In today’s culture there are few occupations as misunderstood, criticized, romanticized, idealized, and understated as that of the homemaker. With popular culture enamored with both the Desperate Housewives of Wisteria Lane and the Real Housewives of Orange County, many real homemakers are under scrutiny, and are feeling worthless to society. I am not one of them; I am proud to be a homemaker and would like to invite you into a day in the life of a real homemaker.
The day begins at six in the morning with five children asking for everything from breakfast to play dates with the neighbors to television time to candy and soda. The requests are all denied and they are instructed to get dressed and complete their chores. Breakfast begins as soon as chores are completed and inspected; trying to keep up with everyone’s tastes and preferences is a bit like being a short order cook, so the rule here is that you eat what you are given with a smile or you are excused from the table. After breakfast is cleaned up, we sit down for a Bible study and prayer time. The most complicated time of day is up next, school. School begins with getting everyone back to the table, coloring books and simple activities are supplied for the two and three-year-olds’, and lessons are begun for the older three. The five-year-old is preparing for kindergarten, so we work on simple reading, writing and math readiness. The six-year-old will be entering first grade, and his lessons focus on skill building and kindergarten review. The eight-year-old is gearing up for third grade and working on writing, reading and math.
It’s eleven am, summer school is done for the day and the real fun begins. The kids are free to play while I begin the work. Dishes, kitchen, dining room, floors, vacuuming, and bathrooms are easy enough to tackle. I take a minute to drink a glass of water and take a deep breath and head downstairs to battle the laundry monster; in a family of seven, laundry is a never-ending task. One load in the wash, one in the dryer, one folded and put away; all of a sudden, it is time for lunch. Lunches are laid back and easy, typically pretty quick. Following lunch is rest time; the kids choose their books and head off to their beds to read quietly for a couple hours. I take this time to work on school work, catch up on e-mail, and make any important phone calls. The kids are rested and ready for fun so we head outside. Summer in Colorado is hot and dry, perfect for some water play. We get out the squirt guns, sprinklers, and hoses and play in the water. The kids get wet, the grass gets watered, we all cool off and have a great time together.
The day is winding down; it is time to go in for baths and dinner. To save time and water I put the youngest three in the bath together and then have the older two take their showers independently as I make dinner. Dinner is served; the kids help to set the table. I sit at the table chatting with the kids as they eat; I will eat later when my husband comes home from work. Dinner is one of my favorite times of the day; I get to see my children’s budding personalities as we talk at the dinner table. We clean up the table together, and head to the living room to pray before bed. Four of the kids get into bed, I tuck them in and kiss them goodnight. Each night one child gets to stay up to spend thirty minutes alone with Mom or Dad. This is the best time of day, spending one- on-one time with each child gives me the opportunity to bond with them in a way I can’t otherwise. The last child gets tucked into bed and kissed goodnight, then I do the dinner dishes, finish the day’s laundry, straighten up the house and finish my schoolwork. I get a few precious moments with my husband, then it’s off to bed to recharge and refresh so I’m prepared for the day to come.
A day in the life of a real housewife may not be filled with glamour, deceit, infidelity, excitement, or thrills; it is, however, full of joy and fulfillment. I can’t speak for the rest of the population, or for the other stay-at-home moms in the world, but I would take a day in my real life over anything portrayed on television without hesitation. The housewives on Wisteria Lane and in Orange County are popular, but not realistic. Their lives are full of drama; mine is filled with contentment, smiles, and an abundance of love.
