I started my Saturday morning with a fire in the fireplace, a nice hot cup of coffee and this homemaking post by Susan Branch. Which was a lovely start to a busy day. Then while looking through Pinterest that same day, a related pin in my feed (you know the ones by people you don’t follow and probably don’t know) caught my eye. It was Betty Crocker’s Homemaker’s Creed (with a link to a post about Betty Crocker where I learned that she wasn’t a real person!). She was a corporate marketing strategy but they really put a lot of effort into “her”. She became the icon for homemaking in America!
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I found the Homemakers Creed from Betty Crocker very inspirational, so I wanted to share it with you!
The whole story behind Betty Crocker is so fascinating that I ordered the book “Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America’s First Lady of Food”. You can get it used for $0.01 on Amazon or $11.89 on Kindle. I had a sample sent on my Kindle so I can start reading it now.
I’ve always thought of homemaking as a an art & serious job. After all, my blog used be called The Pleasures of Homemaking before I changed it to A Cultivated Nest (although it’s the same idea just shorter name ) 🙂
Some people may think that the statements in the Homemaker’s Creed are old-fashioned ideas, but I think there are a good many women that want a good family life and want to manage their homes well.
What are your thoughts on the Homemaker’s Creed?
I had no idea that Betty Crocker was a made up ‘person’. Wow. That is so interesting. I enjoyed reading the Homemaker’s Creed and find it a beautiful example of what most women would like to be even today. I think we are trying to get back to those simpler days of good values even in the home. These are a good reminder. Thanks for sharing them and I hope you have a wonderful week. Pamela
I’m gonna be honest about this…
I love taking care of our home and family. There are times that it feels like I’m working a lot more than some in the house but I remind myself that it’s a choice. When you think of it as “home arts” like Susan Branch describes it then it completely changes your perspective.
Oh I think most of us feel that way 🙂 But I can’t complain, my husband works long hours but he still does things around that house (he’s in charge of laundry for one & he and my daughter are in charge of dinner on Sunday night). Great bonding time for them and my husband has found that he likes cooking. Of course, he makes complicated recipes with a million ingredients but at least I don’t even have to think about food for one night a week.
When I really think about it as a “job” then it changes my attitude, because I want to be good at my “job”. To be honest, some days I’m a slacker.
I love it! I think Homemaking is underrated. Many young women today are not raised with any skills in that art and that is sad. It takes talent, wisdom, dedication, and so many other things to make a happy home for yourself and your family, and it is every bit as important to society as joining the corporate ranks. Betty may have been made up, and this may be old fashioned by some standards, but that doesn’t make the creed less true or useful.
I have to laugh, my high school actually offered a homemaking test with a small prize attached to any girl that wanted to take it. The test was sponsored by Betty Crocker. Guess who won? ;>)
Did you really!!! Well I believe it. I read about that – Homemaker’s of America or something like that right? My high school offered no home ec and it was a Catholic all girls school? No cooking, sewing, nothing! I learned how to cook when I got married and had to cook.
I think it’s lovely. I love that it says “homemaker” rather than housewife, thus leaving it open to whomever has the inclination and talent, not just making it “women’s work”.
I liked that too. I thought that for something written in the 1920’s, that it had a pretty modern tone.
In the ’70’s I majored in Home Economics at Baylor University. They later changed the name to “Family and Consumer Sciences”. Even though I never used my degree for a paid career, it was invaluable for teaching me skills in sewing, cooking, family relationships, home “economics”, etc. Those skills gave me confidence as a wife and mom that have been life-long assets! Thanks for the post! I’m putting that book on my “wish list”!
Oh my, your first fire, how exciting! Yes, I got this book from our Library about 2 years ago and it was an interesting read. Love to read Susan’s blog, she writes what most of us think also about our homes.We all love to make our houses into our own special home….what a joy it is to do for the people we love. Thank you also for all of the sharing that you do for us.
Thank you Melissa, that was so sweet of you! Yes, our first fire ever! Well we had a fireplace in a townhouse we rented when we first got married. But we’ve never had a real fireplace in any of the homes we’ve owned even though it was always on my wishlist. LOL, we were so excited to buy a set of fireplace tools! 🙂
I agree with that creed! I don’t care if anyone thinks it’s old-fashioned or not. I have always felt this way…ever since I was a young bride of barely 22 years old. I was working FT outside the home up until we had kids, but even then, my heart was always at home. Still is.
I Pinned the creed the minute I discovered it! I’m not surprised you enjoyed it too–you always have a magical touch that makes your rooms sing with happiness.
I delight in kneading bread, gathering eggs, picking fresh beans for dinner, and occasionally waxing the furniture–even if dusting and vacuuming aren’t my favorite chores. There’s a satisfaction in providing something for my family that can’t be bought. I do it more for myself, truth be told, and if they like it too, even better.
Love that creed:) Thanks for sharing! It would make a nice cover to a small recipe book! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!
I think it is beautiful! I wanted to be a homemaker, but the wife of an educator with a desire to have a PhD did not allow for that. Bob’s first salary was less than 10,000. That’s all under the bridge now. Thanks for sharing the creed. Now to go and check out the book!
I love Susan, too.
I always wanted to be at home – I love the work, the important work of keeping a home. I’m blessed that my husband values the work I do here.
ps – I long for a fireplace! I’m so happy you have one!
I’m reading Susan’s latest book now, and if you didn’t see it on my blog I met her a few weeks ago! Love her, and I’m going to check out that link.
I had heard Betty wasn’t real, but I forgot! lol Thanks for the reminder and for that lovely ‘Creed’. Every word is true.
What a great little start to my homemaking day. Thanks for sharing that creed. I imagine that women from that day struggled with many of the same issues that we do now, and that the creed gave them the encouragement to keep on workin’. I love the stories that I hear about my grandmother’s homemaking skills. She made everything from scratch and kept a huge garden. She must’ve been exhausted! I’m glad I can be a homemaker today.
I love this creed, it says exactly how I’ve always felt about homemaking and home keeping as well. The book definitely looks interesting, though I did know she was a corporate image. However, I tend to think of her as a ‘person’ just the same.
I love this! I haven’t seen it before. Thanks so much for sharing. Homemaking is serving and a reflection of the One we serve, too.