Neglecting the Housework

Library of Congress:  These sweet children are helping with the housework. New York, 1943

I was so tired the other day that I spent most of the time resting.  While it is essential to rest, it is not okay for me to be a slacker.  I enjoyed several hours of reading, watching old black-and-white television programs, and puttering through a few minor homemaking tasks.  This was a much needed day of rest for me.  But sometimes I take resting too far.  If I lounge too much, I forget to do the daily housework.  I suddenly realized that no one was going to make dinner for me. If I wanted some brownies, I had to bake them myself.

 I had to get up the courage to do the work. We all get tired. We all suffer from aches and pains. It is important to rest and take breaks, but we also have to take the time to keep house.   I told myself something I often say when I am giving-in to being tired, "toughen up!"  I already had sufficiently rested.  I needed to do the little tasks of home keeping.

Brownies and dinner do not just appear, someone has to make them.   By late afternoon, I was able to get into my kitchen and do some real work. I baked and then did some cleaning. I also made dinner.  This gave me the strength and energy to get back to normal.  I had rested enough and was so happy to have done some work.

This reminded me of how easy it would be to reduce my standards of a tidy and sanitary home. I could easily neglect washing floors, vacuuming, sweeping, and putting away the laundry. Over time, this would cause me to have a neglected and unhappy home. 

An unkempt home may cause sickness and disease throughout the family. This can spread to those in the community.  I have read that many diseases, or illnesses, from the past have been greatly reduced in frequency - some have just about disappeared (such as scarlet fever).  The reason given is that improved living conditions - in the form of clean homes and good nutrition - has helped prevent these types of sicknesses.
 
This reminds me how essential it is to have an education in home economics.  We should know how to clean and make healthy food.  We should know how to manage a home.  But this takes time to learn. We should be constantly practicing these skills and continuing to learn so our families will have a safe and healthy home.

I used to read cleaning books by Don Aslett. I loved his approach to cleaning. Some of his books had cartoon illustrations that were so amusing.   He even wrote books about getting rid of clutter.  But the sweetest lessons on organizing will always be found in the old books by Emilie Barnes. Her gentleness and faith in the Lord shined through her words and made her readers want a lovely, peaceful home.

I love to see the whole family helping to clean and cook. It is wonderful for them to be involved in all aspects of homemaking.  It is important to involve the children in this.  Some of my grandbabies think cleaning and baking is part of the fun of their visits to our Estate.  I delight in the work and they catch on to this love and want to be involved. 

I appreciate having a routine schedule to follow for days of the week.  This way, the plan is already in place. I don't have to think about what I should be doing each day.   It would be easy to procrastinate, and avoid work, if we did not have a plan or goals for housekeeping.   To stay on track, some keep lists on their refrigerator. Others may use 3 x 5 index cards to stay organized.  Many use a homemaking binder where a careful plan of managing one's home is all written out and easy to follow.

The greatest way I have learned to avoid neglecting housework, is to take many breaks throughout the day. There should be tea times (or coffee breaks) and little walks.  There should be time for reading storybooks to little ones.  A serving of cookies or a fruit plate while reading a pleasant book are wonderful times of rest.

 In the middle of all this time of recreation, we stop and do a chore. We may do the dishes for 10 minutes before we read.  Or perhaps we wash the kitchen floor and then go outside to pick flowers.  Housework is easier to manage when there is much time of peaceful rest.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Is This True?  - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

Are You Ready For This? - Beware of Random Kitchen Inspections.

The Precious Joy of Grandchildren - I Hear Angels Crying.

Find Essays and Remembrances of Family and Home,
 in Mrs.White's book -Mother's Book of Home Economics . 
 Paperback, 312 pages.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Days of Housekeeping

Library of Congress:  Howard family moving into their Alabama home, 1937.

I remember the early years of my marriage.  We had moved into our first home. It was completely empty.  We had limited furniture and not many possessions. The boxes were few.  We had packages of brand new items from our wedding.  Soon we had to find curtains and bedding and a kitchen table.  My parents had given us a couch, a bureau, and a few other pieces of furniture. We had to set up housekeeping with limited means.  Because we did not have much, it was easier to keep things neat and clean.

These days, many of us are fighting clutter and an abundance of items.  The common teaching out there is to "purge" and "declutter."  This is because, over the years, we tend to accumulate more things than we seem to know what to do with.  But we do not have to throw out things that are useful. We do not have to give away, or trash items, that we can neatly pack away for the future.

We often read of grandmother's attic and the old trunk full of treasures.  This is where grandchildren come along and find wonderful things from the family's history.  Often an old shawl, toy truck, or precious book finds a new home with one of the decedents.  Sometimes, baby clothes are carefully stored away because we should always expect a baby will, someday, enter our home again.  I don't think any of these possessions should be purged.  But we do have to get rid of junk and trash in order to have a neat home.

It can be quite an ordeal to keep a nice home when there is too much clutter around.  Often it is almost impossible to find enough energy to do the daily work, and take care of the family, while organizing our possessions at the same time.   This is where having set days for specific housekeeping is helpful.

If we simplify the work into a weekday schedule it may help keep us peaceful and happier.  This work is over- and- above the normal tasks of preparing meals, making beds, taking care of the family, etc.

Expect to spend between 2 and 4 hours on each of these days. You might want to do a few hours in the morning and then work again in the early afternoon. Take lots of breaks so that you are well rested.  Get help from the family if you still have children at home. Small children love to help with the work.  Older children are often willing to help if we are cheerful and offer to play board games, etc. during breaks. This makes the work a social event and is more enjoyable.

Here is an example:

Monday -
Organize and Declutter.  This work will always be necessary.  It would be nice if it was part of our weekly routine.  We may want to file papers, sort photographs, handle the bills and finances, pack up seasonal clothing, put away books, organize the closets, etc.

Tuesday-
Laundry, sewing, mending clothes, ironing, tidy drawers and closets, wash bedding.

Wednesday-
Do all the deep cleaning (bathrooms, wash floors, dust, vacuum, etc.)  In my teenage years, working as a maid, it took us 2 hours to do the basics of deep cleaning for an entire house.

Thursday-
Grocery shopping and errands.  I always get extra tired on days I have to go out.  This is a good day to serve easy meals to keep things simple.  Buying the groceries, using a carefully prepared shopping list, setting up the week's menus, and bringing it all home takes a great deal of frugal effort. (You might want to use this day to post next week's menu in the kitchen so you have your plans all ready in place.)  Sometimes on these errands we may also have to stop at the bank, go to the library, or visit a relative.

Friday-
Heavy Baking and Cooking.  This is a good day to bake a cake for the weekend. We might want to make easy food for next week's lunches to put in the freezer (like homemade pizza and lasagna).

I believe one of the biggest obstacles of keeping a nice house is being overwhelmed by clutter and messes. Sometimes we end up throwing out things we really wanted to keep. We might do this because it is hard to keep home neat and we often feel guilty for having so much stuff.  It doesn't have to be this way. I believe that a good schedule of keeping set days to do certain work, including a day just for organizing, will make our homes more pleasant and easier to manage.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Is This True? - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

A Treasure - Homeschooling with Grandbaby.

It is how we make it -  The Cultured Society of Home.


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking." Paperback, 200 pages. 

A Home Without Clutter

Library of Congress: A 1957 residence in Brookville, Long Island.

 
In my childhood home, I don't recall seeing piles of paperwork, junk mail, or even any bills. My mother kept things organized and out of our daily vision.  The living room, kitchen, and bedrooms were neat and relaxing. We would deep clean things on a weekly basis (dusting, washing floors, etc). We also had daily work to keep things looking neat. 

Sometimes I would see my father at the kitchen table with his checkbook and paperwork.  He would also have a cup of coffee, and some coffee cake when he was finished.  After that, we children had no idea where he kept his files, or even his bank papers. All those things were out of our sight. They had a place, but not sitting out in a pile of clutter. There was order.

In later years, as my parents lived here with us for 9 years, I was able to see more of how Mother kept the clutter away.  Every few months she would have the card table set up in her dining room. Here is where she would put stacks of papers, files, and old bills.  Over the next few days, as she had time, she would work on sorting and tossing whatever was no longer needed.  The card table was in an out - of - the way corner of the room, and did not take away from the beauty of the rest of their home.  Things were still kept neat while she continued to keep house around this little "project" of sorting out the old clutter. Mother worked slowly and walked with a cane, but after a couple of days, all was finished and the card table was put away.

This is what I have been working on, in my own home, the last few days.  Each day, I sort some files and papers and toss what is now clutter.  Yesterday, I even took three bags of unwanted books and movies to the library as a donation.  I want to clear out many more things to make room for only what is most important. 

It is a very slow work right now, as I have only recently recovered from a difficult illness. I get tired so easily.  But I love doing things that make my home look nice, even if I am only able to work a little each day.

I have a card table set up in one of the rooms, and will work on organizing those papers this coming week.  We are told we only need to save files and papers that go back 3 years.  Anything over that, in most cases, it is okay to discard.  I also have children's schoolwork in folders that I will always keep. There are cards and letters that are special and will be filed away. 

This necessary part of housekeeping - keeping the clutter away - is something that ought to happen on a daily basis to a small degree. Then, as the example of my mother, there will be times we need to spend a few days in deep clutter removal, to eliminate "things" that may have accumulated that we really don't need.

A Home without clutter can be such a peaceful place.  It is a nice goal that can be accomplished with just a little bit of daily effort.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From The Archives -


Would You Like to Know? - The Secret to a Clean House.

Happy Days at Home - Confined to The Nursery.

Financial Troubles - Living in Reduced Circumstances.


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

 

 "At Mother's House" by Mrs. White:

  

For Encouragement in Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, from 2016, "At Mother's House: The Blessing of Being a Christian Housewife."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

There are 40 entries which include:  "Poor and Pretty Living;" "A Home Without Clutter;" "The Money Packets;" "A Church Diet for the Family;" "Bringing Home Baby;" "The Children's Prayers;" "The Shabby Garden:" and "Just a Housewife."

Those who are seeking a peaceful home, with the Lord as the foundation, will find encouragement. (Paperback, 122 pages.)

All These Accomplishments

Pretty pink flowers in our Parlour

We have all heard of supermoms who have perfect homes and perfect families.  They are "accomplished," which means they have many skills. In the old days, this would include the ability to play the piano, paint, and sing.  Today, it is more common for an "accomplished" person to be crafty, a designer, a gourmet cook and other such modern skills.

Yet, there is something very basic and simple about just accomplishing beautiful things at home. These simple things include doing the laundry, keeping the kitchen clean, making pleasant meals, and being hospitable.

I prefer the simple accomplishments. 

These days, it is an amazing feat just to do the basics of homemaking.  It is also very difficult when one has a large family, or when one is feeling ill.  Sometimes, I do a little baking in the morning, and then I dust and vacuum.  I might get some of the laundry started before making lunch.  When my grandbabies are here, I am very busy reading to them, playing with them, and making their snacks and meals. I am delighted with these types of accomplishments!

Still, I have to take many breaks.  Accomplishing things is tiring.  The breaks are necessary.  We need to pace ourselves. Even still, there is a special secret to doing great things in the home.

 I once read about this little girl who said that when she was holding her grandfather's hand, she could run much faster than she could alone.  She was able to do so much more when her grandfather was with her.   There was an analogy that this also applies to our Heavenly father.  We can only do so much alone.  But when we walk close to the Lord, leaning on Him, working with (and for) Him, we can accomplish great and mighty things.


Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

When I could Not See enough to Keep House - I Cannot Do it All.

Remembering my Childhood - Mother's Dinner Bell.

Is Your House Clean Enough? - Beware of Random Kitchen Inspections.

 

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's special book for Homemakers -

 "Mother's Book of Home Economics."

312 pages, paperback.

 

 

 

 

 

The Secret to a Clean House

Library of Congress - A farm worker's home 1941 Idaho

I have been in many homes and noticed a contrast between lovely surroundings and overwhelming messes.  I realize it is very hard to keep a home clean. I realize we are busy and tired.  Having a house full of family would seem to make it even more difficult. Some seem to take the approach of taking several hours, one day a week, to really clean a piled up mess.  Some, with small children, get a babysitter so they can do the cleaning.  What I would like to share with you today are some "secrets" to having a clean house.

Here is the most important, little known, secret:


We don't clean a house because it is messy. We clean a house so it doesn't become messy.

Here are the tips:

1.  To cut down on the spider population, you must regularly sweep and vacuum baseboards, corners and ceilings. (Daily or weekly)

2.  To keep a clean kitchen, shortly after a meal, do the dishes. Do them right away.

In my childhood days, we would sit at the dinner table after a meal. Our parents would go into the living room for coffee and to watch the news. We children (one or two of us) would then immediately do the dishes, wash the counters and table, and sweep the floor. We did not leave the kitchen, after a meal, until the kitchen was clean.

If you wait to do the dishes, everything gets hardened and it is much more difficult to clean.  It is also overwhelming and unpleasant.

3.  Make the beds each morning.  Fix the sheets, fluff the pillows, and neatly pull the blankets up over the pillows.  Make it look neat and pretty.  This creates a nice atmosphere in the bedrooms.

4.  Do the laundry at regular times. If you have to go to a laundromat, don't leave until your clothes are completely dried, folded, and placed in a basket.  Always fold them and put them away.  Make time to do this. Schedule your day around when the dryer is going to stop. This is an efficient part of keeping a nice home.

5. If there is a spill (of food, drink, or crumbs), clean it up immediately. This is a safety issue. Even restaurants, stores, and businesses have this policy of immediate care.  If left untended, it could damage your property. Or someone could accidentally step in it and track it all over the place. This makes it even more difficult and time consuming to clean.

6.  Pass the time (with small children) by cleaning together.  Most families color, paint, and do crafts with preschoolers.  There is certainly a time for artistic endeavors. But don't ignore the fun and educational opportunities in cleaning, as a game, with little ones.

For example:  If you are spending an hour taking care of a 4 year old, get a basket of laundry and each of you get a clean facecloth. Step by step (with smiles and encouragement) teach the child to fold.  You fold it over once and say, "your turn!"  Then watch as the child copies your action. Repeat until at least a few items are folded.  Next, start picking up books and saying, "let's put these on the shelf, will you help me?" Or, (to put toys away) help sort different items into little bins (perhaps by object or color).

In daily life, involve your children in the chores by happily and willingly cleaning together each day. This is how the work gets done!

The children will love spending this time with you and go along with the cleaning.  In this way, children are learning, and having fun, while important work is being accomplished.

7. Here a little and there a little. That is the secret approach to keeping the home neat.  You pick things up as you go about your day at home.  You neaten a room when you walk into it.  You do not sit and rest when things are in chaos.  You do the work - you do the duty. Then the reward is to sit in the pretty room and take a break.

Now remember the most important secret of all, because it is a pleasant and happy way to clean. And that is to clean as you go along. Clean the house in a way that prevents messes.  Make it a joyful part of your daily routine - to clean and to bless those around you by your cheerful efforts.

Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives -

Don't Let this Be True - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

A Winter Drive - Time with Mister.

Some Encouragement- Why The High Cost of Food?


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:

 

"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking." 

 

Paperback, 200 pages. 

Playing House in Real Life

Library of Congress: Snowy afternoon in Vermont, 1940.

I spend every waking moment caring for two of my grandbabies. Their every smile is my joy.  Their falls and spills are my opportunity to comfort and encourage them.  They brighten a room with their adorable presence.

When the infant cries, the toddler comforts her.  I love to see how much they love and care about each other.  I love to sit in the big chair, in the nursery corner, and read piles of books with them.  They mostly point to pictures and repeat some of my words.  They are learning.

I prepare bottles for baby, and simple lunches and snacks for the toddler.  I dress them in their blanket sleepers after baths, and dress them in their nicest clothes for an outing.  We are home, here at the Estate, for most of the time and it is a peaceful, happy place to be.

Sometimes there is crankiness or willful moments of temper, but we soothe them with our patient understanding and kindness.  I have many helpers here.

I love that someone else makes my lunch, or brings me tea so I can "Play house" with the babies.  I love that I have others to do some of my chores so I am free to sing lullabies and rock in the old chair with a baby.

I also love to do some of the cleaning while holding a baby.  One morning I had to vacuum the downstairs carpet, and the toddler got his toy push mower and "vacuumed" along with me.  I tell him we are "cleaning the mess."  He thinks this is part of our daily routine and is entertained.

Many of us had dolls when we were little girls.  We would have doll blankets and clothes and little beds.  We would keep our rooms neat and care for our "babies."  We did this so lovingly and patiently.  This is what it feels like, now, as I get to care for these precious children.  Yet, when I notice myself getting overtired or overwhelmed, I pick up one of the cherubs and kiss a chubby cheek and tell the baby what wonderful fun we are going to have in the nursery, and we go and play as if we have all the time in the world.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Wonderful Place to be - Grandmother's Nursery.

Excellent advice from Colonial Days - To Earn and not to Spend. 

Peaceful, Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

 

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's nostalgic book for Mothers:

"Old Fashioned Motherhood: Baby and Child Care Advice from a New England Housewife." 

62 pages, paperback. 

 

 

 

 

Nobody Wants to Clean a Messy House

Library of Congress: Heath Family in the Kitchen, 1942 Connecticut.

Cleaning to me is part of decorating. I go through the house and tidy things up and make them look pleasant to the eyes.  Home decorating is a way to create a nice atmosphere for the family.  This is done without money. It is done everyday when the chairs are made neat and pillows are fluffed. It is when furniture polish makes surfaces bright and gleaming in the afternoon sun.  It creates an ambiance.

I clean throughout the day, or else things will get out of control. I clean whenever I see something out of place, as I walk by the way. (Of course, stopping at a certain hour to end the day's work and enjoy some leisurely rest.)  I clean a neat home, but of course the work is a little harder at mealtime when the most work is needed to be done.

But nobody wants to clean a mess.

We have all walked into an unattended kitchen and seen spills and crumbs and dishes all over the place.  This is a messy mess and no one wants to go in there.  Very often this happens when it has been left to the care of children or teenagers.  They just don't have the experience to keep things nice and keep messes decent.

We have also seen a child's bedroom that looked like a tornado had been there.   No housekeeper would walk in there without sighing.  This is not a pleasant type of cleaning!  So we call in the child and we put them through a training session. I love to make these humorous.  I will say to the child, "I wonder what happened in here?"  To which the child will shrug and look around to survey the damage. It is almost like the child was oblivious to the mess until mother pointed it out.  I smile and say, "Well, let's clean this together."  Do you know why I don't demand the child do it alone? Because that would be unfair and too much. It is obvious that help is needed to get things under control.  I also use this time to re-teach how to do the work.  And lecture about cleanliness. This not only gets the message through, but sometimes bores the child so much they would rather have the room kept clean than have mother talk about cleaning for hours! (gentle smiles)

I will show the child how to make the bed by taking all the bedding and throw it on the floor. I will put on a sheet, arrange the pillow and make the bed.  I will talk while I do it, as if I am sharing how to make a meal from a recipe.  When it looks nice and neat, I will say something like, "See? Doesn't that look better?"  When the child's face brightens (probably because he thinks he got out of making his own bed), I will say, "Now it's your turn." I will take all the bedding and throw it back on the floor. Then I will watch and direct while the child remakes his own bed. 

Next we go to the bureau drawers. I start with one drawer.  We sort the junk from the clothes and fold and make things neat. Then I take it all back out and put it on the floor. The child redoes each drawer on his own, just like we made the bed. 

We go on to the bookcase, the floor, and all through the room until I have shown how to clean it all, and the child has redone my work. 

Granted, I must have time to do all this, and it only happens a couple of times a year.  But once the training session is done, that child does not want to hear me say, on another day, "Hey, do you want me to help you clean your room?"  (smiles)  Because now they have learned that it is quicker and easier to just do it on their own.

We can do this with any room in the house - the kitchen, the living room. We can re-do jobs with the children until they are ready to take on the chores responsibly and on their own.  Children should be taught to spend between one and two hours a day in personal cleanliness and chores. This is something they will have to do all through their lives.

However, sometimes when we mothers are too overwhelmed, sick, or tired, we might just walk into one of those messy rooms, sigh, and say we will work on it later.  We will just have to make that mess look pretty, rest up, and then get the help from the family to retrain and make the home look nice again.

This, of course, is the training ground for children to gain an excellent work ethic.  These skills we teach, to have a clean home where their own labor made it happen, is what helps build character.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Joyful Days - Gracious Homemaking.

Financial Adventure - Living in Reduced Circumstances. 

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs. White's book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking.  Paperback, 274 pages.

A Rainy Visit

There is a gentle rain falling on this early November morning. I was getting ready to do the morning work but didn't want to turn on the lamps. The dim, dreariness of the outdoors was almost charming.

I have to take care of Grandbaby in just a little while.  When he wakes up, all other activities must be dropped, for baby must have all my attention.  So please forgive me if this writing stops abruptly.

Mister and I did a little shopping last evening.  We had a tight budget for groceries this week because we had some other necessary expenses that took quite a bit of money.  It will be better in a few days.

I have all kinds of things to cook and bake; but plan to be quiet and enjoy the rainy day.  It puts one in a mood for just reading by the window, and having a simple day without any worries.

I baked cornbread to go with a late afternoon lunch yesterday.  I will bake a pumpkin pie (frozen) this morning.  It brings a warming sense of happiness because it brings a delightful scent to the kitchen.

I still have to clean the parlour and work on the kitchen, but wanted to have a quick little visit with you.

Have a wonderful day!

blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives:

Won't you be one of these? - A Good Little Housewife.

The joy and peace of simplicity - The Basics of Lovely Housekeeping.

Mister and I took one of these - A Vow of Poverty.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Cleaning House with Baby

Library of Congress: Baby with Mother, by Geo. B. Petty, 1912.

 

It is certainly a challenge to keep house, when there are babies and small children around. But these are the loveliest times of all for the homemaker.

Babies often look on curiously at all the work we do in the home.  They are shocked by the noise from the blender, the vacuum, and the washing machine. 

One day last week, I was making a cake.  I had baby in the carriage.  He watched as I brought down the large mixing bowl (to his level), and used my electric hand-mixer to stir the cake batter. He loved it!

I have put him in the walker while vacuuming the carpet.  It is easy to play fun games with baby, when one is cleaning.  He enjoys seeing all the action going on at Grandmother's house.

We garden together, hang clothes on the line, wash dishes, sing hymns, sweep floors, and wash the high-chair tray!  Well, I do all those things while baby watches.  (Much like when I am helping Mister with his stuff, he does all the work, while I stand nearby.)  It's really the being together that is wonderful.

Part of playing with babies and children most certainly happens while we are living our normal, daily life.  We just bring the children along in our activities, making our work and our days delightful.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

What Many of us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

Careful thrift in the Home - Reducing Expenses.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 


Mrs. White's nostalgic book for Mothers:

"Old Fashioned Motherhood: Baby and Child Care Advice from a New England Housewife." 

62 pages, paperback. 

A Good Little Housewife

Have you ever started your spring cleaning with a happy attitude?  Even getting all dressed up and putting on a pretty apron to help set some ambiance in the home?  We can listen to classical music or old time gospel and enjoy the task of heavy cleaning.  One feels like "a good little housewife" as one takes pride in one's efforts and delights in the work of making and keeping a lovely home.  The housewife can sense the gratefulness and happiness as her husband trusts her with all pertaining to home and family.

In today's society, housewifery is still being scoffed at by those who choose another path.  I cannot imagine why. It is a precious way of life and something to aspire to.  Years ago, there was a club for girls called, "Future Homemakers of America."  I wonder if they are still in operation? 

To be called a "housewife" is an honor.  It is more long term than "a stay-at-home-mom," because a housewife is considered a married woman who keeps the home.  She keeps the home fires burning.  She is the hostess of the domestic arts.  She stays at home whether or not she has children, and she does a marvelous job of setting a happy tone for those who dwell there.

The lady of the house is the pride of her husband and the comfort of her children.  Home for her is a life-long career, hobby and occupation.   These dear women seek no applause. They seek not fame.  The godly housewives of today are the quiet heroes of their communities. 

Blessings
Mrs. White


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs. White's book,

 - For The Love of Christian Homemaking.  

Paperback, 274 pages.

The Basics of Lovely Housekeeping

A Maid Watering Flowers, by Franck Antoine Bail, 1800's.

 

Some days it doesn't take very long to tidy up my house.  The kitchen is quickly cleaned, the parlour is neat, the laundry is in the machine and the floors are swept.   Once everything is in order, I sometimes wonder, "Have I done enough?"   or  "Is it possible that I can go do some other pleasant thing?"  Those are the lovely moments of doing basic housekeeping.

Yesterday, I was reading from Great Expectations.  One of my girls found a beautiful hardcover copy of this at Marshalls the last time we were in the city.  I was delighted when she bought it for me.   The rich literary wit and historical insights are amazing.   I found myself taking the book into other rooms in the house to share interesting passages with the children.  Next, I took an early afternoon rest by watching an old Frank Sinatra movie.   But one can only take so much of worldly amusements, so I turned on the gospel music and did some more housework.

Even though the day was slow paced and pleasant, I was still busy with the grandbaby, my teenagers and errands.  The housework seemed to take care of itself, in very quick bursts of cleaning.  I had much leisure time and was delighted.

When a child gets ready to do some home chore, he is often overwhelmed. He may procrastinate and take hours on a job that really only takes minutes.  This is what makes housework seem tedious, boring and painful.    When we mothers go in with a cheerful attitude and a spring in our step, we can make very basic housework look delightful.  We can accomplish a lot in a short time and then be free for other things.

One of my girls is like that.  She will go into a room, tidy up a mess in minutes and come back like she didn't exert herself in any way.  The bright happy look in her eyes and the pleasant proud smile delight our home.    She can make the house look so pretty with very little effort.

If we just realized that basic housework is only sweeping, cooking, washing, laundry and other such minor tasks, we would enjoy much more time of looking about the room, sighing content and sitting to rest in a happy, clean home.

Truly, Housekeeping is a lovely occupation.

Blessings
Mrs. White

 

From the Archives -

When Things are Going Wrong - Forgotten Kindness in Marriage.

Keep it Precious - The Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking.

Please Be One of These! - The Mother Who Isn't Busy.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

  For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages. 

Free Presents for Mother

For my birthday this year, I devised a lovely plan that won't cost any money. I gathered my teenagers around and announced, "It's time for a family meeting. . . " I smiled. "About my birthday."

They came running.

I told them I wanted something so very much, and said they didn't need to spend a dime. 

One of them guessed, "We don't have to clean the house, do we?" 

"That's it!" I cheered!

But it will be much more fun than that.

I am putting together a lovely little package and will leave it on my kitchen table.  I will use a large shoe box and wrap it up with delicate wrapping paper. I will write on the top, "Happy Birthday Mother!"  Then I will put a slot in the top.

Beside this, will be a small basket with a great many index cards.  Each card will have the name of a specific chore, such as "dust all the baseboards."  There will also be a spot to sign the child's name, and the date the chore was completed.   This card will then go into the happy birthday box as a present for mother!  (The children will have an entire week to get these done.)

On my actual birthday, I will open the box, read all the cards and thank my loving children. I will then walk the house with great joy and see all the beautiful clean rooms.  I can't wait!

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -


Financial Legacy - The Bills in the Whitman's Box.

No Money? - We Desperately Need These - Mothers with Christmas Courage.

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Mother Was Here

The baby kept me very busy today.   Sometimes, he will play happily on a quilt, or in his little seat. Then I can do the dishes, or start a load of laundry.  We all take turns holding him, while someone makes supper, a snack, or cleans up a mess. We work in the middle of the joy of this blessing of a baby in our home.

This afternoon, no one was around while I took care of baby and kept the house. The kitchen had its noon mess, waiting for attention.  While the baby played, I deep cleaned the stove top and one of the counters.  These two areas were spotless, while the other half of the kitchen was neglected.  But those clean sections brought me great happiness.  Looking at them, sent a precious message to say, "Mother was Here."

Years ago, my father used to joke about our childhood home. He said the house was such a mess that if the police had come, they wouldn't know if there had "been a struggle."  For the life of me, I cannot remember our house even slightly messy. This must have happened when we were all babies and toddlers.  But it is fun to imagine my very neat mother, with a messy house.  She knew what was most important.  I am sure she had clean spots in her house that sent the bless-ed message that, "Mother was Here."

We all know that babies don't keep.  Lately, I spend most of my time sitting by the window, in my grandmother's old rocking chair, holding her great-great grandchild, and wondering how happy she must be, smiling down at us from heaven.  

Each Mother, in each generation, leaves legacies, memories, creations and sweet lessons. Their diligent work in the home, and their caring for babies, is their greatest accomplishment in life.

How precious is the comforting evidence in our daily lives, that "Mother was Here."


Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Please Be One of These - The Mother Who Isn't Busy.

A Precious Home Life - Security of Home Routines. 

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The Morning Work

The sun has not yet risen.  .  .  The house is quiet. . .  There is pleasant work waiting for me. . .  I turned on the parlour heater and will start polishing and cleaning before my family wakes up.

I will turn on some quiet classical music (Mozart) and I will work by lamp-light.   It will be a lovely morning of work.

When the family wakes up, all will be clean and neat. . . all will be well.  Their morning moods will not phase me, because I will have been in the quiet sanctuary of a godly home.  I will be prepared with the armour of kindness, patience, endurance, and I will be full of a slow and sweet temper.

This will happen because of the seclusion of my morning work.

Some rise early to run, exercise, or go to the gym. But this housewife rises early for the precious joy of keeping the home.

Blessings
Mrs. White

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Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking

Library of Congress:  Sitting Room at 121 Henry Street in Detroit Michigan, 1915

We've all seen the busy housewife, who decorates and bakes and throws delightful parties.  She shops and she plans. She is so active in, and out of, the home that many look at her and wonder where she gets her energy.  Most observe her life and despair of trying to mimic her!  She is her own star and she is unreachable!

There is another way.  It is the humble, basic way of simplicity.  It might look meager and poor. It might even look too easy.  But this way can be obtained by far more housewives, if they only realize it is okay to be simple.

There is a slowness to it. . . There is no ambition. . . It is the quiet servant - the meek one, who guides the home.  This housewife putters around the house and yard, cleaning and cooking in her own way. 

In the old days, oatmeal or porridge was the morning meal. Perhaps some bread and butter went with it.  No family was served processed, sugary cereal because it had not yet been invented.  Now today, can you imagine serving morning guests some oatmeal?  How many would balk at it?  But it is healthy and nourishing and warm and comforting!

A simple lunch of baked beans and biscuits with hot tea might be served during the afternoon break from chores.  This isn't a take out meal, or a fast food lunch. It isn't an elaborate planned out menu item.  It was what was available in the pantry.

Domestic occupations were not about planning elaborate events for the home. The simple duties were for the comfort of the family and basic survival. The laundry, the sweeping, the mopping, the cooking, the dusting were all on the normal agenda at home.   The homemaker would put on her housedress and apron and be "on duty" for the day. She was there to tend to the home and family.  She was not the 'event planner' or the one to spoil the children by gratifying their every worldly "want."

There is something very basic and very lovely about an old time home-life.  Bible reading and family prayers were done morning and evening. The family would have afternoon prayers with the noon meal.  They would break from their labor to worship the Lord.  Thoughts of heaven, eternal rest and joy were the ambition.   The focus was on the journey home and the blessed example they could leave to those around them.

Many of us crave this kind of life, but we are often tripped up and confused by what goes on in our culture.  A routine of home-life, the act of ironing or washing floors in the quiet of the morning (while praying or singing old time hymns) can help keep us grounded.  Are we not pilgrims and strangers on this earth?  May the Lord help us to avoid acting like the "stars" of this world.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

What Many of Us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

Training Children - Nobody Wants to Clean a Messy House.

A Precious Time - Walking the Gardens with Baby.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking."

Find stories of home life, with photographs of my home, in this encouraging book. 

 Paperback, 200 pages. 

Security of Home Routines

On weekend mornings, my father would listen to old country gospel music in the kitchen while he and Mother made breakfast for us all. We children were teenagers and would sleep as late as we could.   They would make a big pancake breakfast and it had such a delightful scent.  It was a lovely way for us all to wake up.

Dad worked hard as a laborer. He kept a solid, predictable, calm routine in the home. We knew he would be watching westerns on Saturday afternoons. We knew he would be in the garage working on a project, or fixing the family cars.  He did yard work and kept a garden.  He also came home from work at the same time every day.  Looking back at his life, HE was what kept things steady, no matter what was going on in our family.

Parents are like guardian angels. They are there to guide and watch over their children. But they do not get burned, or harmed, or pulled down, into their children's troubles.  They are unscathed and strong.  This helps build up courage in our children. This teaches them, as they mature in this life.

Our routines in the home are what keep things safe and secure.  If our children (old or young) are struggling in this life, and they see Mother and Father cooking like always, or cleaning like always, or putting away the dinner dishes, like always, the children are comforted.   On the other hand, if Mother and Father stop all they normally do and indulge in despair, and dwell on the trials so that it cripples the routine, the entire family is brought down.

Tonight, as I turn on the lamp light in the parlour, and sit in my favorite chair to do my Prentiss study, my children will feel a sense of security.   As we finish up our evening routine and smile the smile of peace, and contented joy, despite any hidden tears, the children will feel the warmth and love of home. And they will heal from whatever harm the world has tried to cause. Somehow, home and family will prevail.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Sweet Childhood Memories - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

We Need this all Year Round - Mothers with Christmas Courage.

I'll Still be Here, When the Children are Grown - Sitting Alone at The Kitchen Table.


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Home Entertainment without Movies or Television

Lately, I have gotten into some bad habits. I forgot what it was like to just enjoy home without distractions.   I forgot how to pass the time at home in a pleasant way. This coming week, I am hoping for a more quiet, simplified life.  I have a plan. It will last for 7 days.  I will not watch television. . . not even DVDs. I am even willing to stay away from classic favorites like The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie.

I want to read more.  I want to hand-sew, and bake, and spend more time enjoying kitchen work, and my household duties.  I wonder if this bit of time I didn't realize I was missing out on, will enable me to delight in washing windows,  iron more, and enjoy decorating and organizing on a regular basis.

Unexpected guests are more welcome when I am not involved in a program, even something as pleasant as You Can't Take it With You, Starring Jimmy Stewart.  I think this constant access to a "home theater" (television) where I can see "plays" (movies) and programs any time I want has made it less special.  I am hoping that this 7 day fast from television will help me set a new routine of watching one thing a week. . . one thing that is carefully selected. . . something that will be enjoyed and appreciated much more than what has been too accessible.

This week, I hope to do the following things:

1. Sweep my front porch every morning (in the beautiful summer air).
2. Hang clothes on the line before breakfast.
3. Read my Bible more, and read calming, inspiring literature more.
4. Bake and cook more often.
5. Mend and Sew for relaxation, while visiting in the parlour (my living room).
6. Enjoy hours of homemaking - such as decorating, organizing, polishing and shining things up.
7. Write old fashioned letters to cheer and surprise the recipients.

Dear Readers, I would love to hear your thoughts:

- If you were to take this week off from common home entertainments, what would you do?

- If you don't watch television or movies, what does your family do throughout the day?

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Home Economics - Why The High Cost of Food?

Class and Style in Homemaking - When Mother is the Maid.

Don't Change - Even When the Children are Growing up - Sitting Alone at the Kitchen Table. 

 

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Cleaning House

Book - Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement

Author - Kay Wills Wyma

Publisher - Waterbrook Press

Paperback, 278 pages

I was so excited to hear about this book.   Many families, in today's culture, are catering to their kids in a way that is harmful to their work ethic.  This generation is fast becoming the worst "me" generation ever created. Kay has found that a large part of this is caused by we mothers who serve and care for our children, too much; while expecting less and less from them.  Children need to work around the house, learn responsibility, and stop being waited on.  She explains that mothers tend to interfere with a child's need to learn from their own mistakes. Her insights are brilliant and make the reader want to cheer!

I love how Kay struggles with procrastination and inconsistencies.  Yet, she forced herself to do this experiment with her children. This will encourage many readers who have trouble staying on top of things.   The fact is, any effort towards teaching children a healthy work ethic, is better than no effort at all.

In this book, Kay describes the events which led to this radical experiment.  There are 12 chapters which cover 12 specific tasks she expected from her children.  Her sense of humor, mingled with her resolve to get the job done makes this a wonderfully enjoyable read.

Some of the tasks she expected from her children include things like:  Cooking, cleaning bathrooms, laundry, maintenance, hospitality and much more. She tells us how it all went down in her house, and gives us hope for our own homes at the same time.

Kay is the mother of five children, ages 4 to 14.  She is a college graduate, and formerly worked with The White House. She lives in Texas with her husband and children. 


*Disclosure - I received this book  for review purposes.*

To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.

 

The Pleasant Task of Cleaning

I often walk into a messy room and sigh. . . Yet I realize that if I don't use my creativity, the room will not look inviting.  I want my rooms to be pretty. I want my husband and children to enjoy the quiet and order of home life.

All I have to do is put away a few items. . . Then tuck in chairs. . . I straighten pillows. . .  sweep floors, and wash mirrors. Each little task is progress. Just another polish here, and a tidy there, and soon my rooms look lovely.

A messy room can be a challenge.  But more often than not, it is a beautiful way for us to enjoy the fruit of our labor. With our own efforts and skills, we can create loveliness.

Once the work is done, I sit with a cup of tea and enjoy a much deserved homemaking break.  But the greatest reward of all, is when my family walks into a room, smiles to themselves and does not say anything about it. They are content and at peace, because that is the environment I strive to keep for them.

Everything is right with the world, when Mother's home is pleasant and tidy.


Blessings
Mrs. White


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs. White's book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking.  Paperback, 274 pages.

A Lovely Day for Cleaning

I had no plans for today and didn't know what I wanted to do. Can you imagine having a day off in the middle of the week?

The warmth of the morning and the beautiful sunshine streaming through my windows made me realize it would be lovely to clean!

I have been inspired lately by visiting a library in town. It is a historic building with amazing architectural detail. Large, stately, antique furniture is in every room. There are also paintings and drawings on the walls, which gives one a history lesson of the area. It is mesmerizing.  Hmmm... Then I thought, "I wonder if I can do something similar to my house?"  Well, my parlour already looks like that. But now to work on some of the other rooms!

My cleaning for today will be partially practical and partially creative.  I shall make a long list of cleaning adventures - like vacuuming the staircase and polishing banisters. I will wash the sliding glass doors and throw out some clutter. But to make it even more exciting, I will note how long it took me to complete each item. This because I only want to work for the morning. I will only clean for 2 hours and then be free for the rest of the day.

This timed list will keep me motivated to work very fast, just for the challenge of it. I will also be able to refer to this list later when I have spare minutes and want to clean something.

Perhaps a child will walk by and beg to do one of my chores from the list. (gentle smiles) Because I make it look like such fun!

When I am finished, perhaps my home won't look exactly like that historic library, but it will be charming and lovely enough for me!

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Looking back - The Charm of the Old Days.

Cheering up when Money is Scarce - Despairing over the Household Allowance.

Remembering my years as a Maid - The Maid was Here!


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -