Last night, I snuggled in bed soaking up some good ‘ole fashioned wisdom from an era gone by. When I saw this gem hiding in an antique store, I snatched it up and hugged it close.

Published in 1942, I couldn’t help but be swept away by the authority in which she elevated the home maker’s importance.  There was no apology for the high calling and responsibility by which she ordered her home, and it was encouraging to read the very business like approach she took for organizing and feeding her family.

For the majority of my married life, my sole occupation was that of a homemaker, but now I am definitely trying to balance my new phase of life with that of working mom, as well.  (“Working” as in an additional occupation outside the home as well as well as working in the home. I know we all work like dogs within our home. ;))

A few years ago, I personally changed my “homemaker” title to that of Family Manager, because in my opinion, it mirrors the managerial tasks of any high level executive.

Obviously, as I read through this book, it inspires me, but I can’t help chuckling at how vastly different our society looks at cooking and homemaking during this generation.

A “Modern Day” family today doesn’t replicate many aspects of this, and I certainly didn’t read anything about “Just get dinner on the table, because sometimes ten minutes is all I have,” (part of my new mantra for 10 Minute Dinners,) but I have been challenged to reevaluate my role in the kitchen and elevate the cooking experience through this lens a bit more.

I’ve posted before about the mantra, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” and yet too often, I talk a big meal planning talk, without the follow through. I was convicted by this last line in her creed, “My family’s health, security and pleasure depend on my skill in planning meals; therefore – I will treat my job with the respect that is due it.”

Now obviously, I know that their emotional security is not wrapped up in whether I get dinner on the table in a timely manner or not, but it does challenge me to look at this in a way an office manager organizes their work space, and then to treat that job with the respect it’s due. When I have an idea what is happening in the “Feed the family department,” our home runs much more smoothly in the evenings (and yes, that could be frozen pizza.)

Being a Family Manager is a great calling, whether married, single, with or without kids, our homes stimulates senses and sets the tone for so many things, and now when I fill out forms, I’m proud to declare my occupation as “Family Manager.” My desire this fall is to write out my own “Creed,” and determine some of my home and kitchen goals for the few months.

Have you ever thought through some personal home goals?

Do you have them written out or do you just keep a running idea in your head? What are some of things you’d like to work on within your home this fall?

I’d love to hear about it. Let’s encourage each other with this.





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