I am a bit of a control freak I like to know where our money is going. I like a budget because it helps me to make decisions about my buying. Budgeting creates accountability.

Having one person who budgets and pays bills makes life easier. If you are home more it makes sense that you might want to take on this responsibility.

When you see where your money is going each month, you might be inspired to save more or pay down debt. Either of these options will improve your life in the long-term.

Menu Planning

It is no secret that many families eat out several nights per week. As I have written about before, meal planning and prep saves you money. There is no rushing around and ordering a pizza because you cannot put together a meal.

Here is a link to my Meal Planning Post.

If you or anyone in your family is living with ADHD, meal planning is even more important. Nutrition is a huge component of managing ADHD.

Planning out most of your family’s meals for a week at a time gives you total control over what they are eating. Meal planning is an important component to improving your family’s overall health and wellbeing.

Perseverence

In case I haven’t been clear, I am ADHD. I struggle to manage my time and my home. As a stay-at-home mom, I got completely bogged down and overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities of running a home. Now I work part time, and I am still overwhelmed.

But I continue to care about creating the home of my dreams.

Homemaking is a lonely and often thankless job. Some people look to the Bible for references that explain a woman’s role in the home. Others have a natural desire to nest and create a peaceful family space.

No matter the reasons, mustering up the motivation to cook or clean is not always easy.

Little by little though I am starting to push through my distaste for daily and weekly cleaning schedules. I have chosen days to do specific tasks, and created a laundry system that works for my family.

If we can persevere on the every day things, chances are we can do the same in other areas of our lives.

Taking care of our homes forces us to recognize that we have a home.

So many people would love to have what we have. There are mothers who would give anything to stay home with their children full time. Instead of complaining or devaluing what we do, we should be celebrating it.

All of you homemakers out there should know that what you do is valuable and important.
Don’t lose sight of your vision.

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Do you think homemaking is important?

Why do you choose to work in the home? (Or outside the home?)