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| The Orange Seller | Enrique Serra y Auque |
What if our dream is to simply be a homemaker suitable for our families?
Nothing wrong with that, you might say.
True, but I can't be the only one who feels constantly bombarded by messages subtle and overt that says that the dream is not enough, that I can do more, I ought to do more and most of all, I deserve SO much more!
I'm sure we've all heard the call to arms to play "bigger" and take centre stage in the world's spotlight.
The media sings praises for the superwoman who can juggle husband, kids and a lucrative empire without batting an eyelash.
The women who chooses to devote their lives to the home and family are made to feel as if they are wasting their minds and talents when the "world needs their special gifts Now."
Certainly there are women who can juggle it all. They are gifted with particular strengths, temperaments and circumstances to want to pursue such a life. But with such stature comes bigger responsibilities. And perhaps they have weighed in the cost of accountability that comes with being in such positions.
Then there are those who have to reluctantly leave their families every morning in order to provide for their loved ones. Yet they long to be home with their children. My heart goes out to these women. May their yearnings one day come true.
And then there are folks, like me who prefer to live simpler lives and be at home in the fullest sense. We prefer nothing more than to mind our own business, caring for our families, pouring our energies discreetly into what truly matters.
This quiet work in the home nourishes us spiritually as much as it nourishes the family we are serving.
Thank goodness to the men who have valiantly relieved us of the duty of having to provide for the material necessities that keeps our children and ourselves safe and well. The demands of the outside world do not affect us and this frees us to devote ourselves to our intimate circle; strengthening the familial bonds that transcends time and space.
To us traditional women, family and home is our portfolio of investment. Yes, money is important and so is love. It may be a cliché but in my own humble opinion, there needs to be at least ONE person who is willing to take up the mantle of caring for its members, to be its gatekeeper and create out of her own hands a sense of belonging.
No matter how "simple" our dream of becoming a homemaker may be, there is no doubt that the world needs our contributions. As caretakers of a lasting legacy, we believe that when our souls have long left this plane of existence, our love continues to influence generations of children, grandchildren and many others whom we are blessed to have crossed our paths.
