In Defense Of A Home Life: Martha Stewart Vs. The FlyLady

Saturday’s Glimmer, Piotr Stachiewicz (1858–1938)

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, 

and was subject to them. 

And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, 

and grace with God and men.

LUKE 2:51 DRA

The above quotation from Luke is a brief summary of Jesus's childhood. It is a brief and modest report of the Savior of the world. I like to imagine all the moments they shared at home. It was a quiet life. 

I just read this article about Martha Stewart saying that work/life balance isn't possible and that people who do strive for that are boring people. It is disturbing that the most famous American homemaking icon doesn't believe that you can have a home life. It is tone deaf to call the fighters for more time outside of work "boring." Martha is 85 years old and revealing something that is so obvious to me now. Stewart has always been a snob and a perfectionist. She has had incredible success, and she is very rich. She has cooks, cleaners, gardeners and assistants. She is extraordinary, and she knows it. Here is what Martha Stewart thinks about the rest of us:

When asked how she juggles her personal life with her vast media and business empire, Stewart replied there is 'no such thing. "Just get that through your thick skulls. You can't balance it, it doesn't balance," said the lifestyle guru, who recently bragged that brands give her a $40k wardrobe budget to attend runway shows.

"This thing about balance, I don't know who thought about that, but it just doesn't work. Maybe infrequently, and I'm jealous of those people, but they're all so boring," Stewart said.

Martha Stewart has forgotten that her audience is ordinary, lower income, and trying to juggle the daily grind. A woman without a cleaner, cook, gardener, or personal assistant can never reach the heights or income to get it all done so well. Most of us are imperfect and boring. Most of us aren't living our dreams. Most of us are just trying to get the basics covered. 

There is a war against home life. One of the worst ways that home life is destroyed is by never actually being home. You have to be home to have rituals with your spouse and children. Rituals require a certain level of routine and a reliable schedule. We are talking about eating meals together and spending time together having a quiet life. 

There are other reasons one would not want to spend time at home. Homes can become places of stress when finances aren't managed well. Homes that aren't tidy can also make women feel overwhelmed. Lots of retail therapy is due to not wanting to be at home. The burden of a happy home life is often placed on the shoulders of a tired and drowning woman.

In my opinion, the real domestic queen is The FlyLady. We love her book, Sink Reflections. The FlyLady couldn't be more opposite from Martha Stewart. She is a regular person. She isn't wealthy or extraordinary. She teaches us to do little bites to get things done. She hates perfectionism, She believes you can do a pretty good job maintaining your home by yourself. I thank God for the FlyLady. She has helped me to keep a routine and keep my head above water. Most days, my house is a 7 out of 10. I will never be polishing silverware and preparing for a perfect dinner party. But you can always use my bathroom, and I won't feel weird about it.  

Walking into a tidy home, having a simple routine you don't have to think about, and getting the house in order can really change your life. Once the stress and To Do lists are settled down, you can enjoy your home more. I don't care what Martha Stewart says. A home life is worth fighting for. What Martha Stewart thinks is "boring," Mr. Peasant and I call "peace." There is peace in a small and simple life.

I pray we always look to real people for wisdom and never feel belittled by the perfectionists and their vanity. God bless you and thank you for reading. 

P.S. This is Diane in Denmark. She has a YouTube channel that helps guide you through the FlyLady routines. She is a beautiful soul.