Everyone a Homemaker {Family Night Idea and Printable}

If I tell you I'm a homemaker, that probably sounds like an old fashioned idea. But, what if I tell you that everyone -- man, woman, old, or young -- can be a homemaker? What if I change the way I type the word homemaker to "Home Maker" or "Maker of a Home"? Does that mean something different to you? It does to me! Last night, I shared this idea with my family for Family Night, and I'm sharing the idea and free printables for Family Night with you today.

RELATED: Defending the Family

When I heard Bonnie Oscarson (the President of the Young Women's Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) challenge us all to become homemakers, my perspective on being a homemaker changed. She said:

We need to take a term which is sometimes spoken of with derision and elevate it. It is the term homemaker. All of us—women, men, youth, and children, single or married—can work at being homemakers. We should “make our homes” places of order, refuge, holiness, and safety. Our homes should be places where the Spirit of the Lord is felt in rich abundance and where the scriptures and the gospel are studied, taught, and lived. What a difference it would make in the world if all people would see themselves as makers of righteous homes.

Read or listen to her full message here.

When I heard this, I realized that it isn't only up to me to be a homemaker. Everyone in my house can help make our house a home -- a house of order, a house of peace and safety, a house of learning, and a house of joy.

That's true for all of us, in whatever life situation we are in. Anyone can work to make the place they live a home. Whether we're in a college dorm, our first apartment, a trailer park, or a retirement center, we can be homemakers. Whether we're a stay-at-home mom, a college student, a working mom or dad, a single adult, or a retiree, we can be homemakers.

I wanted to teach my kids this idea, so I created a printable for us each to set goals for how we can make our home a house of order, a house of love, and a house of safety.

First, we talked about this scripture:

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; (Doctrine and Covenants 110:8)

We talked about what kind of home we wanted to have, and I gave everyone a goal sheet.

After discussing what it means to have a house of order, a house of love, and a house of safety, we all got to work. We had some pretty good discussions. Here are some talking points for each type of house:

• A house of order -- An orderly home is clean and organized. (We don't have to be perfect, but we do need to try!) The family has rules and routines which are followed. How can each of us help make our home a house of order?
• A house of love (kindness, peace, etc) -- A house of love is a place where everyone feels loved and accepted. The family members treat each other and guests kindly and with respect. Family members serve God and each other. How can each of us help make our home a house of love?
• A house of safety (security) -- A house of safety is a place where every family member and guest feels secure and comfortable. We protect our thoughts and our minds by being careful of what we read, watch, and listen to. We are careful and safe when we use the internet. We have open communication with our parents, and we know that our home is a safe place to make mistakes and learn from them. How can each of us help make our home a house of safety?

I enjoyed this lesson, and I loved reading and hearing my kids' ideas about how they can be a homemaker. I'll admit it, though. Our lesson ended with three family members in an argument over a pencil, which left one child in tears and another pretty grumpy. I guess we (like most families) have some work to do on being better homemakers! Good thing we have lots of time to practice!

Lara @ Overstuffed Life | Heidi @ One Creative Mommy | Jessica @ Jessica Poe

Jill @ LDS Scripture Literacy | Montserrat @ Cranial Hiccups

Mandy @ A Bliss Complete | Jocelyn @ We Talk of Christ | Jen @ Moss Moments

Thanks for stopping by today. While you're here, be sure to browse around and see some of my other ideas. You can visit the posts below by clicking on the images.