The Art of Homemaking

Women of the 21^st century are no longer confined to their traditional roles. They no longer are homemaker; in gratitude to the development of women education, they are now professionals that contribute to the nation economy. These women subsequent to tying the knot would later embrace the traditional role of home maker mutually with their professional roles.  Indeed maintaining and striking a balance between these two roles is quite exigent in nature.

Contrary to the women in the 50’s and 60’s, the 70’s saw women entering the workforce in immensity.  My mum and my mother in law was the first of these generation, my mum had a wonderful secretarial career, followed later with a little in modeling and acting. My mother in law was a teacher for 30 over years she recently retired early this year. I have grown up seeing these women tackle these two demanding role as professionals and homemaker. Unlike now education in the 50’s and 60’s stressed not only in academic excellence but also to produce outstanding homemakers. I can singlehandedly testify to this since everything that I learn today in the art of homemaking I have learned from my mother and my grandmother school textbooks.

So how do women in the 21^st century cope with this dual task; should we delegate this task to the Indonesian maids so that we could focus more on our professional development.  I grew up with a governess and a maid meaning at one time we had two servants in the house; nonetheless they did not take over the role of homemaking their role is mainly to assist my mother in her daily task.

I would advocate as the women of the 21^st century we should embrace these twofold roles with grace. We should strive and attempt to contribute to our traditional intended role and modern prescribed roles to safeguard the family institution. By no means should we leave this role to Indonesian maid, hence this move is fatal to the family institution. A woman is naturally created to be a wife and a mother so we must come to terms with this natural function and struggle to poise this with our modern stipulated function.

So how to we accomplish this balance: I would modestly offer a few advices; based on my delicate experiences.

      Be organize

Starts off with a schedule of daily task, weekly task and monthly task

Do not procrastinate

Once the schedule is done follow it carefully, do not put on hold or delay the schedule

      Be industrious

Clean as you go, try to do more than one thing at one time : eg cooking while doing laundry. Pick up clothes put them in the cloth hamper. Make sure the house is tidy before you retire to your bed.

      Housework vs. Office work

Try your best not  to bring home office work since by doing that it would disrupt housework schedule
Take Pride
Take pride in a work well done, a tidy house a well cooked meals, how much effort you put on preparing your husband work cloth from ironing to matching ties , tie clips and cufflinks
Treat yourself

When all is done reward yourself with something, spa, a favorite tv show or reading make sure you have enough rest. So you would have enough energy and vitality to manage these challenging roles

      Be Sincere

Convince yourself your doing this because Allah, and this an act of Ibadah, Allah would reward every act of sincerity with remuneration superior that any worldly enterprise could ever accomplish