Kate Spade New York 'cedar Street - Elissa' Leather Tote • Kate Spade • $368.00
Metal Rose Statement Bib Necklace • Charlotte Russe • $12.99
Halogen® Welt Pocket Pencil Skirt (Regular & Petite) • Halogen • $59.00
True Grit Studded Chiffon Peasant Shirt - 3/4 Sleeve (For Women) • True Grit • $49.95
Tahari ASL Single-Button Blazer • Tahari • $102.99
Get this look:
Kate Spade Cedar Street Elissa handbag (buy here)
I cook my child's food from scratch. Literally. Everyday. Every-single-day. I don't even freeze, I cook fresh everyday. And I work outside the home. How do I do it? Thanks to the magic jar, which also happened to be a rice cooker. (In Indonesia, we eat rice everyday. It's our staple food.) It's basically just some chopping, throw all the meat and rice and veggies into a bowl, put it inside the magic jar, switch the power on, and leave it for an hour while I'm doing other things like taking a shower, putting on my makeup, changing my child, preparing breakfast, kiss my husband before he goes off to work. Piece of cake.
But I would never be able to do it without the magic jar.
What's the point of me saying all those things?
When I read stories of Laura Ingalls, as the child of pioneer and farmer, I could not help but wondering how Ma did it all: being a good, strong wife to Pa, keeping a clean house, plant a garden, pick wind-fallen apples and gather strawberries, cook, make canned fruit, milk the cow, haul the water from the well or the river, preserve butchered meat, spin, sew and mend family's clothes, bake pies and cakes, teach her children, play with them, and basically raise them; all without the modern convenience that we have today.
How did the women do it in the past without microwave, magic jar, electric stove, fridge to preserve the food, freeze, AC during summertime, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, running water and even electricity?
How did my grandmother raise seven children without disposable diaper, water heater, magic jar, bottle sterilizer, breast pump, and basically did everything on her own?
Now when I look at my life, I realize how lucky I am to be born in this modern age. When I get home, with a flick of a switch, the lights are on. On laundry day, I just dump everything into the automatic washing machine, put in some detergent, push the button and all the soak, rinse, etc cycles will be on, and I can leave the machine to do all the work for me while I'm preparing or eating my dinner. When it's bath time for my son, I just place a bucket under the faucet and I'll always have hot water running thanks to the water heater installed in our bathroom.
Yet, I heard myself and other women, and women on the internet and magazines, complain that they're tired. We say we are stressed out. We whine when we don't have enough me-time or pampering time or whatever it is it's called nowadays. Reading the many books of Little House series, I never read one word about "being stressed out". Neither have I ever heard my grandma used that "stress" word. Nor me-time. Nor pampering time. They didn't have the time to be stressed out, or depressed, or to demand me-time and pampering time, because every moment of their life is filled with activities to ensure the contuinity of their lives. Every day is filled from dawn till dusk with work to ensure that they have all basic neccessities like food and clothes to survive. Whenever I want to eat chicken, I just go to the grocery store to buy chicken, all year round. When the Ingalls family want to eat chicken, they had to raise them from hatched eggs and waited two years before butchering time. Two years! Can you imagine if we have to wait so long just to eat chicken nowadays?
Yet Ma still had the time to make paper dolls for Laura. Grandma raised chicken and ducks, for the meat and eggs, yet she still had the time to tell her children bedtime stories that she created herself. She sang for her husband and children while she was knitting after dinner. Ma Ingalls picked wild flowers from the field to beautify the house. And according to Laura, her Ma was a happy woman with sweet disposition and very long patience. Same as my grandmother, who was also a happy woman and said that she lived a full life.
What about us?
Technology has made life so much easier these days.
And for that I'm thankful.
Next time whenever I'm complaining about something trivia, for example when I'm upset because the internet is down for one full day, just remind me of Ma Ingalls. And of my grandmother. And of all the women in the past who could not even imagine reading blog of someone located in another continent, search for information on how to cook crock-pot lasagna by typing several letters into google, and have a grocery store near your house that opens 24/7. No need to take that big trip to town to hoard on coffee and salt and sugar, like Ma Ingalls did.
Next time I will remember not to use the word "stress" too lightly. Because it's just me whining and exagerrating. I don't have any reason to get stressed out THAT easily.
Now if you will excuse me, I am going to take a shower with a lovely scented bath soap, put on some sweet smelling body lotion, slip on into some nice silk night gowns, and write on my gratitude journal.
Because I have soooo many things I need to write that I'm grateful for.
I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:
Monday
- Taming Rapunzel: Hair Style Monday
- DC in Style: Monday Bloom
- Not Dead Yet Style: Visible Monday
- Mom's The Word: Make Your Home Sing Monday
- Happy Wives Club: Marriage Mondays
- The Better Mom: The Better Mom Mondays
- What Joy Is Mine: Monday Musings
- Color Blind: Thrifer Anonymous
- The Modest Mom
- Create With Joy: Inspire Me Monday
- The Beauty in His Grip: Sharing His Beauty Mondays
- A Pinch Of Joy: Busy Monday
- Tell Me A Story
- Still Being Molly: YOLO Monday
- Very Busy Mama: Real Mom Style
- Momma In Flip Flops: Real Mom Style
- Thrifty Chic Mom: Real Mom Style
- I Am Priiincess: Monday Madness
- Basic Training – Corporate Style: Fashionably Employed Link Up
- Glamamom: Mode Monday
- Bon Bon Rose Girls: Monday Mingle
- Mom Trend: Monday Mingle
- More Pieces of Me: Manic Monday
- On the Daily Express: Manic Monday
- Whitney Nic James: Personal Style Monday
- Fizz And Frosting: Mix It Monday
- The Style Record: Monday Must Haves
- A Proverbs 31 Wife: Matrimonial Monday Linkup
- I Should Be Mopping The Floor: Inspiration Monday
- Splashin Glory: Momma Notes
- Missional Call: M M and M Monday Linkup
- Chronicles of Grace: Unforced Rhythms
- The Wellspring: Playdates with God
- Rich Faith Rising: Unite
- Finding Heaven: Soli Deo Gloria
- Growing Home: Growing Homemaker
- Teaching What Is God: Women Helping Women
- Join The Gossip: Monday Morning Gossip
- Life of Meg: Mingle Monday
- Little Miss Fashion Queen: Little Miss Monday
- Strangers & Pilgrims On Earth: The Art of Home Making Mondays
- A Delightsome Life: Return to Loveliness
- Bless Her Heart Y'All: Celebrate Southern Link Up
- Darling Downs Diaries: Good Morning Monday Mondays
- A Field of Wild Flowers: Small Wonder
Tuesday
- Life’s a Party Dress Like it: Stylish Tuesday
- The Fashion Canvas: Trend Spin Linkup
- Corner Stone Confessions: Titus 2 Tuesday
- Time Warp Wife: Titus 2 Tuesday
- Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
- Keeping Life Simple: The Gathering Spot
- Sugar Bee Crafts: Take A Look Tuesday
- Style Elixir: Style Sessions Fashion Link Up
- Growing Home Blog: Teach Me Tuesday
- 100lb Countdown: Turn It Up Tuesday
- Greater Than Rubies: Remix, Rewear, Restyle
- Walking In Memphis In High Heels: Trend Spin Link Up
- Myriad Musings: Style Swap Tuesdays
Wednesday
- Transatlantic Blonde: What I Wore Wednesday
- Because Shanna Said So: Random Wednesday
- My Girlish Whims: My Whims Wednesday
- Juana Mikels: Wednesday's Prayer Girls
- Kimba Likes: Wardrobe Wednesday
- The Pleated Poppy: What I Wore Wednesday
- Messy Marriage: Wedded Wednesday
- Elizabeth & Co.: Be Inspired
- My Daily Walk In His Grace: Winsome Wednesday
- A Creative Princess
- Get Your Pretty On: I Feel Pretty
- A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
- Cute And Little: Color Brigade
- Redcliffe Style: 30 Plus Style and Beauty Linkup
- Adorned From Above
- Woman to Woman Ministries: Word Filled Wednesday
- Little R & R: Wednesday Link Party
- We Are That Family: Works For Me Wednesday
- Jennifer Dukes Lee: Tell His Story
- Fitness Blondie: The Hump Day Blog Hop
- Ann Elliott: Mid Week Muse
- God Life Happy Wife: What Wives Wear Link Up
- Shopping My Closet: Style Me Wednesday
Thursday
- CLK Fashions: Fashion Boutique Favorites
- The Tiny Heart: Look What I Got
- Penniless Socialite: Look What I Got
- Rebecca Lately: Look What I Got
- Vodka-Infused Lemonade: Tres-Chic Thursday
- Mix and Match Fashion: What I Wore to Work
- 3-D Lessons For Life: Thought Provoking Thursday
- Katherines Corner: Thursday Favorite Blog Hop
- A Glimpse Inside: Catch A Glimpse Party
- Serving Joyfully: Thriving Thursday
- Glitz And Gold: All Things Thursday
- Maybe I Will: Be.You.Tiful
- Chic California: Be.You.Tiful
- The Happy Gal: Be.You.Tiful
- Fry Sauce And Grits: Be.You.Tiful
- Raising Mighty Arrows: Proverbs 31 Thursday
- All Things With Purpose: All Things Thursday
- Children Are A Blessing: Growing In Grace Link Up
- White Coat Wardrobe and Perfectly Coutured : Three Fer Thursday
- Simply Just Lovely: Working Girl With Style
- Soul & Spirit: Let Your Light Shine Thursday
- Treasure Tromp: Treat Yo'Self Thursday
Friday
- Mummy's Got Style: Fashion Friday
- Penniless Socialite and Delusions of Grandeur: Favorite Fashion Friday Link Up
- Two Thirty Five Designs: Casual Friday Link Up
- Serenity Now: Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up
- Simply Lulu Style: What I’m Loving Fridays
- Style Elixir: Friday’s Fab Favorites
- Musings of a Housewife: Fashion Friday
- Rags to Stitches: Coffee Date Friday
- Womanhood With Purpose: Friday's Link Up
- Missional Women: Faith Filled Friday
- Spiritual Sundays
- Essential Thing Devotions: Essential Fridays
- Rachel The Hat: Passion For Fashion
- Simple Sequins: Fashion Item Friday
- Chantilly Songs: The Totally Awesome Blog Hop
- Christian Mommy Blogger: Fellowship Friday
- The Jenny Evolution: Friday Flash Blog
- Soul Survival: Faithful Friday Linkup
- Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo: Anything Goes Linky Party
- Midwest Style Bloggers: Friday Favorites
- Lena B Actually: Passion For Fashion
- Blissful And Domestic: Feature Friday Link Up
- Sabby Style: Friday Frills
Saturday
- How Sweet The Sound: Pink Saturday
- Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday Linky Party
- Renewed Daily: Recommendation Saturday
- Fashionista Momma: Stylish Saturday
- Sincerely Paula: No Rules Weekend Blog Party
- Amanda's Books And More: Make My Saturday Sweet
- The Baby Shopaholic: Mamanista Friday
Sunday
10 comments:
I could not agree more! I wonder how they did it all! Great post thanks for sharing!
My grandmother raised 12 children and knitted socks, made quilts by hand and washed in a tub and hung clothes on a line etc like your grandparents did. Oh we are so blessed to live in this age of washing machines and magic jars. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
I loved the Little House books! Very true -- their concerns were far more profound, yet they were less stressed, perhaps due to a simpler life and one filled with faith.
Linked up with you at A field of Wild Flowers.
God bless,
Laurie
http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
Nice post! We love the Ingalls around here!
Perfect picture of the modern day woman with too much time on her hands. Ma Ingalls found time for her Creator - that is how she met each and every thing needing to be accomplished. She took one step in front of the other without the stress of a to-do list or multi tasking demands. The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Coming to you from "Tell His Story" Blessing, my sweet sister. Blessing! Chris Malkemes
I often like to think of my appliances as my "servants" - they clean my floors, clothes, dishes, etc. with very little effort on my part.
Good observtions but thinking back to my mom's childhood without a mom, I realize each generation has their own stresses. Linda PS. Cute clothes.
Great post! I think the reason Ma Ingalls didn't get stressed out is because she didn't over-extend herself like we do today. Because we have so many modern conveniences we push ourselves to do more. Just a thought! Thanks for sharing at the Art of Home-Making Mondays this week!
love the handbag. very nice :-)
lamoumous.blogspot.com
That skirt is looking so pretty! I love how you styled it :)
xo,
Abby
Life in the Fash Lane
Post a Comment