Dismantling Feminist Lies

Disclaimer:

The following is meant to defend the modern day housewife. It is not intended to offend, only to make you think, and perhaps encourage the woman who has chosen to stay home.

Enough years have gone by since the first wave of feminism that we are now able to see the destruction it leaves in its wake. Yet it has engulfed our culture in such a way that most people aren't able or willing to think outside of the lies it has taught us.

There are a few beliefs I regularly hear from the feminist camp regarding why women feel they need to work. 

You've probably heard them, too.

In today's post I'd like to list them, and then point out their glaring flaws. (Well, to me they're glaring. But I've noticed that I'm in the minority when it comes to these things. *sigh.... Nevertheless, here we go...)

This is a very popular one...

1. Independence

It is common to hear a feminist say these words, "I don't want to be dependent on a man."

This statement is so foolish because we are all dependent on each other. It is not a negative thing. But what these women are saying is that they don't want to be dependent on their husbands for their income. Yet when a person works, they are dependent on their employer. Feminists have no problem being dependent on their employer, who in a lot of cases, is a man. 

I would rather be dependent on my husband, who loves me, than a boss who does not. I would rather be dependent on my husband, who has my and our family's best interest at heart, than a boss who only has his company's best interest at heart.

It isn't bad or wrong for a wife to depend on her husband to provide for her. It's a two-way street because the husband depends on his wife to care for his children and home. 

"Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." -Proverbs 31:11

(The photos in this post are of my gardens from summers' past...)

2. Significance 

It is also common to hear a feminist say something along these lines, "I work to give my life worth and meaning."

Feminism has been successful in causing women to believe that they need to work to be considered valuable. But to work for a company is to spend your time and effort on someone else's dream and vision. There is also the belief that a woman is wasting her talents if she doesn't put them to use in out-of-the-home work. But there is no work more significant than pouring out your life for your family. When you spend your time and energy at home, using your talents and skills at home, you are investing in your own legacy. Is there any job/company/business more important than that?!

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." -Proverbs 31:28

3. Purpose

I once heard a young woman say this, "I matter where I work, I am needed there."

Think about this... If you were to die or leave your home and marriage, it would cause tremendous trauma to your husband and children. Sure, your husband could marry again, but YOU cannot be replaced. That new woman can never be you to your children. 

But if you were to leave your line of work, your position would be easily filled by someone else, and business would carry on as usual.

My point is, only YOU can be the wife and mother in your home!

So instead of the career woman saying, "I matter where I work, I am needed there." The truth is it would be far more accurate for the woman at home to say, "I matter where I work, I am needed there!"

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." -Proverbs 31:10

4. Freedom

We've all heard this, haven't we? "I like the freedom that comes with having a job."

This one genuinely confuses me. 

The housewife can begin her day at whatever time she desires. She can set her alarm for 6:00am or sleep in till 9:00. She can go about her work at the pace that suits her. She can organize her day's agenda according to her priorities and what she wishes to accomplish. She decides the rules and standards for her home. If it's a beautiful day and she feels like packing up the children and going on an outing, she is free to do so.

I don't know of an employer who would tolerate any of this.

I've never had a job in my life that has offered me the freedom that being a housewife has.

(Admittedly, since I am also a homeschool mom, we do have a formal curriculum we must follow daily. But there is freedom even in that!)

"Train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God." -Titus 2:4-5

The bringing up of the next generation is noble work! 

"As for her, like most women, she had but one ambition. To be a good wife and good mother, and to be beloved by her husband and children, was all she asked. She was a busy, affectionate, cheerful little housewife, whose voice would never be heard in the streets, but whose memory would always live in a few faithful hearts." - Elizabeth Prentiss 

Mama's, be encouraged!

xo,

~ Courtney ~

We Still Do

We celebrated our eleventh wedding anniversary recently...

(I know it's a little cheesy, but I purchased this sign to mark the occasion.)

Micah planned a night away for us at a nearby resort.

He even lined up childcare and everything!

What a treat!

I looked forward to it for weeks!

It's a beautiful place and it's only an hour from home.

We've been there before, and it always inspires and impresses me!

I couldn't wait to visit again!

The night before we left I decided to wear this black outfit with pale pink sweater. I laid everything out in anticipation...

(It was a great choice because it was comfortable for the car ride yet dressy enough for the resort.)

The morning finally came!!!

~ Woohoo! ~

Here we go!.........

But there was one little problem.

Micah had hurt his back the night before working in our family room. (Remember our family room project?) He was really suffering!

Once we got on the road I asked him if we should stop by an Urgent Care on our way out of town. I couldn't believe it- he answered, "Sure. I think I need it."

That's when I knew it must be bad!!!

So... We spent the afternoon of our anniversary at Urgent Care getting his back looked at! Haha...

(I almost didn't include that part because I like to only dwell on the positive, but I decided to share it with you because I find it's easy to think nobody else has problems. Sometimes it's nice to hear that you're not the only one who suffers sometimes! *wink)

We had put in our time there, and purchased the needed prescriptions. Now it was time to have some fun! (Carefully, of course. Micah's back needed a few days of rest. I was happy to go about our weekend at a slower pace.)

The day was bright and clear!

But veeerrry cold!!!

It's always a striking sight to pull up to this resort's door...

There are men dressed in top hats waiting to greet guests and help with luggage.

They made us feel like royalty!

They parked our car, took all our luggage, greeted us warmly, and opened the doors.

This is a very old, historic place. Rich with authenticity and a wonderful sense of the past.

The first thing we did was meander around, inspecting artwork and reading plaques...

Well, I was inspecting artwork. Micah inspected woodwork. *smile

Everything seemed interesting!

Here, let me show you around...

This is a sitting area right off the hotel's lobby...

And there's an enormous library right off of that...

Micah and I talked all weekend about their attention to detail. 

It radiated throughout our entire stay.

Walls were upholstered, colors were vibrant, books, plants, and flower arrangements were real...

Yes, all weekend we marveled at the truly impressive way they paid special attention to all the little details!

I never noticed a speck of dust on any surface anywhere...

Classical, instrumental music was continuously being played... 

And we were never called by our first names by the staff. It was "Mr. and Mrs. Downs" everywhere we went! 

Haha... I loved it!

Our room was comfortable and relaxing.

It was down this beautiful hallway...

Again, we were treated like royalty even in our room!

They had turned down our bed, gave us an anniversary card, and left us with this impressive towel swan- complete with a real rose in the center...

(Don't you love it when hotels do this? And doesn't it make you feel just terrible to take it apart when it's time to go to sleep?!)

I had really been looking forward to seeing the Greenhouse while we were there.

I have memories of coming here for ice cream with my mother and grandparents as a small child.

I remembered it as being a sunny and charming little place.

I couldn't wait to see it again...

It did NOT disappoint!

Look at how wonderful it is!...

Colorful, bright, and happy!

It's an ice cream parlor that also offers coffee and other desserts.

While we were ordering our cranberry coffee cake, the girl behind the counter told us that this greenhouse was originally from a children's hospital in England. It was disassembled and brought to California where it was won at auction and then brought here.

I remarked that how having that knowledge makes me love it even more!

She handed me my coffee cake and ice water and I smiled at her and said, "This is such a happy place! It must just be a joy to work here!"

She nodded, smiled back warmly and said, "You know... It really is!"

It was a joy to visit, too!

I'd love to go back again someday soon!

When Spring arrives it would be a nice day trip for me and the children. I think it would be worth the drive to come here with them. We could pack books to read while we're here and I'd treat them each to an ice cream cone.

What a special childhood memory that would be!

Well, all good things must come to an end, as we know...

We said goodbye to this lovely place...

And went home.

(Lately I've wondered if my anniversary sign would look better here, above our bed... What do you think?)

Living in luxury for two days sure was fun...

But there's no place like home!

Here's to another eleven years, and more!

~ We Still Do! ~

xo,

~ Courtney ~

The Cat Who Came To Stay

We were given a new cat last week...

Her name is Larette.

Isn't she pretty?

~ Sweet baby ~

We agreed to take her in, but didn't know her personality or if she'd like us.

The situation just sort of fell into our laps.

We were told she'd make a good barn cat for us.

I decided to keep her in the house for a day or two first to allow her to adjust, get to know us, and learn our smell.

She made herself right at home...

~ Queen of the kitchen ~

By the end of the first day she was playing with my kids, jumping into my lap, and 'claiming' us as hers- you know, when cats rub their cheeks on furniture and people? I think that means they are saying, "This is mine."

I find that to be very endearing.

She seemed to favor this particular chair for napping...

After several hours of having Larette with us, I realized that she looked a lot like a cat from one of my old books.

(You all know how I feel about old books, don't you?! *wink)

I dug through the bookshelves and found it, and brought it down to show my kids.

When they saw it they all said, "Hey! It's a book about Larette!"

The book was mine from my childhood titled, The Cat Who Came To Stay...

This is the inside cover...

It's got beautiful watercolor illustrations that are colorful and charming...

and a pleasure to page through...

The story's about a black and white cat who just showed up one day in a young girl's garden. 

The girl named her Dancer.

She liked Dancer and Dancer liked her, but there was one problem...

The home was already owned by a grey cat named Solomon.

He looks like he's Boss, too!

The kids and I couldn't believe the similarities!!!

WE have a grey cat! He's been our barn cat for a few years. His name is Oliver, and he's a boss!

I was worried how the two would get along.

Larette would sit here and study him through the window...

Oliver would guard the back door and stare in at her.

My mother said it was like a prisoner/visitor situation, haha!

We couldn't tell who was the prisoner. 

I said we'd have to ask the cats! Haha...

Well, by day three we were ready to let Larette explore the outdoors.

The kids showed her around.

We keep cat food and warm cat beds in our out-buildings. 

We wanted to make sure she was introduced to those.

So far she has stayed around!

Every morning she hops up on this window sill to say hello to us...

Lately it's been mild enough outside that the children can go out to play with her and pet her.

She's a very social cat, and loves attention.

The end of Dancer's story is that it took some time, but Solomon eventually warmed up to her and accepted her...

I truly hope that will be Larette's story as well!

And that she will be 

The Cat Who Came To Stay.

xo,

~ Courtney ~ 

I love receiving your comments! They make blogging so much more fun! Thank you for taking the time to stop here and read! 

Fresh Snow

I had a bit of a sore throat and headache for about three days.

The weather here was dull, muddy, and completely uninspiring.

School lessons during this time of year lose their satisfaction and appeal.

We were just plugging away at the mundane...

Until I had heard that we were to receive a fresh blanket of snow!

I was excited for the change of scenery, and went to bed the night before in anticipation...

I could hear the storm rolling in as I laid in bed...

(The children and I enjoy flipping through the pages of our vintage children's books to look for stories and pictures that relate to the season and weather we are experiencing...)

Sure enough, we awoke to a glorious winter wonderland...

Every scene out every window was dazzling white.

Finally feeling back to normal, I decided on an early morning nature walk out in the snow.

(You can't fully see the sparkle and glitter of fresh snow unless you are out there in it!)

The children were busy with their morning routine and chores, so I quickly rugged up and told them I would be back in fifteen minutes.

The morning sky was a peculiar bright blue!

The air felt frigid on my throat and in my lungs.

I was thankful for tall warm boots.

Country life is still and quiet...

Just the trees and trails for neighbors.

(Our trees are great neighbors! They don't play loud music or stick their nose in our business. *wink)

This land has become my dear friend.

I know it inside and out.

Often I've escaped to these trails for alone time just to think and ponder and pray...

I always return refreshed, and thankful for this life.

I did nothing to deserve it.

It's a gift from the Lord.

My walk took me down to our swing...

My favorite spot on all of our land!

It sure looks different dressed in winter.

Hard to believe that in only a couple of short months, the green will be growing again!

I made it back to the house in under fifteen minutes. 

My fingers were frozen but the rest of me remained perfectly warm. 

(You learn to invest in a good quality winter coat when you live in the north. As Micah says, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.")

The children had completed their chores, Nola was on the piano, and Roman had begun his arithmetic.

My heart rate was a bit up from the brisk walk on unplowed trails, so I felt as though I had begun my morning with some good exercise.

It made me remember a time when an acquaintance said to me how she thought I had a nice life except that it was missing exercise.

I don't have any interest in bouncing around my living room in front of a workout DVD in order to get "exercise". I would always rather go for a walk, breathe in the fresh air, and soak up a little sunshine out in the fresh snow instead.

*smile

xo,

~ Courtney ~