Homemaking Is Hot
By Isabelle Redfield
A few Sundays ago, I was listening to the Father’s homily when he spoke the old adage, “saving the best for last.” Within the next beat, he reminded our parish that in the Creation, God made woman last. We all know men and women differ in their immutable characteristics. The two sexes are, by nature, born to adopt somewhat different skill sets, interests, and inclinations. For many women, especially the homebodies among us, these inclinations come in the form of a bracket term coined “homemaking.”
Due to the societal push to expand working opportunities for women outside the domestic sphere, homemaking strikes some as a shallow term that limits women and their many talents. However, I believe homemaking illuminates and captures the intrinsic beauty of a woman’s heart.
To me, homemaking represents the desire within a woman to make the world around her beautiful. It’s a conscious effort to do the best with what you’ve been given and to think creatively and strategically to please yourself and those with whom you share your life. Many women do so by attempting to create the most serene environment possible. As a young girl, I noted my mother’s keen eye for design and interior decorating. Two elements of design, especially important for the home, are curation and appreciation. For me, these two elements extend beyond homemaking and serve as pillars that guide my life.
Despite rarely expressing their feelings on the matter, I truly believe that men crave a woman’s attention to detail, thoughtfulness, eye for aesthetics, and the passion involved in homemaking. Men value these feminine traits, in part, because it’s comfortable, but also because they often can’t bring to life such gifts themselves. Homemaking is not about expensive furnishings in the foyer or extravagant art hanging on the walls. Rather, homemaking is about making the space you inhabit as comfortable and as lovely as possible while eliminating excess and superfluity. It’s making sure clothes are prepared fresh and clean for wear tomorrow. It’s arranging flowers whenever possible (perhaps with the financial savvy to pick a bouquet from the garden outside). It’s knowing when and how to set a table properly. Perhaps it comes in the form of keeping a bowl of seasonal candy around for visiting company.
To me, homemaking is a tradition passed down through generations. Certain components of homemaking, like cooking, may skip a generation or two, but traditions of the home will always speak directly to the heart. Homemaking is an investment of time and creative energy that reflects your care for yourself and your family and pays dividends in your quality of life and general well-being. I firmly believe that men appreciate these instincts more than we comprehend. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, homemaking is hot.
Photo via Architectural Digest
