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| Library of Congress: Wartime Conservation through Home Sewing in 1943. |
I am amazed at how much has changed over the last several weeks. We are seeing, what experts are calling, a worldwide pandemic. A few days ago, our local schools closed. Our restaurants no longer allow indoor dining. Some have closed completely, here in Vermont. I have been following the news reports, trying to understand as much as possible from the experts, and watching what is going on throughout the world.
I have been on the phone for several hours each day with immediate and extended family members. Some of my relatives in Massachusetts gave me local updates of what they were seeing in their towns. There were empty store shelves and panic. This had not yet hit our area, but now I am beginning to see it here as well. It looks like what is happening in surrounding states, is slowly making its way to mine.
We are told to stay home for at least 15 days, in hopes of stopping the spread of a virus. Government authority, in our states and country, have made announcements of what they need us to do. We are doing our best to follow all guidelines.
I have been confined to my home before on many occasions due to health difficulties and also from bitter winter months here in northern Vermont. I am used to trying to make sure we have extra things, on hand, like Coffee for Mister and Tea for me. We enjoy having those daily luxuries in life and hope we are able to continue to do so. I have gone to the market a few times over the last week, or so, to get extra water, food, and other supplies. Now I need to settle in and stay home.
Our local churches have just announced that services are cancelled for the coming weeks. I have never seen anything like this happen before. But I appreciate our Pastors staying in touch with us through email and helping to guide us through these difficult times. Their faith and trust in the Lord is inspiring and comforting.
There is a temptation to panic. But I want to suggest an alternative. Most people, right now, are not able to go to work. Their children are not able to go to school. The entire family is home together. This is a good time to focus on the tasks of homemaking, meal preparation, cleaning, and enjoying time together. We should be conserving our resources - learning to avoid the waste of food. This will help us avoid having to keep going out to the store. We want to stay home for the duration to do our part.
We are blessed to have so many resources online - such as articles and videos, to inspire us in lessons in home economy.
But I also want to mention one very important thing - please expect there to be annoyances among the household. We are all flawed! We do not always say or do the right thing. We need grace and mercy in our family relationships. Also, please remember that children - both young and old - will misbehave, cause mischief, and get on one's nerves. This is normal. This is life. Mothers are the referees and the coaches to help guide the family out of trouble and into more productive behavior. If you notice junior is acting up, please redirect his attention elsewhere. Do not hold grudges when kids do wrong. Do not dwell on their moods. Keep things moving along. Is it snack time? Is it time to do a chore? Is there free play? Try to organize a variety of activities to keep your day on some sort of schedule. This will help lessen the bad behavior in our children.
Mothers, we need to keep up the morale in our homes! We need to be the cheerleaders of courage and hope! Don't let this get us down. We can wake up each morning and do the task assigned - take care of the home, the kitchen, and the family. Let's work on keeping everyone productive indoors, maintaining our health, getting fresh air into our homes, exercising, cleaning, keeping everyone safe and happy, and doing it all unto the Lord.
Do not take on unnecessary burdens. God is in control. Why should we fear? Let's lean on Him to get us through.
blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
Always Remember this - The House Comes First.
It does not have to be complicated or difficult - The Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking.
Real Help! - How The Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty.
- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -
To cheer you along in your homemaking:
Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs.White's book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. Paperback, 274 pages.
11 comments:
A lovely post, Mrs. White. With lots of interesting fodder for families at home these days.
I am especially drawn to your note about conserving our food resources and learning to avoid the waste of food. My sister and I were just chatting about that on the phone yesterday, and that is something we want to pay closer attention to in these days.
Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places.
Brenda
Hello, We also have been told to shelter in place, we have been asked to stay away from all public activities. Our Church is also sending out encouraging emails. We are not panicking but we feel the unrest in our world. I have also thought more about being frugal as we do not know the time frame of this virus. So glad we can still go outside and walk and even do things in our homes to make them pleasent.
I have decided to keep my own thoughts about this Pandemic to myself because there is such a tension in conversations.
Just keep going each day and be responsible and remember to laugh...
Always, Roxy
You make some very good points, Mrs White. The world is in a situation that no one really knows how to deal with, and I think many are unsure and uncertain.
We are staying at home, and no friends or family must visit as that is a risk for us all. But as you say, we must find things to do, some sewing or baking maybe. And like our grandmothers in post war years, learning frugality again.
I have flour and yeast, and will be baking bread again, like old times! It's good to remember to be patient with each other. I have 11 daughters, (16 kids), and two of them have moved back in for the quarantine. So instead of the four youngest, all of the sudden there are two older sisters back here, which creates a little bit of havoc. So basically, 12 kids grew up and moved out, four were still at home, now six area at home. We are all working together on this, I encouraged them that in these times, there is still grace, we can still get oil in our lamps, and get victory over our own sin, so things go well. It's a battle, for sure, but a good one! Here in NY, we are basically stuck at home. One of my girls who moved back in lives in town with two of my other daughters who are in healthcare, an NP in general practice, and an RN in outpatient oncology. The two of them were concerned about bringing the virus home, so the accountant came here! Oh life is interesting!
Della
Wonderful encouragment! Thank you. I'm keeping this handy to re read as the days go on. Bless you and your family!
I came to your blog to check on you! Glad you and your family are well💕💕
Enjoyed your post too! I was born in Vermont and it has a special place in my life. My family comes from Massachusetts and CT originally. I miss New England!
I came over to visit, knowing I would find a peaceful and calm voice here. I, too, am thinking so much of my grandparents and their hardships during the Depression and WWII and am inspired by their frugality and ingenuity. Their perseverance can teach us many things. Blessings to you Mrs. White. xo Deborah
Be blessed and safe everyone. I enjoyed hearing from you Mrs. White. It is interesting that just weeks ago I began a part time job as a secretary. I am being very careful. Fortunately, it is not a busy office.
God bless you!
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
This is so encouraging, especially the paragraph about mother's refereeing and letting children make mistakes. I needed to hear this, bless you.
Wonderful post.
Blessings to you,
d
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