As we continue on in our series on being Workers at Home, I would like to pause and share a testimony from a godly mother of nine children, Rosie, who chose to stay at home and invest in the lives of her children. This is part of our Titus 2 Talk on the topic of being workers at home.
My Experience as a Worker at Home
(by a mother of nine, ages two to nineteen)
Deuteronomy 6 tells how the Israelites were to pass down the faith to the next generation. I believe that in order to do what that verse says, your children have to be with you. How can you teach them when you “walk by the way” (Deut. 6:7) unless they are with you! Daron and I came to that conclusion, early on, that I should stay home. The Lord has, since we had our first baby, thus far provided financially through my husband Daron.
But since I never liked baby-sitting, I used to think that being a stay home mom would be boring, uncreative, and I wouldn’t use my gifts and abilities. And, in a sense, I felt I gave up all my “ambition”, (“selfish ambition”?). I had planned a college “career” such as a school teacher, nutritionist, reporter or magazine writer.
When I had one baby, Smarty*, I toted him with me to writer’s meetings, and had a great time free-lance writing, fulfilling my ambition to write. After Angel* came along, however, I felt I couldn’t’ keep up with that and properly care for my family.
So I turned my creativity toward my family and children. Surprise! I found my new job to be the most “creative”, and mentally challenging job I could ever imagine, especially since we home school! (I understand, it isn’t all about “ME” being “fulfilled”, but God is gracious. I believe that putting my life into being a wife and mother has been “fulfilling” because it is what I was created to do!)
Think of all the areas a wife and mother manages. Each of these areas is huge by itself: (I compare it to being a manager of a company.) I’ve found each area challenging and worthy of creativity! (Remember, I wanted to be a school teacher, nutritionist, or writer. It’s all in there. However, please note that I wasn’t able to do all my children were very young.)
*meals
*all areas of housecleaning
*herbs and medicine
*education
*character training
*inventory and purchase of clothing and all supplies
* special projects such as gardening, sewing, writing family history, Scrapbooking, videography, animal husbandry
* food harvest and storage (freezing, canning, drying)
* finances (unless husband does this)
*family entertainment and hospitality
*service and outreach
If I were employed, I’d likely be limited to one type of work. As a homemaker, I get to do a variety of things. And now that I have older children, I have lots of help. So we can do more things to serve our family and others (like blogging, for example!). And all this in the company of my best friends – my husband and nine children. I’m never lonely!
Although there’s been a lot of sacrifice, I’ve found Proverbs 10:21 to be true - “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. “
While not busy homeschooling and taking care of her busy household, Rosie enjoys writing on the side at her blog, 4 U God, on all topics related to homemaking and raising children. Check it out!
Very informative testimony from Rosie. Thanks for sharing it with your readers Lindsay. I enjoy listening to the SAHM side of the story, but wanted to say that those of us who do work outside the home also work AT home when we are there.
I’d like to comment on something Rosie said. “If I were employed, I’d likely be limited to one type of work.”
No, actually, you’d be doing your outside job AND all the same stuff at home that you do now! I do each and every thing on your list and I am not a SAHM (much as I’d like to be!).
My day begins at home with early morning baths, maybe a load of laundry, making breakfast for the family, packing 4 lunches, going over homework and discussing what needs have to be met for the day, and arranging schedules.
THEN, I go to my outside job and do a myriad of things involving safeguarding our agricultural system. My day doesn’t end at 5 pm though…I come home after picking up our youngest (and teaching him his numbers/colors/letters through songs while driving), do another load of laundry, help the oldest with his homework, prepare dinner, maybe shovel the frontwalk, check the mail, greet my husband when he comes home from work, eat dinner, have storytime with both children, do prepwork for tomorrow’s lunches/dinners, facilitate an art/science project, put the children to bed, clean the house, do our household finances, pay bills online, and finally fall into bed. Then the entire process starts over.
I do wish I could be a SAHM very much. I’d like to spend more time with my children, more time gardening, mending, creating, sewing, canning/preserving, and homemaking in general. I am delighted for those who are SAHM’s. But please know that some of us mothers who work outside the home are also working INSIDE the home and in the hearts of our children too. I think what I do is valid and that’s why I do it. I think SAHMs are doing THEIR best at a valid lifestyle also.
Thank you for letting me express my side of the story.
That is all so true! What could be more creative that shaping the lives and hearts of those who will shape the future for the Lord? We’re raising a mighty army to be found faithful to Him.
Hi! Thank you for the lovely articles on being an at-home mom.
I read an article in Parenting magazine yesterday (BTW, the magazine just shows up at my house–I’ve never subscribed that I know of), called “Mad at Dad”. They are featuring it on the front page of their website at http://www.parenting.com. It was REALLY sad. The level of frustration and anger was very apparent. It was basically a bashing of dads and men for not doing more at home–despite their own admission that the poor men are working very hard outside the home. They offered no solutions to the frustrations–just advising women to share their complaints with other women friends and to become a sort of collective force to change men… SO SAD!! How angry and upset feminism has made women. Oh, if only those women could just change their thinking and attitudes to see what a DELIGHT the realm of the home can be…
Sorry for getting on my soap box…
–Phebe
You made a lot of really good points here. The article really shows what can happen when families do not follow God’s plan. However, I do notice several church-going SAHMs who are genuinely trying to follow Proverbs 31 – and unfortunately some of them are falling ill and literally in tears from exhaustion. They tend to keep their situation “under the radar” so to speak because they don’t want to appear like they are complaining. I don’t know if they demand too much of themselves or maybe their family does, but I ask myself what is going on here. Is this what God wants for a SAHM? Is this a good witness? Does He want something changed?
Oh, I so agree! I find that homemaking and mothering is far more varied, interesting and challenging than ever job I ever did before I stayed home full time with my first child. I can’t imagine a joy that I could ever enjoy more (although there are certainly hard moments, day and even seasons). Thanks for the reminder of some of the things I love about what I do!
Great post! Makes me very thankful that I’m able to live this life at home.
Very helpful in reminding me why I chose this life!
Thank you Rosie for sharing and thank you Lindsay for hosting this series! As a SAHM and WAHM I’m very thankful for the encouragement and the motive “check up”!