Homemaking companions

[Joan1969]

Hi to everyone,

I would like to see if anyone was interested in forming a pair or a very small group for friendship and mutual support in the day-to-day work of keeping a home and a family, and possibly home schooling as well.

I am very much into goal setting in general, just because it helps me to get things done and makes life more engaging, as well as helping life go better in a number of ways.

I happen to be married with five kids, but women in very different circumstances from mine are certainly welcome to contact me. I think home making is a very broadly defined term, and certainly habit change and accomplishing goals and projects is relevant to everyone. I just have this idea that it would be great to ¨talk shop¨ and share visions with a woman or women who also share my world view, and who generally enjoy home life. The focus would be on different ways to move forward and to make things better either for ourselves or for our families.

Blessings,
Joan

 

[Convert_in_99]

I’m a wife and homemaker going on ten years. Chronic health issues keep me from full time work, and currently from regular part time work. I have no children due to infertility and had one miscarriage loss. I take odd babysitting or nursery jobs to help bring in a little money when I can. I have two dogs. That’s about it!

 

[Joan1969]

Hi Convert,

I am a convert as well, for over 25 years now. Hard to believe, but true.

I’m sorry to hear you have had a hard time with health and infertility. I will have you in my prayers. Feel free to send me a private message any time if you would enjoy a distance friendship.

Joan

 

[m_crane]

Hi,

I’m a homemaker for over 30 years. I also work at our family business , I do this so that I can be a homemaker. My home is on the larger side and my dilemmas are how to keep it maintained and decorated on tight budget. I have one husband and a very feisty puppy and grown children and nieces who visit frequently,. They all need to be kept in line or things become very disordered quickly.

Example of homemaking dilemmas this week-

Puppy, after 6 month of no problems, had an accident on the rug by her out door. My fault because I got preoccupied with a project and forgot to let her out. (Should I install a dog door?)

Paper plates that I use daily for snacks and lunches, are becoming flimsier and more expensive. Should I just buy cheap melamine plates and use them or will it cost just as much or more to wash them?

And how to I feed (keep enough food in the house) for my irregular family when I never know when they will be coming until the last minute.

I am interested in home repairs, shopping tips, food prep tips, cleaning tips. etc.
I have a few to share as well.

 

[Joan1969]

Hi M Crane,

You do sound quite busy. I hope you enjoy most of your work; busyness is not too bad at all if you can just enjoy it. I have lots to do most days, but most of it I do enjoy except certain cleaning jobs and trying to handle it when the kids are not behaving or getting along.

I can’t help wondering if you might benefit from talking to your family about giving you more notice, or getting into the habit of bringing some food when they visit. Certainly if any food is ending up wasted I would do that. Food is money, after all. With five kids, I need lots of notice for visits from anyone.

I don’t have any brilliant cleaning tips. I just use the simplest supplies and try to get in all places eventually. I find I need to keep as little around as I can, ( I purged a lot of things this last winter for instance) so I find it possible to clean. For me, the best tool is my computer, since I find goal making or task organizing apps and software work to keep me motivated when otherwise I would not want to do anything.

My shopping style is to keep to a very select set of stores that offer good prices regularly. I try to buy only what the family and I need. I don’t really like to shop, except grocery shopping can be a pleasant task as long as it goes pretty quick.

My big challenge right now is handling the kids. A couple have learning disabilities, so it can get hairy. One kid or another always seems to ¨lose it¨ at the toughest times.
Hope you are having a good day.

Joan

 

[Regina7]

Hello-

I’m a wife, homemaker, homeschooling mom (one with learning problems), and I teach part-time. I am much calmer when my house is clean, the laundry is done, and dinner is ready by 6…but most days my house is less-than-perfect, we didn’t get all the schoolwork done, I have to heat something frozen, and someone has cried…or yelled. Or had a tantrum. Usually it’s me

Seriously, though, I wouldn’t trade my job for anything. But sometimes I wish that the ideal in my head somewhat matched reality.