A Revolution is Happening – Mothers are Training Their Daughters to be Homemakers
Many women in my generation were not raised – taught and trained – to effectively manage a household.
Our mothers wanted the best for us…they dreamed that we would be lawyers, doctors, professional athletes, etc. They dreamed big for us and got excited when we got accepted to the college of our choice. They told their friends how proud they were that their daughter got the “big” job. They applauded their daughters decision to wait to have children for many years so she could establish her career. They prepared her well for her life’s calling.
Or did they?
I have no doubt that our mother’s did what they thought was right and good. The fact remains, however, that many women decided that their life calling was in the home, raising their children and being a homemaker. In the midst of career dreams, another dreamed nestled in their hearts, the dream of being a stay-at-home mother. When they left the career track to raise a family, they were not prepared for just how hard it was going to be.
Women are waking up to the reality that if one is to stay home, raise a family, and take of a home, one must be prepared. The women who were given everything they needed to succeed in the career world were lacking the one thing they needed to be successful in the home – intentional homemaker training. Women who have decided to stay home know how hard it is, and they don’t want their daughters to have start behind the eight ball like they did. These women are choosing to be intentional about raising their daughters in the homemaking arts.
It sounds crazy in this day and age, right?
I mean, isn’t this homemaker stuff straight out of the 1800′s?
Nope. It’s straight out of God’s Word:
“…train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children, To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kindhearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited).” Titus 2:4-5, Amplified Bible
I’m not here to debate working women versus stay-at-home moms versus women who have to work, I’m here to point out a revolution that is taking place. Women are turning towards their daughters and saying, “I will teach and train and disciple you to be a homemaker for the glory of God.”
How do I know a revolution is taking place? I launched RaisingHomemakers.com two days ago to be a place of encouragement and help for women who are training their daughters to be homemakers. In two days that website has generated over 11,000 visits, nearly 2,000 Facebook fans, and over 500 subscribers. It clearly struck a nerve.
Women want something better for their girls.
So do I.
SO exciting, Sarah Mae!! Thank you for taking this step of faith – it will be awesome to see how God will use it!
.-= Kristi Stephens´s last blog post … The weak things of this world =-.
This makes me cry. I am so amazed at what God is doing in the hearts of women. The longing and desire that is out there is inspiring. Thank you Sarah Mae for doing this. What a needed ministry. What a blessing!!
.-= Tiffany´s last blog post … .My Children are the Greatest. =-.
I've always figured that women will have a home to make, whether they be at home most of the time or need to leave the home to bring in a paycheck. So any debate about which side is the better side to be on doesn't belong at a place trying to help us all make the best homes we are able.
Kim, exactly! I hope the site will be an encouragement for all women!
I just love your new site. What an awesome responsibility it is to raise godly young women.
.-= Stacy´s last blog post … Where am I? =-.
This is just beautiful, Sarah Mae! Thank you!
Amen, Sarah Mae! My mom taught me some basic homemaking skills, but my parents' real expectation was that I would be in the workforce.
I have no daughters, but I fully agree that it's important to teach them to be homemakers–and to teach them that being a homemaker is a "real" job!
.-= Melissa´s last blog post … How Does Your Garden Grow? – June 3 =-.
Sarah Mae~
It is AMAZING. Brian and I have marveled at the overwhelming response to Raising Homemakers since Tuesday. God is working.
By the time I tweeted, added the button, liked, and subscribed, there were over 1000 comments for Tuesdays post.
I have written a post to enter Tuesdays giveaway just one more time. But it is a scary post for me. No one yet realizes the extent of how we are raising our daughters, and our parents and grandparents will think we have finally gone mad. Brian and I plan to go over it one more time this evening (it's really very similar to this post of yours, I even quoted the same scripture). I am going to post it. Because it needs posting. And we want to be one of those families who takes part in this Revolution.
God bless you for being bold, and doing what is right for our daughters, and launching this website.
We pray it will open up many, many doors for many, many grandmothers, mothers, and daughters to embrace their God-given Calling.
The Bailey Family
.-= Kathi´s last blog post … Thrifty Thursday =-.
Kathi, you are walking the narrow path my friend, and it is an upward one…but oh the beauty in obedience! Thank you for your encouraging and uplifting words today…I look forward to your post!
Me too! I love this post….intentional about training our girls up to be homemakers! I was not trained like this, and it has been a challenge for me to stay home with my daughter. I desire for things to be different for her!
I joined a couple of days ago to affirm what you ladies are doing!
Your daughter is so sweet! She's like a mini-Sarah!
It's hard work sometimes to train our children, but I am already seeing the fruit from what I feel hasn't been much training at all! My hubby and son were out today and my oldest daughter (14) wanted to make lunch, then proceeded to make no-bake cookies with our little daughter and guess what they did after that! They cleaned the living room from top to bottom, dusting, de-cluttering and vacuuming!
It took work to get them to the point where they could do those things without my coaching them every step of the way, but not as much work as you would think!
Sorry to ramble on, but it really is such a joy to see our girls' grow in these areas both in attitude and skill!
I have a long way to go and many areas that I still need work in, but this is a source of encouragement for me to keep plodding along!
.-= Michelle´s last blog post … Springtime Love-Transformed! =-.
I don't have a daughter, but I am still in love with the new site!
The other day, I was thinking about my boys. When they get older, will they know how to treat a lady? I realized then the awesome responsibility I have – to be a lady so my boys can learn how to treat one. And I think homemaking is a huge part of that. I want them to find a girl who is nurturing, loving, a Godly woman. One who is not afraid to take care of my son. They won't know what that looks like unless I model it for them.
That's where the site comes in for me. I hope to learn to be a better homemaker (I've learned a TON this year already!!) so my boys can learn what a true lady is.
.-= Rachel @ the science of music´s last blog post … these dirty shoes =-.
Hi Rachel! You should check out the new site http://www.themobsociety.com – all about raising godly men!
Wow, Sarah Mae. That's incredible! What a testament to your hard work and the amazing work of God. I was one of those girls who was raised to reach for the stars, which of course, were not in the home. I've been married almost 17 years, but I would not have called myself a homemaker until about 7 years ago. It's really counter-culture to want to raise homemakers. But you are absolutely right – a revolution is happening! Thank you for taking us on this journey; I'm so excited to be along for the ride!
This is such an awesome post Sarah Mae. This has been stirring in my heart for some time. I was not trained to be a homemaker as a young girl…and I want something so different for my daughter.
.-= Tiffany´s last blog post … Keeping His Word in My Heart =-.
I am so writing a post. Thanks for the inspiration.
.-= Cindy´s last blog post … Contests 5/27/10 =-.
I love this photo of your daughter on the chair – adorable!!! At the end of the day – these are the basics to life that women need to know (whether they work or not). And like another commentor posted we must also work hard to raise boys worthy of these girls! I'm strving along side of you!
Let's raise Godly sons and Godly daughters and someday start a website where these kids can find each other – lol!! Just kidding!!!
Persevere sista!
Love you,
Courtney http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com
.-= Courtney (Women Living Well)´s last blog post … Be The Woman Your Man Needs =-.
You certainly have struck a nerve….and for one I am sooooo glad you did!! I am ready to learn and to teach my two little girls all that I can! And to see the attacks that you have engendered on FB, I think the enemy is really, really upset with you!! Keep on going!! Prayers and blessings for you!!
Thank you so much for RaisingHomemakers.com! It is so amazing how the launch of the site came at the perfect time for me. I became a mother halfway through college and pushed through to graduation. I held down a job for several months immediately after graduation, and then I realized that I was extremely unhappy working outside the home.
I've been blessed to get the opportunity to come home full time, and it is definitely a huge learning curve! I do not have any homemaking skills (my mother showed me how to do a few things during my childhood, but she never pushed me to really LEARN them).
I have a 2-year-old daughter who loves to help around the house as much as she can, and I am so glad that I'll have the encouragement of Raising Homemakers (as well as all the other blogs out there from fellow stay-at-home mothers, daughters and wives).
Thank you so much!
.-= Lauren´s last blog post … The War on Womanhood =-.
The revolution is happening and it is HUGE! And not just in one place….I'm seeing it all over, women of all ages waking up to who God wants them to be and He is giving us the tools and resources to succeed in that calling. Thank you for being obedient to follow your calling! We need each other.
Thank you for your blog and your page on Facebook. I am trying to raise my daughter to become a good homemaker after not having been raised that way myself nor being a good one myself. I struggle, but with God's grace we will get through most especially because of the support and encouragement from ladies like you. Thank you.
As a SAHM of 2 girls and one boy (all under the age of 4), I am definitely part of the revolution along with the other friends in my Moms Bible study. We talk about the art of homemaking ALL the time! Thanks for putting this out there. I look forward to reading more in the future!
Such a wonderful idea! I am sure it will help many!
Blessings,
Mrs. White
.-= Mrs. White´s last blog post … A Slower Pace at Home =-.
I think the Raising Homemakers site is wonderful! I hope I have a little girl some day. :)
Right now I only have one child, a little boy. I am following the M.O.B. society and am enjoying that site!
.-= Heather´s last blog post … Before and After =-.
I'm raising three little girls under 5. It seems so hard to raise daughters in this way. I'm hoping to learn from you site and others out there.
AMEN!!!!
I was not trained to keep my home; I was, instead, trained to be a revolutionary in the career world and find a man who would "split" the homekeeping tasks 50/50. The example I was given was that my mother made more than my father (financially), handled all the finances, TOLD my father that he would be the family cook, and the cleaning tasks were doled out to me and my brother.
When I started my own family and determined that I would stay home with my own children, I realized all too quickly that the world's "training" was useless to me in fulfilling the role that God had intended for me ONLY. I was prepared for the world, but crippled as a mom and wife.
It is offensive to my mother that I am raising my six daughters to be keepers at home–and not femi-men. I feel that God's design for the home and family is not only best, it's the ONLY way to produce godly children. Not popular, but neither was Christ in His own time.
Preach on!
.-= Kris´s last blog post … Is it really so shocking? =-.
Thank you for this article. I couldn't agree more. I was a girl raised with no training in homemaking. I worked for 10 years had three children while working, I am home now with them and struggling all the time with how to balance. I was just telling some friends, that their is no supervisor to provide you with quarterly reviews on what you are doing great, not so great and where to improve. I am in need of help, so I have began attending church to become closer with Jesus and learn more from him. Thank you again for this article, as I want to teach my two girls all paths, so when they choose which one for them, the are more prepared then I was.
.-= Summer Dabalack´s last blog post … Ten Things To Smile About =-.
There's such a balance you know? I must admit that I still get a bit of a cringe when I read things like this, even though I know I shouldn't. My mom definitely taught me (and my brother) how to cook, clean, etc. and I'm incredibly grateful…but she also taught us the joy of reading and learning. As an unintentionally single woman, that second part has been more important to my life thus far (though I'm hoping to have a great need for that first part at some point!). I'm thankful that I was sent on a path that allowed me to be a successful single, but hopefully has also prepared me for marriage and motherhood.
.-= Ronnica´s last blog post … Moving Moving Moving Weekend =-.
Ronnica, I think there is a common misconception that if you are trained to be a homemaker you forgo a brain…not true at all! We should learn homemaking arts, which to me, includes reading and learning as we will use our talents in ministry and hospitality…plus, the joy of it! :)
I have often felt alone with my perspective of training daughters. Thank you for the encouragement!
Good afternoon, well it's afternoon here as I type. *smile* Wow! This sparks so many thoughts in my mind I am not sure I can type them all here without making an entry of my own, so I will keep it as short as possible.
There are ladies who have been brought up with the expectation and therefore the hopes of having a career outside the home.
Then there are ladies who have married and want children, just not yet, their heart is not in it due to the training they got or the kids they have been around. *smile/sigh*
There are ladies who made some foul decisions and now must work to provide food and shelter for their children.
There are ladies who have husbands who need or want them to work to help lighten their finantial load.
And I cannot forget those ladies who stay home by the grace of their husbands who find a way to provide for the family on the one income.
Every lady has been blessed with a chance to make a decision, mostly before entering merriage since they are at that point under the submission of their father, but we have a choice in who we marry and then what we shall do once we are married is a direct responce to what our beloveds request of us.
If we are wise we will find the blessings in the life we have focusing in on what the Lord has given us rather than what "Suzy" next door has, thereby finding the joy in our lives.
I now will close by sharing my thanks that the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to stay home yet am surrounded by ladies in the church and other home makers who are quite busy outside the home with no time to encourage or uplift one another. May God continue to grow us all to be the ladies He has called us to be. It's okay to be the one in the home, that doesn't mean we don't get out just means the Lord and family come first. *smile* In that we can find joy though when we have been brought up and are surrounded by other ladies putting an emphasis on "contributing to society" this trail is no more "easy" than the young mom without a husband. The path is long and only with the Lord can any of us make it. Know that God loves you and I appriciate your encouraging words here. Sincerely, Mommy of two little blessings & so much more!
If I ever have a girl, I'll head on over!! :)
.-= S Club Mama´s last blog post … Potty Training: Day 4 (frustration) =-.
You are so right about the way we were raise!!! I'm 31 and still remember that my mother taught me at a very young age that I should get a good job, make lots of money just in case my marriage failed?!!! How crazy was that!
Homemaking skills were not taught but being a good student was pressured on me!!!I wish I had learn how to be a good wife and mother and homemaker! I'm slowly learning but it's not easy, I'm very blessed with a husband that is helping me along the way and encouraging me in being what the Lord wanted me to be!
We have 3 little girls (one was just born on Sunday so she is not on the training team yet LOL) But her older sister are in training and they are loving it! It's never to early to start our oldest is 3 years old and middle child is 18 months!
Thanks for this post!
.-= Renee´s last blog post … Not as we plan : A birth story =-.
I understand that some women decide that homemaking is what they want to do with their life, and that's great! But, to make it seem like that is their God-given duty and that it's selfish and "un-Godly" to decide against having children and to choose a path as a career-woman is downright ignorant. I would love to hear someone argue their case that homemaking and child-rearing is what women were designed to do.
Despite my mother staying home with us until my younger sister started school, we were not taught any home-making skills. And not just in a never-got-round-to-it way, they were deliberately with-held, as my mother didn't want us to have to work as hard as she had as a child (invalid mother, flake sister, she took over all housekeeping duties at about age 8). As a result, when I left home at 20, I could cook a grand total of 1 dish, and didn't even know how to run a washing machine – my husband has taught me almost everything I know about looking after the house, and to be perfectly honest, I am absolutely no good at it.
Now, as the mother of a 5yr old boy and a 1.5yr old girl, I'm determined not to let the same thing happen to either of them. Already my daughter follows me around, copying me as I take care of the house as best I can.
Posts and sites like this are such a huge encouragement, that I'm not crazy for wanting my daughter to know better, and that other people are in the same boat having little childhood experience.
Amen! I was *not* raised to be a homemaker, and learning it all from scratch is hard! I am so thrilled to be able to teach my daughter, even as I'm learning myself.
.-= Tiana Krenz´s last blog post … One Million Arrows =-.
This is a beautiful post. I want to raise my 2 daughters to be Godly homemakers as well. It was always the HIGHEST calling for me!
I make spelling errors on my blog on the time, and wanted to tell you that on one of your last paragraphs it should be "versus" not "verses".
God Bless you and your wonderful blog!!
Oooh I have been soo excited about this new site ever since you announced it and I am so excited that it is FINALLY here :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to d this! It is going to be such a blessing to soo many people!!
And I feel like since our parents generations were so focused on women working outside the home and finally their full fullfillment in that that as we raise children we will see the mistake that that was and try to actually raise homemakers :)
I am very excited to see what you guys have in store!!
That is SUCH great news! I just posted the scripture you quoted, on my FB, to try to get others to think about this high calling as well.
.-= Maellen Blodgett´s last blog post … RaisingHomemakers.com =-.
So excited to be a part of this and learn from the other women as well!!
Amen! Thank you for all the hard work you put into your blogs. The Lord is definitely using you! Blessings to you!
What a blessing to see so many posts on a brand new site!!! I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us. I have not had a chance to completely read over the many meaningful and touching posts, but I will add mine anyway :0)
I decided last week to start start homeschooling my daughter (who will be 7 this month) as I have been HSing my son (age 10 in July). It is my strongest desire now to raise them as God wants us to raise "his" children. I want my daughter to be a lady and my son a gentleman in every regard. So much has been lost through generations on how just basic etiquette should be towards each other.
What a thrill it is to find a blog with so many posts and sponsors that support this very ideal we all desire.
Thank you and may God bless us all on this journey,
Julie
Amen! Great post!!!!
.-= Amber´s last blog post … What I Want For Him… =-.
so far behind in this, but wanting to catch up and give my daughters the freedom to choose intentional homemaking as an alternative to getting out there in young adulthood to be like "all the boys"~ So much of the challenge is modeling that I enjoy homemaking as well, yet that is very very hard for me. Keep writing, Sarah Mae
Now we need a site for mom's of sons. I only have boys. I recently asked one of our pastor's wives who has already raised her son (and he is one godly man) if she'd meet with me and some other mom's of sons in my home so we could ask her questions about how she raised a godly son. She agreed and I'm working on getting the group together.
I'm also pleased that Doorposts.com agreed to give me their book "Plants Grown Up" free in exchange for a review and some blog exposure. I look forward to using it in my homeschooling of my boys.
All that to say, I want and am pursuing the necessary help I need to purposefully raise my boys to be godly young men.
.-= Tracy @ Hall of Fame Moms´s last blog post … Hard at work. =-.
Tracy – check out themobsociety.com – it's for boys! :)
What a great success! I'ts amazing the work you are doing…all for the glory of God.
Thank you!
.-= Tania´s last blog post … ¡No lavamos más pañales! =-.
I only have a second to comment, but I have hours of comments to make!
In my heart, I always knew I wanted to me a wife and mom. I didn't desire "more" – I knew that was an amazing, awesome, fulfilling job in and of itself!
My mom, however, told me from early on that I needed a degree, I must be able to support myself, no matter what. I come from a long line of women who don't trust men to stick around. Funny how you don't tend to pick a man after God's heart, or build him up, when you have that mindset.
To make a long story short, I did go to school. I became a nurse, and I loved it. It was even a ministry, in many ways. But I nearly lost my beautiful family because of it. Having the ability to support myself, and being around other "independent" women, led me to see all of my husband's faults.
We came painfully close to divorce two times in three years, once before I became pregnant with our first child, and once after. I actually visited two divorce lawyers the second time. How that pains my heart now. Thank you, Father, for saving me from myself!
I am fully home now. I do assist my husband with his career. I get to be with our boys all the time. My heart cries out with fulfillment and happiness more than it ever has before.
I know I am where God wants me to be, doing what He designed me to do. I am praying that more of our Christian sisters will be able to throw off the world's lies and see God's beautiful design for our lives.
Hooray!!! Yippee!!! This is all just so exciting. When you first announced this idea waaaay back in the day, I couldn't wait!
What strikes me is how innate these homemaking skills are to my daughter (and to me, I suppose, although I'm just now starting to ponder this). She wants to cook. She desires to keep things orderly. She loves to take care of others. If I didn't nurture this part of her and allow her to participate alongside me, I think I'd be stifling who she really is on the inside – who God made her to be.
Can't wait to read more!
.-= Kristy Kish´s last blog post … Big News, Big Giveaway! =-.
I have to admit, when i saw you write about this the other day, i went over to the site, but I didn't stay long… i thought, this isn't for me… i'm a working mom and I will probably never be a "homemaker".
i do see how it would be important to train our daughters to be homemakers, regardless of whether they stay home or work. i hope i can find some relevance in this site, even though I feel like the odd-man out as a working mom
Julie, I know you will still find the site helpful…at least I hope! You are welcome there friend! :)
You have such an amazing perspective and reading this post just blessed my heart! I always felt like an odd man out growing up because I knew I wanted to be a homemaker (at the time I didn't have a title for it :)
Thank you for your encouragement with my own daughters!
.-= Theresa´s last blog post … Easy Biscuit Recipe of Love =-.
I think it's AWESOME that women are desiring to be skilled in the arts of homemaking again and teaching their daughters to value who they can be as a wife and mother. Great news about RaisingHomemakers.com! I can't wait to check it out :D
.-= Kristine McGuire´s last blog post … Talk To Da Hand! =-.
Thank you so much for your new site! I am a homemaker and I love it and I want to raise my daughters to be Godly homemakers. I really want to post on my blog about your new site, but have to admit I am scared that I will "offend" friends who aren't raising their daughters in the same way.
.-= Katie´s last blog post … Microwave Potato Chips =-.
Keepers At Home is a wonderful organization for promoting training girls to be Godly home makers. Loved reading your post.
http://www.keepersofthefaith.com/category/Keepers…
.-= christina brown´s last blog post … Desiring Love =-.
This was me! My mother was a single working mother and I was raised to join the workforce… when I was pregnant with our third daughter, my husband and I were convicted to have me be a SAHM and homeschool. I couldn't have been more lost! I wasn't organized and often my husband came home to a disaster. Very slowly and with the guidance of several friends, I now clean by schedule (no more laundry piles!), menu plan, make lists and have a very happy husband. = ) And now I'm passing all of this knowledge to my daughters…
.-= Susan´s last blog post … Our Own Little Miracle =-.