Challenging Paradigms - Back to My Roots

How do we know how to raise, or teach, our children? Children do not come with an instruction manual although today we have Google just a click away, happy to answer any question. It seems there is a deep desire within us to want offspring and to want the very best for them. It sort of all just falls in place, and the cycle of life continues. Even with self-help books, coaching webinars, outside opinions, Google, and governed mandates, we are born equipped with all the know-how we will ever need, if we can just trust that our Creator knows us and instils within us natural instincts to nudge us along. “For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13 KJV)

Learning From the Older Generation

I remember with my first pregnancy, I had many wonders, doubts, and questions, and I practically memorized the ‘what to expect when you’re expecting’ book. But once my daughter arrived, my foggy mind seemed to clear, and I followed my instincts. I trusted my body, and everything fell into order. As I reached out for advice from my mother and her experiences and as she retold even her mother’s experiences, I soon realized women didn’t always have the resources they have today. There was a time when an epidural was unheard of, and yet they seemed almost better prepared. They had no problem having up to 12 children! 

If we look to women of the past, they are a testament of an inner strength and trust of the natural order of all things created by God. No two people are alike; there is no one-size-fits-all with life. We have to learn how to navigate through the false securities of the world, stay rooted within, and find our sense of calm.

As generations pass, I have noticed many changes, some good, some disappointing, some scary. I often wonder what the world will be like for my children when they are adults? I was raised to fill the responsibilities laid out for a woman, to be what we might call a ‘Suzy Homemaker.’ I learned from the best as we lived on a farm, and my grandparents lived just across the road. Once my chores were done at home, I would run over to help my Granny. 

I loved spending time with her. I was in awe of how easy she made everything look. She never complained of the workload; she took pride in all that she did. She was known for her homemade brown bread and apple pie, and she could can anything from fruits to meats. She was a seamstress and made all her dresses, she kept the house in order as well as her greenhouse and garden outside, and she had no problem running out to help the men in the fields. She passed down all she knew and did to my mother, and it was passed to me. 

Making My Own Way

But as I grew older, I came to dread the household chores. I loved being outside with the animals and would rather help my dad around the farm and pass wrenches when he was fixing machinery. I hated wearing dresses, and at school I would rather play sports than gossip with the girls. I was already noticing that in my generation paradigms were changing. I respected all that I was taught to become a woman, but I wondered what else there was out there. Women were starting to get into trades. There were more options available to me than just the stereotypical women’s jobs or being destined to be a stay-at-home mom.

I ultimately ended up working in a sawmill and would work overtime on weekends for the millwrights during shutdown. I enjoyed getting my hands dirty fixing things, learning to weld, and running for tools as it reminded me of helping my dad on the farm. I even considered becoming a millwright, but God had other plans for me. By the time we had our second child, I realized I could no longer juggle shift work and raising a family, and my conscience could not allow for someone else to be raising my children.

Back To My Roots

So here I am today, back to my roots, Mrs. Suzy Homemaker, and proudly a stay-at-home mom, raising and teaching my children. Now as my daughter is getting older, I am wanting to pass down all that I know to her, but I am met with resistance when it comes to kitchen duties, and instead my boy is anxious to help with the cooking. This was unheard of when I was a kid, but I realize that life has evolved and roles are changing. So I don’t fret, and I find my boy is usually eager to help me with almost anything while my daughter would rather be crafting or watching crafting videos on Youtube. I know they will eventually follow their different interests and find their way. 

I think it is important to continue to teach our children to be able to fulfill their traditional roles as a future man, or woman, and from that base they will be equipped to navigate through life. Homeschooling has allowed my husband and I to teach both our children all sorts of skills, and with our combined knowledge and talents, we can hopefully prepare them to be successful at whatever they choose to do. And even though my daughter may seek other interests, just as I did, I know she will always have what she has been taught by the generations of women in her life, and her natural inner instincts, to become all that she can be.

Written by Sandy Knudson

I am a homeschooling mother of two children from Alberta. We are currently full time RVers living a minimalist lifestyle. I keep busy with books and hobbies, mainly woodworking and pyrography, which I have been doing for a few years now. I enjoy a faith inspired life and look forward to what new inspirations the Lord has in store.