Homemaking and the Role of the Apron
I’ve been in a homemaking funk lately. Not too bad but it has taken extra energy to get homemaking things done and I don’t like things going undone.
Sometimes I’ll focus heavily on one area of my household and the other areas suffer.
Lately I’ve really been into this homeschooling bit and everything has been suffering. My little Peanut is only 2.5 but she asks about everything and almost drives the whole homeschooling thing herself. So I got a little homeschooling book and some flashcards, some drawing paper, stickers, paint, more books, a file cabinet to keep it all in, some crayons, a book about shapes, some DVDs… you get the picture.
Needless to say the rest of my home has been suffering from a bit of neglect.
So out comes the apron. The trusty, not dusty, apron.
My mom wore an apron all the years I was growing up, and still does. She worked out of the home all of my childhood…and still does. My grandmother wore an apron and still does. She worked part time out of the home.
Even though my mom was a working (out of the home) mom she was still the best homemaker. All I learned I learned from her (before a few professionals taught me some extra tips). She got it all done and then some and I have to wonder if the apron had anything to do with it.
My mom’s apron is the style like a smock. It goes over your head and ties on both sides. It’s orange with little flowers all over it and I’ve seen that same apron for over 20 years. When our first son was stillborn my mom came over in her apron and cooked and cleaned for me for 2 weeks. She wore that apron and left if behind…by accident I came to discover as I was wearing it one day and she asked for it back.
My aprons… for I have four, are all the kind with the ties that go behind your neck and the ties in the back on your back. They are blue, black (2) and green because people were thinking of my husband when they gave me these aprons for gifts. He prefers the green one and yes he does wear an apron when he cooks.
I’ve been pulling out my aprons these last few days to help me get over my homemaking slump and low and behold they actually help! The kitchen has been cleaned, wiped down to be sure (no I’m not from the Midwest). The bathrooms scrubbed. I got some dusting in and the laundry is all caught up. The Peanut’s homeschooling has been moved to afternoons as that let’s me get some housekeeping done and she is not grumpy as in the am.
I think there is something to this homemaking and apron wearing. I have not thought too much about it all these years for I have always worn one (the foster case worker laughed when she came over to do a homestudy and I was wearing one, pooh on her). They are a part of my childhood memories and a permanent part of my home.
I hope this post was poetic and thoughtful. I’m not that poetic but I love my aprons. I have my eye on some vintage quilted ones at a store near me.
Wear an apron today!
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Yaaay!!! It’s very strange the effect they have one the ways of homekeeping. What a great present!
I was having a discussion about aprons with my stylish aunt who tends to turn her nose up at my homemaking ways. She has decided that the new very chic aprons might do! I don’t have one of those…yet.
Hey, guess what?! I got a surprise gift in the mail last week….
AN APRON!!!
And you know what else? Even though it’s not cute and frilly, I really do think it gives me superpowers in the home-keeping department!!!
I’ve put aprons on my Christmas lists this year because I’ve been wondering the same thing ~ if there isn’t something magical and nostalgically romantic about doing housework in a cute apron. I’m hoping it’ll work that way, anyway! Some days, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly the inspiration I’m lacking.