My Personal Journey of Self-Discovery and Fulfillment as a Homemaker

I would like to take a moment to share a little more about myself. For over a decade now, I have been fulfilling the role of a homemaker. Admittedly, fully embracing this role has been a gradual process for me. It has taken some time for me to truly feel confident and proud not in my duties as a homemaker but with the title of homemaker and being completely comfortable in this role. With that in mind, I wanted to offer a different perspective and share my journey of becoming a homemaker and why this role is so meaningful to me, especially now. My hope is to shed light on the importance of homemaking, especially for modern mothers. By encouraging acceptance of this essential role and emphasizing the significance of holistic care and maintaining the home, we can work towards ensuring that homemaking remains relevant and respected in today's world.

The Homemaker Transition

Transitioning into the role of a homemaker started for me when my husband and I received orders to be stationed overseas. Before that, I had graduated from trade school and had a fulfilling job in the medical field as a medical assistant. While I usually juggled one or sometimes two jobs, my work at the assisted living facility was the most fulfilling. It was then that I realized my passion and envisioned myself owning a senior care facility in the future. 

After finally settling in overseas, I realized that this was the first time I had not had a job since I was able to enter the workforce with my work permit at the age of 15. Needless to say, I found myself in the role of a homemaker for the first time in my life. Not working and having an additional source of income was a new experience for me, but it allowed me to devote myself to my studies and my husband. Truth be told, I didn't recognize this as a homemaker's role, and I certainly didn't call myself that at the time. 

Stepping into Homemaking

When did I truly embrace homemaking? It was a gradual process. Upon returning to the States, pregnant with our first child, I planned to reinstate my licenses and resume working part-time at senior living facilities. However, I had to put my previous plans on hold due to unforeseen circumstances of my daughter arriving early. After our daughter arrived, my husband shared his belief that I was the best person to care for her. So, while I fully embraced motherhood, I also struggled with the desire to pursue a career as it seemed like a societal norm to be a Wife, Mom, and  Boss; remember seeing that phrase everywhere?

Well, just four months after the arrival of our daughter, with my husband deployed overseas, I discovered we were expecting our second child. This prompted me to reassess my priorities and really focus on cherishing these precious moments with our children. As much as I had aspirations to further my education and pursue a career, I realized that my role as a SAHM was my top priority.

Exploring My Identity and a Personal Realization

After almost two years with two under two, my son finished nursing, and I found myself with a newfound sense of freedom and opportunity. I thought to myself now was the time to pursue my academic goals and work towards completing my degree. Not long after that, I even got a little side hustle and started a home-based business as a travel business owner. With dedication and continuous learning, I found so much satisfaction in creating something that was entirely my own…(well, kind of).

I successfully booked travel and expanded my team of travel business owners while participating in meetings and conventions. I truly felt like a capable leader. However, over time, I began to recognize the impact of the Mom Boss culture on my children, family, and personal well-being. In a surprising turn of events, the 2020 pandemic allowed me the opportunity to reassess and make positive changes. 

The Pandemic Made Me Do It

In all honesty, my decision was fully influenced by the unique circumstances of the pandemic. While some may find it difficult to understand or even cringe at the idea of being grateful for such a challenging time, just know that my husband and I missed a lot of time together, including the birth of our son. So, for us, the pandemic allowed my family to come together in a way we had never been able to before. All the free time we had together now allowed us to reassess our values and recognize the areas where we were not aligned with our goals, finances, and relationships with each other.

During this time, we discovered that we truly valued a slower pace of living. We enjoyed simple activities like late-night binge-watching T.V., spending time with our children, experimenting with new recipes, starting new hobbies, and simply being present with each other. The absence of external commitments allowed us to focus on what was most important to us. This time of reflection made us realize that we wanted to live more intentionally, prioritizing quality family time and pursuing new adventures. Like many others, we also recognized the importance of becoming more self-reliant, but that’s a topic for another blog post.

Finding My Identity and Embracing My Role 

My children didn't deserve a mom who was always stressed out and exhausted everyday. They needed a mom who would be present and nurturing and give them her undivided attention. While I was certainly grateful for a flexible work-from-home gig that filled a void I thought I had, I was not at my best as a working mom. At least not in this marketing field, that is. And when I really thought about it, given the nature of the network marketing business model, I realized that I did not truly possess any tangible assets. As a result, I experienced a sense of disconnect from the business and myself professionally.

As I decided to close my home-based business, I found myself at a crossroads, unsure of my next steps. It was liberating to have the freedom to take a break and simply exist without any outside obligations. Knowing that returning to the corporate world was something I no longer desired, I let go of my aspirations of pursuing a career as a facility administrator and owner. Instead, I wanted to embrace the opportunity to live a life more in alignment. As a result of this shift, creating a life that resonated more with my goals and values is reflected in the name of this blog Mom Life Alignment.

Why I am a Homemaker

There are many reasons why I chose to be a homemaker, but the main reason is to create a more intentional, slower-paced life and nurturing environment for myself and my family. I thrived off a stressful, fast-paced lifestyle in the past, but I have realized that it is exhausting and often not fulfilling. I am grateful for all my ventures, education, and connections. Most, importantly, I am grateful to my husband for supporting me through everything and allowing me the opportunity to focus on being a homemaker, because it's a privilege that not many are afforded. Living a life with intention and purpose in my daily activities benefits me and my family in the greatest ways possible.

Monetizing Homemaking

If you were to assign a monetary value to the tasks of being a homemaker, such as caregiving, cooking, cleaning, laundry services, naturopathic care, and homesteading, you would soon realize that the responsibilities and skills involved are worth well over hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, and that's on the conservative side. Creating content, blogging, and working towards monetizing these new endeavors have again fueled my passion for helping others and achieving my objective of establishing a lasting legacy for my family. This time, I am creating my own products, setting my own prices, and I am legally in charge of every aspect of my business. Therefore, I am not just a rep but a legitimate business owner.

Reframing and Reclaiming Homemaking

In the past, homemaking was highly respected and valued as a profession. Unfortunately, nowadays, these skills are not prioritized and are often not taught in the home or schools. It is concerning that many of us may have excelled in various academic subjects but have never learned essential life skills such as cooking, budgeting, or childcare. It's no wonder why some young wives and mothers may have reservations about traditional homemaking roles. Given our cultural norms, many of us have fought deep beliefs that being a traditional homemaker holds little value! This couldn't be further from the truth, and having a homemaker in the family is greatly needed, now more than ever! 

To me, homemaking encompasses more than just household tasks and caring for our children. While mastering skills like laundry and cooking is important, it goes deeper than that. It involves instilling family values and routines into our daily lives. It means nurturing our children, so they have the freedom to explore their passions and interests. Above all, it's about creating a nurturing environment where our family feels secure and loved and can thrive. Embracing the role of homemaker has been incredibly fulfilling for me. At times, I wish I had embraced it sooner and not been swayed by societal expectations to be a working mom and contribute financially. The value I bring to my family cannot be measured in monetary terms. Homemaking may not be suitable for everyone, but it is something that resonates with me, and here's where I find fulfillment. 

Normalize Being the Maker of a Home

Although I appreciate traditional practices like canning, baking from scratch, and homesteading, being a homemaker today doesn't necessarily mean following a strict 19th-century model of the husband working full-time while the wife manages the household, children, and homeschools. Others, like myself, may choose to start a side business related to daily life or a hobby that can be managed while the children are at school to support and pursue their goals and dreams. As I think about the legacy I'll leave behind, I want it to include normalizing the care and keeping of the home. Cultivating a home is important work. Raising children, caring for home, instilling family values, and connecting with nature and our land are all significant elements of a fulfilling life.

I Am a Homemaker

Yup, I was guilty in the belief that it’s impossible for a woman to feel fulfilled and enjoy her days home full-time with children. Today, I beg to differ. At first, it was a hard realization because I was raised believing the phrase, “god bless the child who has their own." More often than not, I felt very unfulfilled, comparing myself to other badass "boss moms" and working wives out there. The shift, though, was being able to take it slow. I was no longer stressed about a task or rushing the kids, and I started to find value in the tasks related to caring for my family. With a little intentional effort each day, I started to see the magic in the mundane, and I have since come to appreciate these tasks as ways of showing my love for my family. Embracing being a homemaker has helped me live a life full of intention, gratitude, and conscious alignment. It is an honor and privilege to make homemaking my work. 

Thank you, Angie, for inspiring this blog post.

🪷Love & Alignment, 

Tynesha