Dear Homemaker Who Asks: “What Am I Supposed to do All Day?”

“I don’t know how to structure my day.  I was never taught this growing up. What am I supposed to do all day?” 

I’ve got some ideas on where you can start. You’ll need some sort of schedule or routine.  Ask your husband what his priorities are for your day, for you and the children.  Write out a vision, your vision for your family and home.  You need to know where you’re going in your homemaking endeavors.  “If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”

If you’re especially struggling, here is a list of tasks homemakers should be doing on a regular basis.  Please read through it all, there may be something here you’ve not thought of before.

A homemaker should daily:

• Pray with her children
• Pray for her husband and children
• Read the Bible, even if it’s just one chapter and even if it’s to the kids (a busy mom with lots of little ones doesn’t always have time alone)
• Wash dishes
• Wash, dry and put away laundry (1-5 loads a day depending on your families needs)
• Get dressed!
• Get the children cleaned up and dressed each morning
• Sweep the floors
• Wipe kitchen counters
• Keep the bathroom picked up
• Play with her children
• Make time for her husband
• Prepare meals
• Eat with her family
• Clean the table after each meal
• Teach her children
• Train her children

This is enough to keep any of us occupied throughout the day.  Homemaking is clearly a full-time calling, but one that some may not want to reduce to a list of “chores” like the one above.  I created it to offer ideas, not to weigh you down.  Lists are good and effective, but love needs to cover all the activities we do each day.

Scheduling is one way to accomplish daily chores and family activities.  If that word scares you though, try a routine.  Routines are much more flexible.  For example, instead of scheduling your day in 15-30 minute increments, you can develop a routine.  I have used schedules in the past and benefited from such a system, but the dynamics of life have changed and our family works better on routines right now.

Here was our family’s routine several years ago:

By 9:00 am:

• The children and I get cleaned up and dressed for the day
• Make and prepare breakfast
• Reading with Dad
• Morning chores (feed animals, empty dishwasher, fix breakfast, etc.)
• Clean up after breakfast
• 30 minutes in the garden

Between 9:00 and 12:00 pm

• School work

From 12:00 to 3:00 pm

• Lunch (prepare, eat and clean up)
• Afternoon chores
• Bible reading
• More school work
• Naps for the younger children

From 3:00 to 5:00 pm

• Yard work/our weekly chore
• Free/play time

From 5:00 to Bedtime

• Dinner (prepare, eat and clean up)
• Kids ready for bed (baths, etc.)
• Family Bible study
• Younger children go to bed
• Time with the older children and my husband

You can see how a routine will still encourage you to get quite a bit of work accomplished each day but is much less demanding than a schedule.  But like I said, we have been very blessed by using schedules in the past.  You’re the  manager in your home and must choose what works best for your household.

If you are looking for specific training in this area, the Elements of Christian Homemaking Course is available as a self paced option that you can choose with or without the planner.