It’s been hard to sleep at night lately and I’ve been watching a lot of late night Olympics.

I’ve been so inspired this time by the stories of these incredible athletes. What has struck me now more than ever is the idea that these individuals devote so much time, discipline, effort, and unshakeable commitment to their chosen sport. They give up so many indulgences in order to devote their lives to training and to ultimately achieving their dreams. So many of these incredible athletes have had terrifying falls and injuries and yet each of them, no matter how severe the pain or set back, has gotten right up once healed and pursued their sport with even more determination.

I’m humbled and really, if I’m completely honest, put to shame, by the fact that I don’t devote that much effort toward anything in my lazy, cushy life… but I’d like to start.

I’d really like to become an athlete at homemaking.

That might sound totally absurd and some of you might be making a gagging motion as you prepare to ditch the rest of this post for something more suited to your feminist ideals. If that’s you… go ahead… it’s not going to get any less “1950’s housewife” from here.

I’d like my life to count for something, and there’s nothing I’d like to be better at than taking care of my family.

I think I’ve given into a pervasive tone amongst women in this decade that says, “I’m stretched far too thin between cooking, cleaning, kids, spouse, friends, and ‘ME time’ to be exceptional at any of it. Rather than give anything up or rearrange my priorities so I can excel at the things that really matter, I’ll just continue on in mediocre homemaking… after all… everybody’s doing it.”

Gathering together as women for coffee and on blogs, and being able to admit our shortcomings and laugh at our mistakes is important to our sanity as wives, cooks, maids, and mothers. But, creating satire around apathy and a lifestyle of comfortable carelessness in the ways we treat our children, husband, and home, is detrimental to our families and our society.

I’d like to stop whining about laundry and start tackling it. I’d like to become committed to figuring out a system by which I can make laundry in this house flow so that it blesses my family and not give up until I can medal in it.

I’d like to stop waiting for my dream house and start taking care of every little bit I’ve already been entrusted with, with discipline, devotion, and honor.

I’d like to truly be a daily help and blessing to my husband rather than simply coexisting with him.

I want to invest in and greatly affect my children’s hearts and character in a positive and spiritual way rather than just oversee each one’s basic well being.

I’d like to become an athletic champion at being a wife and mother and whenever I get knocked down or discouraged, I’d like to quit allowing it to paralyze me and get back on top of that mountain and train even harder to become truly great at what I’ve devoted my life to.

One day I’d like to step up on a medals podium and while looking into the lives of my husband and children, see true joy and tremendous success that I’ve contributed to, and with tears in my eyes be able to say, “This is what I’ve been working so hard for. Since I was 21 years old and said ‘I do’, this is what I have given every moment of sweat, effort, and tears for. I can’t believe this day is finally here. It’s a dream come true.”

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
²⁶She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
²⁹“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”

Proverbs 31:25 – 29 NASB

Now that sounds like a Gold Medal worthy Homemaker!

For anyone else who is interested in taking their Homemaking skills to a new level of excellence, here is the link to an online mentoring program that I’m going to be a part of starting March 1, 2010. Join me!

Homemaker’s Mentorship with Victoria Botkin

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