Greetings all,
As i was flicking off the news on my way out the door this morning I heard some middle aged man saying something along the lines of "i don't know anyone who uses the term 'housewife' in their daily language" & then something about it being an insult to any woman. Well that got stuck in my mind driving to school (it's 25km down country roads, i have plenty of time to think!!) First up, since when does a middle aged man get to comment on what women want out of life; secondly, i proudly call myself a housewife!!
Shock, horror, i had choices, i was born in 1975, i went to private school, i spent 6 years at Uni, a career in the oil industry, the world was at my feet . . . yet i happily chose being a young mother & housewife above all. Why do people have so much trouble understanding why i'd do that??
Shock, horror, i had choices, i was born in 1975, i went to private school, i spent 6 years at Uni, a career in the oil industry, the world was at my feet . . . yet i happily chose being a young mother & housewife above all. Why do people have so much trouble understanding why i'd do that??
Sure i'm the small businesswoman type of housewife, but in my situation - being married a soldier, i have to be the constant for everyone in the family as my husband is away so frequently + we need the additional income. I don't let my business get in the way of cleaning, cooking, school runs, homework, dog walking, lawn mowing, exercise or time out for me either. Most of the mums at school don't know or realise i 'work' as i introduce myself as a housewife & do all that P&C stuff which no one else ever seems to want to do.
I have NEVER looked after myself better!! Since the boy started preschool in late 2006 - i started moving from stay at home mother to housewife, with delicious lunches, a movie here & there, morning tea with friends & grown up shopping. I don't waste my 30 hours a week child free time grocery shopping, cooking or cleaning - we can suffer that together & i mainly use a treadmill at home for exercise (Canberra weather can turn on you) & check homework or call out spelling from there.
I have NEVER looked after myself better!! Since the boy started preschool in late 2006 - i started moving from stay at home mother to housewife, with delicious lunches, a movie here & there, morning tea with friends & grown up shopping. I don't waste my 30 hours a week child free time grocery shopping, cooking or cleaning - we can suffer that together & i mainly use a treadmill at home for exercise (Canberra weather can turn on you) & check homework or call out spelling from there.
Today's lunch is here, this is pretty typical for me, although not usually with the wrap, it's normally just salad . . . beetroot, mint, coriander, lettuce, sprouts, beans, parsley, chives, tuna & scrape of mayonaise. Plus a little bunch of grapes as i like something sweet afterwards. Sorry the image of draining the tuna is so ghastly!!
I can assure you i wasn't eating 'lunch for one' made with any love when i had lots of little children around. I feel like this is my way of saying sometimes i can come first!! Between 9a.m. & 3p.m. I am my first priority!! If i was a reader & coffee drinker, wow, those housewives must really enjoy their 'moments'. My sanctury is sewing, for work or hobby, it's all very zen for me.
So who on earth would poo poo this life choice, whether you have kind of fallen into or just happy to be there as planned?? When are we all just going to say "each to their own" & stop insulting everyone on what they do with their days?? We might be poor, but i'm so happy & relaxed. Love Posie
So who on earth would poo poo this life choice, whether you have kind of fallen into or just happy to be there as planned?? When are we all just going to say "each to their own" & stop insulting everyone on what they do with their days?? We might be poor, but i'm so happy & relaxed. Love Posie
16 comments:
Good for you - I'm not sure why we even have to label it - it would be nice if everyone could be happy with whatever life decisions they have made. Nic
I heard this conversation too. Apparantly it was Tony Abbott who used the term. Which is why everyone is on their high horse about it.
For me, yes, I am a housewife. A multi faceted, proud housewife. Happy and loving it. Call it what you like. I don't care.
I wish they'd all get off their high horses. The great thing about living here is that we get to choose whether to keep working, or stay at home (if finances allow). Some like to be high fliers, and plenty of people like to stay home and look after their families. It's all up to the individual.
From another stay-at-home Army wife - I hear you. I have been lucky to have ITm home for th last few years - but before that I did not see him and in Amelia first 12 months of life he did 156 days away (yeah - I counted them, will be used as payback material at some point) So for the first year I was not only a stay at home mummy - but at times felt like a single mumma too.
I agree with you - who is he to say that the housewife is dead.
Ok - getting of my peddle stool and off to prep dinner as taking the kids to KidSports this afternoon:)
Like you I have been on both sides. and also been a working single mother of twins while studying too.
Right now i'm very fortunate & happy with being a sahm. I can because we can afford it. Many can't. I don't judge either way, my opinion is that people should do what works for them.
I also heard something on TV this am in regards to ironing. My husband is a soldier too, he irons better than me! lol.
I'm a housewife and proud of it!!!! good education,uni and 10 years in banking but will always choose children and family first!
corrie:)
btw that salad looks good! I just have a boring old sandwich each day and stand up to eat it but you've been there done that!!!!
Corrie:)
Quite happy with my career of choice too.
Have to say my love, personally I don't like the term 'housewife' but I am happy in my current CHOSEN career of Mama, mumpreneur and I am a darn good wife/household manager :-)
Very well written Posie. I don't have any children yet but when I do I would love to be a housewife. Due to financial reasons, mortgages etc I will probably go back to work but I can always dream. It's amazing how people can judge though. I work in the fashion industry and a lot of my colleagues find it hard to believe that I would want to give it up to stay at home. Each to their own I say. Have a lovely week. Melinda xo
Great post and I'm glad to hear that you take a break from looking after everybody else to look after yourself! x
Good on you, Posie - what a great blog entry. I'm with you - I have an almost one year old and although I COULD put her in daycare and head back to an office, I rather like my suburban little life doing part time PR and writing from home and watching my daughter push the dining room chairs across the tiled floor like she's doing now. BOTH choices (to work or keep the home fires burning) are valid, and who says one is better than the other, and what's wrong with being a housewife anyway?! I've never jammed so much into a day as I do now. We'll never be rich but it's never been my aim either. PS. I wish my lunches were that fancy!
Here Here to your post and the comments from your fellow followers!! XX Rach
So glad you all got the point of my delicious lunch!! That is what being in total control of your own day is all about, eating well & enjoying your own company. What's on the menu today?? I do love a good boiled egg too. Love Posie
Houeswives rock! Thats my 2 cents worth!
Jennie I'm only just reading through all these posts now as for some reason they weren't updating in reader for me (actually I think I had the address typed in wrong, my bad!!).
Love your thoughts. I've embraced the housewifely status too... and lots of my time is NOT spent cleaning, let me tell ya.
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