Series: The Art of the Home

A while back my husband brought in a bunch of boxes full of old National Geographic magazines, apparently someone had been collecting them for years, the oldest ones are black and white from the 1920s, the intention was to sell them as we have been selling books for internet and if the merchandise is free, much better; the problem is that these magazines have not been sold and to this day we have decided to continue selling only the inventory we have without adding more, even getting rid of some low value books. Since these boxes of magazines take up space in a small living room in our bedroom, they have almost gone to waste. The problem is that we use them, as we educate at home, these magazines are full of information, photos and maps that we can incorporate into our classes; that is why I have allowed them to agglomerate the space they occupy.

In winter we spend most of the time inside the house and I am also on a break from my part-time job, so I take the opportunity to organize, debug and work on remodeling projects in our house. Among other things, I also have more time to read and since these magazines are very visible, I began to leaf through them from time to time. Let me tell you that the most entertaining thing for me are the ads they contain, like the one in the photo in this article. It would never have occurred to me to compare rings with rims, but we'll talk about that later. What I want to tell you is how these photos began to make me reflect on how I see and how society sees the work of a housewife today. My intention is not to criticize modern ways, but rather to praise the art of the home; that series of daily activities that are of vital importance for our physical and emotional well-being.

It doesn't matter if you are married or single, with children or without children, we all have that need to feel comfortable and safe in our home. These photos from old advertisements remind me of just that, the housewives of the past, who diligently and carefully took care of the home; not because it is their obligation but as an act of service. Going back to the 1945 tire advertisement, it shows excited brides with their rings and the illusion of their new life as owners of their own home. The question they use is, are they all the same? No! The difference is in the brightness.

The analogy they propose is not to be carried away by appearances. Compared to other tires, the one they offer is of better quality because it lasts longer; therefore, they give you more time and safety behind the wheel, which is tangible proof that you have bought the best.

Although it is a funny and confusing announcement at the same time, they have left me thinking. If we compare the art of the home with a product that someone wants to sell us, we can make sense of it. Many will tell you: being a housewife is a thing of the past, working all day, leaving your children in the care of others, buying food in a restaurant and paying someone to clean your house and take care of your dog is what you should do.

Others will tell you: as my mother and grandmother did, you must get up at dawn, prepare lunches, sweep the porch, start the meal, hang out the first batch of clothes at dawn, do all the housework with slippers and an apron if possible. and never, ever, go to sleep with a dirty kitchen.

Both scenarios have their advantages and disadvantages, I don't want to take sides in either one, I just want to remind you that it is important, nowadays most of us live very busy lives and maybe you are one of those who works all day away from home and when When you arrive, you would like to find a tidy and beautiful house where you can rest. But obviously when you get home it's time to prepare dinner, clean up, prepare things for the next day, etc. and you can't help but feel frustrated and exhausted.

If you are one of those who is at home in the most difficult and rewarding job of all, raising children and you are tired of collecting toys, cleaning up messes, making food, fighting with that never ending pile of dishes and doing endless laundry all As you take care of your children, you may find yourself dreaming of the day when everything is in order just as you left it the day before or a few minutes ago.

In both scenarios there is that desire for security, comfort and order, so what I propose is to change our attitude, let the art of the home become what its name implies, an art, not an obligation from which we cannot escape. , none of us are Cinderella to ask the animals to help us, but if we can delegate activities to the people who live with us and that way we can have a little more time and energy to dedicate ourselves to turning chores into an art and thus turn our home into a masterpiece that we and our families can enjoy and even remember and perhaps pass on to the next generation.

Join me in these series. and let's recover the love for the art of the home. I will be sharing practical tips for cleaning, organization, decoration, cooking recipes and, above all, many words of encouragement, most of them based on the Bible, but some will simply be common sense.  

I hope you can join this journey and remember: the difference is in the brightness!