Celebrating Household Managers

Celebrating Household Managers 

Society has grown so advanced that we look down on those of us who choose to be Household Managers. Somehow the position is seen as a slothful one, fit for incompetent and under-skilled people. 

Society then contradicts itself by acknowledging the growing strain on the medical, policing and financial support systems. Worried politicians view our ever-growing need to import food in the event of major catastrophes. Society will 'tsk-tsk' at the children who have been raised by non-family members, and their exposure to electronic devices. We have the audacity to be bewildered at the drop out rate in our cold and sterile public schools. We 'tsk-tsk' again at the poorly behaved pets, deprived of proper training and attention. Stress piles up whenever we have guests coming - is the house clean enough?

When itemized like this, there seems to be little to wonder at that our society is as distressed as it is! It is also understandable why so many households have hired help to handle such a workload. What we need to do is realign society's view on the value of Household Management positions.

 

For starters, far from being a drain on the budget, choosing this position can actually save money. Consider the work-related cost of transportation, which can include: tires, vehicle maintenance, gas, insurance and a second vehicle. Then there are extra costs of clothing, childcare, prepared meals, hiring services like lawn mowing and housecleaning and so on. Many households have evaluated their situation and found that they were getting no further ahead by having a second person work full time. And their days off work were spent in a whirlwind frenzy trying to fit everything in.

So let's take a look at the life of the Household Manager. This position includes tasks such as the family budgeting: investing, managing bills, menu planning and meal making. Making meals at home is an effective way to cut most food budgets in half. Household Managers might decide to start growing food items along the fence, on the deck, in pots on the front step or the back yard garden. A 3000 sq. ft. (100x300 foot) garden will bring in over $1200 worth of harvests, all organically grown, highly nutritious, fresh foods. Having a garden ensures that no matter what happens in the employment sector or any disruption in food distribution, the family will not go hungry! Managers are on the look out for peak harvest discounts, retail sales, bulk foods and coupons - saving hundreds on the monthly food bill.

The Household Manager can easily spend 4 hours a week weeding, trimming, mowing and watering existing landscapes. Add a few more hours per week managing the garden harvests. Add 2 hours per day for menu preparations. Already the tasks are filling up the days.

Far from being slothful, a serious manager can spend over 20 hours a week just cleaning! Nearly 2 hours every day is needed just to keep up to daily tidying and washing, 5 hours a week are spent doing the deeper household cleaning. Sweeping the deck, the garage, the driveway, garbage, recycling and so on. Then tack on at least 3 hours for laundry and clothing care. 

Pets are not simply a pleasure or a hobby in our home. They are family. Always a joy, these critters promote relaxation and playfulness. Still, they need someone to groom, feed and water them, gather their wastes and give them baths. Then there are other pet-related chores like exercise, vet care and training.

Household Managers are also called upon to handle any required paper work or research, phone conversations, letter writing and keeping family members closely connected. This is especially true if the household operates a

home-based business as well. Having one person at home is ideal for such arrangements as office work, appointments, receiving deliveries and more.

It is unfortunate that this position isn't honored more in society. Often viewed as having a lot of time to spare, folks assume more than they should. Sometimes the position is taken for granted or the manager feels guilty, and the tasks continually pile on. As a result Household Managers do not work a 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. shift; but rather more like a 7 a.m-to-11 p.m. shift. There are no weekends off and no vacation time. 

Yet, Household Managers who take their jobs seriously can take pride in their contribution to society, because work takes a large weight off the shoulders of those around them, freeing them up to be their best selves. There is no doubt that their efforts result in a healthier, happier family. 

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