wonky star potholder
January 30th, 2012
I made a bunch of potholders recently. I thought this little project would help me get my sewing mojo back and also make the kitchen a more welcoming place.
My intention was not so much “buy a cute and funny little scrubbie so washing dishes is SUPER FUN!!” I’m trying to respect the job it is I do. Motherhood, housekeeping, much of anyone’s time really is errands and tasks and doing the damn laundry again. We’re told, especially as young mothers, that scheduling “me time” is supposed to erase the stress and monotony of our daily chores, but forced relaxation isn’t going to change the fact that there is laundry to be done.
It’s not that I’m horribly uptight and unable to relax–most evening you will find me on the couch–it’s that all of these things are a huge part of my life. I can’t put them all in the category ” things that need to be done before I can live my real life.” Some people, as Stephinine said, “border […] on poetry when they write about doing laundry or mending clothing.” I will never truly feel enlightening scraping oatmeal out of the bottom of the pan, but I can respect my roll as a caregiver and bring some joy to the tasks that come with being a mother. My gnarly ass potholders told me my job as a mother was secondary; this silly star potholder says otherwise.
On a completely different note, elsie marley now has its own Facebook page. I know lots of you use Facebook to keep up with blogs, so now you can follow me there too!
Oh your job as a mother is never to be underestimated! Both of my parents work incredibly hard- one in the home, one out of the home. With out the hard work of both, I would never be who I am today! Glad a little potholder made you realize!
Inspired by this I’m going to sew up some little potholders and mail them off to my grandma this week!
you are a good daughter–and granddaughter!
I really like that fun and respectful potholder!
Loved hearing this today. I feel the same way! Me time definitely doesn’t erase the monotony. I admire your efforts to respect your new role. I had planned on making some potholders soon; now I’m going to do so with this purpose in mind as well! Thanks for these words.
Thank you for the perfect reminder to respect and try to find a bit of joy in all of the little and big tasks of daily life. As a new mother and SAHM, I am still working to find my balance. Little by little, I’m starting to hit my stride. Maybe I’ll even find time to unearth my sewing machine sometime soon and try these cutie patootie potholders out!
we are all still working to find something that resembles balance. and yes! dig that sewing machine out!
I love how you acknowledge that homemaking isn’t something you “get done before you can live your real life.” Homemaking is part of “real life” and respecting it as such, without kidding yourself, is great. And that pot holder is super cute, but no one would expect any less from you.
this is a beautiful post. because I tend to think I want to do more art, or sewing, or whatever, and of course life always gets in the way, sometimes (often) as laundry. or my kids, which is a really terrible thing to say, because I really enjoy being with them. getting those things together is a big balancing act. I love that little potholder and what it stands for. respecting yourself and what you do.
beautifully said.
This turned out SO cute, I love it!! I totally agree with trying to make those mundane tasks that we all want to avoid a little more beautiful. :)
I love this. a respect for what we do is so correct and important.
a-men sista!
that pot holder is freaking adorable…
thanks for the shout out.
~s
I love your take on a simple potholder…well said!
cheers, meg. very well put. with you 100%.
Amen, sister. Thanks for sharing. Love the wonky star potholder too.
[…] That last potholder grew out of a need for mindfulness in my life. This one, on the other hand, was sewn out of jealously. If you follow the lovely Kayanna on instagram (@junecraft) you already know about the amazing quilt she's making. Every other day or so another quilt square sewn in bold colors and milky pastels would pop up on my feed and I would freak out. I mean look at this! […]
As someone who was a young mother a couple of decades ago, staying mostly at home and trying to respect the work I was doing at home as a mother and housekeeper (keeper of a home, that is)–I applaud Meg’s view that your work as a mother IS your life’s work right now. There’s too much in our culture that tells us that staying at home is “time off” or is drudge work or work to pay someone else to do so we can get to the “real” work in an office or somewhere we get a salary. That attitude, for me, is as disrespectful of mothering as the old-fashioned view that women didn’t belong in the workplace. Either way, our work at home is diminished and set apart from and lower than paid work. Kudos and my applause for all of you younger than me who are fighting to be respected for your choice to be at home and to do that very important and very hard work that your families and our whole society benefit from! Go, Meg!
[…] on potholders. but really, not a post on potholders. but on respecting your role as a stay at home parent […]
Love the potholder, love the words even more. The reminder to be mindful is a good (and so necessary!) one, and respecting our roles (whatever those roles are, mothering or otherwise) can be a challenge but also feels *so much better* in the end.