Wednesday, May 9, 2012

staying home














Thank you for your warm and encouraging words in yesterdays post. I have been letting her climb, but within limits. 

I love staying at home. I like company. I like going out for lunch or a coffee. But most of the time I am pretty content with my own company and with home life. I think I've always tended towards a more introverted personality. Even as a child I could always keep myself pretty busy at home. I really don't think my personality has changed all that much over the years. 

Though I have to say I don't really enjoy the more tedious tasks of housekeeping, I do love to potter around and do a little sewing here, some knitting there, pop out to the garden and do a little baking. I thrive on doing this. I was at my unhappiest when I was newly married and working (almost) full time. I so desperately wanted to be at home, doing home things.

I feel like me when I stay home.

How about you?



36 comments:

  1. Oh I love being at home. I love the pottering, sewing and baking. At the moment I'm trying to find my groove at home and find time for these homey things, but have a new baby so not a lot of anything is getting done. We have been adventurous and been walking this week while the weather is beautiful (read as "escaping the housework and pretending it doesn't exist"). I'm itching to get back into it all- and the op shopping!

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  2. Same, I was not really into any of my jobs, I couldnt wait to stay home and plant a garden and be a mum....to make things when I wanted, to bake, to make a home....to have chookies, all of what I am doing now...so I'm pretty thankful....I enjoy some socialising but I am not planning every minute to catch up and have people over....I enjoy here, with what I have got here....and the people that are here, even if that is just me and little m most of the time...so yeah, I understand what you are saying completely...x

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  3. I think I'm somewhere in the middle. I love staying home and doing all those things you talked about but I need to get out lots too. Me and my little one do lots of visiting and city exploring with her in the mei tai to keep away that housebound stir-crazy feeling.

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  4. I was having the exact same thoughts just now. How I love just pottering at home and enjoying the company of my gorgeous little toddler. I even don't mind some of the 'more tedious' tasks. All part of making a lovely home for the family. I'm making Ossobuco today!!

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  5. In August I will celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary and I have stayed home, raising my five babies and taking care of my home and land...I can not imagine anything more fulfilling and rewarding!

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  6. I love staying at home - i'm a real homebody. Love my four walls and my little family - they're my favourite people. But a while a go I did feel like I was edging towards becoming a hermit so I pushed my boundaries and got involved in some outside activites at the kindy... now I feel like i've pushed them too far, taken on too much. Rarely a day seems to go by where I can just enjoy being at home, without having a million 'other' things to do or meetings to go to etc. So now i'm back to trying to find some balance again! And hopefully drop a few jobs in the meantime!

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  7. I'm a homebody too and never really suited the working life lol. We are about to relocate to Victoria due to Hubby's job finishing up here and him getting the opportunity of a promotion over there. It is scaring me leaving everyone I know but at the end of the day I'm a solitary soul anyway so it really shouldn't be that big of a deal should it??? Meeting new people isn't my "thing" so I can see myself becoming a hermit of sorts lol

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  8. Yes, but only since I am older and am in a relationship that allows me to be me?? I am trying to get back to staying at home to cook and garden and look for odd socks :) I am ready now, and my family would love me to be at home too. Not so much rushing and being cranky!

    :D

    Enjoy your days!

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  9. my hands up. introvert here.
    and now that there are 5, plus a husband, each needing a piece of me i really, really crave alone time.
    and can i say, that your blog is a little piece of calm and quiet - every time. thank you!
    ~x.

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  10. Yes, you may have just described me. Except when the kids are crazy-making and then I want to run screaming from the house ALONE!!!

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  11. Great post! Yes I do feel the same too! And it must have something to do with being more introverted - in fact, you've just put a word to what I've been feeling. I feel the most me, unjudged, at peace, doing what I'm good at (and not so good at haha) at home.

    However, the problem I have, is feeling judged by the outside world (mothers at school, friends, family) and society. Now that my youngest has started Kindy, why am I not back "at work" (so what am I doing at home I want to ask!). I struggle with that, do you??

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  12. Yep me too. Total home potterer.I could easily amuse myself for days if left to my own devices. My kids however, not so good at pottering without fighting so 2 days a week I go to work to escape, have uninterrupted conversations and cups of tea and recharge!For me it is the perfect balance. melx

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  13. I so totally and utterly and completely GET this!

    I do love catching up with friends and getting out and about, but i'm happiest just pottering around at home. I need at least a couple of at home days each week with nothing planned.

    The time in my 20s, pre children, when i worked monday to friday and then was out and about on the weekend left me unfulfilled and empty. WHat i craved was my life as it is now.

    how lucky we are!

    rachel xo

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  14. I feel exactly the same. I did the "career" thing for a while and was miserable - as was the rest of the family with take away meals, clothes never ironed, rush, rush, rush every morning. I've been home for 4 years now and love it. In fact I've told everybody that I've retired. I will never go back to work. I love my little house and the daily chores of maintaining it. I've never been happier than I am at this moment. The only downside is the extra weight gain from all the baking.

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  15. I totally agree! I loved working as a school teacher. But after having my daughter and being at home for the last two years I know that I'm fully content to stay home and 'keep house' longer and longer!
    I love cleaning and cooking - they're my therapy! :)

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  16. I think I'm a homebody too - both of my children are at school and at this point I am lucky enough to still be a full time mum, taxi driver, cook, house cleaner, reader, gardener and sometimes crafter. I do get a little lonely sometimes now that a lot of my friends are working again - that's when I sit down for some blog love.

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  17. Home body here though I think I really like balance. I love to be at home doing homey things but I also love catching up with friends and family on a regular basis. I'm a both person but I definitely hate being out and about for too many days in a row.

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  18. I have a feeling my answer will change when im a mummy but for now i like my time to be split i love my days at home pottering and being at work seems to give my time value, and i really appreciate the time at home when i have it :)

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  19. Oh yes, I am a home body too, without enough hours in the day for all I want to do! Dave says he has to drag me away some times. :)

    But I love being at home with the children. I enjoy cleaning (strange but true), baking, gardening, crafting or just pottering and reading. I need more time and money for all the renovating and decorating plans. But it is happening, bit by bit.

    I love catching up with friends or going away, but I don't feel the 'need' to get out of the house and 'do something' like I once did. Now I'm happy to create a space that suits me and is my refuge from the world, my nest for my family, a place for memories - from photos on the walls, to bowls of shells collected from beach trips. xx

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  20. I love being at home and often feel incredibly lucky that I'm able to. I think since having kids and being at home more I've discovered a far truer me.

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  21. I'm pretty similar in that I like to stay at home too and potter around doing my home jobs, sewing, baking etc. I've always been pretty good at keeping myself busy and haven't had to rely on others for entertainment.

    Of course it is good to get out of the house, but I don't have to get out to feel like I've done something.

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  22. Homebody totally, although I can be quite extroverted, I'm happy pottering. I can go a whole week without leaving the house and yard. There's always plenty to do.

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  23. when my children were young i wanted so so much just to be the stay at home mother but i had to work part time..not because we wanted stuff (we didn't have a car, television etc) but just so that we could pay the mortgage and eat..and later as a sole parent i had to continue to work..but now that they are grown up and i have retired i'm so happy to be at home pottering and making up for all those years where i couldn't spend all day cooking, sewing or gardening..i even love putting the clothes on the line and seeing it blowing in the breeze..it makes me happy..

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  24. I am with you! Home is the best. And my little girls are encouraging me to spend more time doing all of those "homey" things.

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  25. I've always been a homebody who prefers her own company but find it is even more the case as I get older.

    I love school holidays when we don't have to leave the house. Even last weekend with the Labour Day holiday on Monday we did all of our running around on Saturday morning and didn't have to leave the house again until Tuesday. It was fantastic.

    It's so nice just to potter and relax.

    I feel like me when I stay home too.

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  26. I'm absolutely a homebody, but feel like there's something wrong with me when others are always "catching up" with people, and we keep to ourselves a fair bit. There's always a long "to do" list around the house, and I'm happy to be working away at it. School drop offs and pick ups, and running errands (we walk to and from school everyday, and school is on a shopping strip) is enough social interaction from me, apart from being with my family. We started our family when we were 25, and honestly, it's a great excuse to leave the workforce. Hmmm, why do we need an excuse?

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  27. I am a complete homebody! I would love nothing more than to be able to stay home, putter around, make some yummy food and play in the dirt!

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  28. Yes I am the happiest when I am at home. I love my own company and just potter around at my own pace doing things. I have worked on and off for a bit of my life, but here is where I want to be and for now I am very grateful that I am able to do so...

    x

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  29. I am a complete homebody so I was quite glad to marry at 21 where I happily started my own home and garden. Due to circumstances I am the sole income earner for now and I find working full-time quite difficult. Some days I sit at my desk at work and write lists of what creative things I am going to do when I get home or on the weekend. I work with a group of very social girls who socialise with each other in and out of work. They have made me feel included but I know I am certainly the square peg in this case. Needless to say I prefer to stay home on weekends to regroup and delve into my passions.
    Home is where the heart is.

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  30. I am totally hearing you, I love home and content with my own company. Last year I had an injury which kept me home for 10weeks as i couldn't drive. Friends kept saying and visiting thinking I would be bored. Far from it - I can't ever remember even as a kid saying "I'm bored." I love sewing, cooking, reading my family - wish I could spend more time at home. My kids would confirm this... As we drive into our carport I say "home sweet home". I love it!!

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  31. I am such a homebody too and love my job of being a stay at home mother and I am so grateful to be able to do so, it's where I am the happiest. xx

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  33. Sorry that last comment I wrote didn't sound quite right...I am not an introvert, but am at my happiest pottering about at home. Having to go out now to do a few things is kinda ruining the rhythum of my morning.
    Here's to be at home! and here's to you have a great mother's day tomorrow tania. renae xo

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  34. Funny I should read this now, I've been drafting a post for my return about being a homebody.
    I totally relate Tania. When growing up I only ever envisioned myself as being a homemaker and have been most content with this path I have chosen. People find it hard to believe that I have never worked full time, they don't seem to understand that homemaking is a career that some women actually enjoy and chose to do.
    x

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  35. You've described me to a tee :) I love nothing better than simple days at home pottering, baking, crafting and spending time with my girls :)

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