A Place to Belong: How to Spend More Time at Home

In the midst of your busy life, have you ever wondered how to spend more time at home? There’s something to be said for staying home.  The world is full of activities, errands, rehearsals, practices—you name it.  Meanwhile, too many meals on the run or around the TV, hours in the car and no clean socks multiply until your stress level reaches the breaking point.  What’s a mom to do?  Here are a few ideas:
Plan meals and buy groceries once a week.  Quick trips to the store add up financially, emotionally and time-wise.  One “quick” trip equals the stress of knowing you need to go, getting ready, driving, shopping, waiting in line, driving home, unloading and then cooking under duress.  It’s like you’re back to square one on the board game of cooking supper.

Limit your family’s activities!  Season by season, carefully evaluate what you’re willing to drive to, pay for and wait on.  Multiply by number of children, subtract for babies or toddlers and be realistic.  Husbands are notoriously accurate in determining how much wives should be involved in because they have to live with the stressed woman.  Ask him (and then don’t jusify, argue or ignore his advice).

Make home a pleasant place to be.  I don’t know about you, but when my home is orderly and pretty, I’d rather be there than anywhere else.  Chaos and dirt can cause us to want to escape.  Trouble is, it’s still there when you get home.

Make hard decisions. If you’re already in over your head, it may be time to blow the whistle and make some changes to cut back on outside-the-home responsibilities.  My husband always tells me to feel free to take his name in vain and tell others “my husband said I can’t” because people don’t often question you or try to talk you into it when the hubby said no.  I promise the organization will go on without you.  You won’t look back someday and wish you’d added more stress and busy-ness to your life.

Guard your home life.   Home is where the memories of childhood and family life are made.  Sure, you remember the big game and that great performance, but home should be where your family “belongs.”  Hours spent in the calm, nurturing, safe place called home will strengthen your family for the necessary hours in a tough world.  Make sure there’s plenty of home life to fill up their hearts.

6 Comments

  1. AWESOME ! I FAIL ALOT IN WANTING TO EAT OUT INSTEAD OF COOKING JUST FOR SOMETHING TO DO TO GET AWAY OR GET OUT ! WE CAN’T AFFORD IT and the food isn’t near as good as i cook or as healthy ! I APPRECIATE YOUR ARTICLES THEY ARE EYE OPENERS !

  2. I really like what you have to say there.  Plus, in homeschooling, some days do not always go so smoothly, so lets try to keep the rest of the day pleasant.  Very good advice about asking your husband, especially the part of then not disregarding it.  Been there, done that, try not to do that any more.  Trust your husbands’ Godly wisdom.  That’s why he is your head.

  3. Amen, sister!  Love the “feet” picture 😀

  4. Hi Charlotte,
    Thanks for the reminder to make our home a place where we all feel we belong. I really like being at home, but often feel frustrated by the state of it. I’m working on getting those things that bother me done, instead of endlessly planning to do them. Thanks for the reminder to guard my family’s home life.

  5. Charlotte Siems says:

    Little by little, you’ll get there, Ruth! Try spending just 10 minutes a day on a project you’ve been putting off. It will add up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *