HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT, STRAIGHT FROM YOUR OWN OVEN

PANDEMIC HOMEMAKING TURNED OUT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE SKILLS WE NEVER KNEW WE HAD AND PROBABLY NEVER KNOW WE WANTED

→ By Greer Krige, Lifestyle Content Creator

I have always considered myself a modern, career woman. Yes, I have a family and I’m also focused on my job and thus am far too busy to make anything that can be bought at the shops.

I loathe the term ‘homemaker’ finding it sexist and incongruent with my independent woman beliefs. It also doesn’t quite fit with the vision I had for myself powering through my day after the kids were successfully deposited at school.

Then came 2020 and the pandemic and all previous notions went out the window.

Lockdown afforded me the time to explore new activities and mostly, new versions of myself. Who knew I would be dapper hand at sewing and heaven-forbid baking! I’ve unleashed my inner happy homemaker and I love it.

I can make jam and it’s even better than store-bought. I have new scatter cushions in my living-room that are unique in that, not every second person has them from the local sale, and I’m proud to say I made myself.

Making things by hand not only fosters a useful skillset but also gives you a great sense of pride and achievement. My cushions may not be perfect but I made them myself and I couldn’t be prouder. I bet my old Home Economics teacher wouldn’t believe her eyes if she saw me now. In fact, most people wouldn’t. 

Where did I pick up on my new found skills? None other than the internet! Youtube is amazing, you can literally learn to do anything from dressmaking to gardening and so much more. 

I’m enjoying this new creative and industrious streak so much I might just launch a little side hustle. There really is nothing more satisfying than doing things yourself. I now realize that homemaking can be defined as the art of keeping home and creating the elements that make up your home, yourself contribute to a sense of wellbeing. It is the practice of creating a space for yourself and your family that’s nurturing and fulfilling. 

Some old-fashioned homemaking skills that have recently experienced a revival:

Baking bread

Cooking from scratch 

Soap making

Sewing

Gardening

Preserving

These activities generally have spinoffs of being relaxing (pummeling some bread dough), saving money, being healthier (no preservatives), and being eco-friendly. 

For me, old fashioned homemaking is doing things in the home in a slower, simpler, and more intentional way and living simply and wholesomely.

And so it’s worth noting a silver lining from this world-wide pandemic and lockdown, and taking the opportunity to explore new activities and discover talents one never knew one had or wanted. I am no expert, but I sure make a great jam.