Becoming a Homemaker Hopeful
In a colonial-style house in northern Virginia, my sense of home growing up was one of tranquility, order, and joy. That was no small thing, given that I was one of six kids, at one point ages five to 18, sharing bedrooms, bathrooms, toys, and time. However my parents did it, and whatever size my future family would be, I knew I wanted that same atmosphere in my own home one day.
After getting married in November 2019, I was thrilled to begin a new life with my husband and establish our new home. And while there’s been plenty of joy, order and tranquility are not always a given. Unsurprisingly, I discovered that running a home isn’t as easy as my mom made it look! Although I had learned some important kitchen and cleaning skills before I became Mrs. Martinson, I found that even in a small New York City apartment, I still had a lot to learn about home care.
Meanwhile, freelance writing had become a great outlet for me as I navigated the world of married (and then new-mom!) life. Amid the one-off pieces, I started thinking about taking on a consistent, long-term project — something that I could dive into with the energy and professionalism that I had put into my experiences as a full-time student and employee.
That desire led to a dilemma. There was a reason why I had chosen not to work full-time, and that was to dedicate myself to the care of our home — and most importantly, the people in it. What could I do that would engage me intellectually without detracting from my family life, even in the slightest?
For me, the answer was to blend my two passions, writing and homemaking, into one. I realized that while I might not have a profession outside the home, my profession is the home. And more than just any profession, homemaking is an art, science, and discipline that sustains the joy of family life.
The mastery of that profession is the pursuit of this blog.
How the blog works
Every home has multiple rooms (or at least designated spaces), and every room has a purpose. In each of my blog posts, I focus on one room — the kitchen, for instance — and a particular homemaking skill associated with it — such as menu planning, grocery shopping, or food storage.
Some entries focus on what belongs in a room — for instance, the kinds of cleaning products to keep by the laundry, or book ideas to stock the family library. Others explore what happens in that room, such as an effective (and efficient!) bathroom cleaning strategy, or the basic steps to hosting a great dinner party.
Using a variety of books, articles, and interviews as references, I distill what I find most practical and relevant. For those who wish to explore even more, follow my links to further reading and resources.
My goal
Whether we have a full-time career or not, sharpening our homemaking skills can make those essential household tasks more efficient, less stressful, and even enjoyable. Through this blog, I hope that together, we can master the profession of homemaking and so create the home of order, tranquility, and joy that we dream of.
Happy homemaking!
~ Sophie