emaking

Total homemaking—or staying home to handle all aspects of a family’s daily life—has become a popular lifestyle choice for many American households. This choice has a number of positive benefits that are often overlooked.

Financial security is a major factor in many people’s decisions to live the total homemaking lifestyle. With one spouse staying home to raise children, there’s no need to pay for expensive childcare or worry about how to afford additional necessities. What’s more, one spouse’s full-time job may be enough to cover all of the household’s expenses, making it easier to save money and create financial security.

Another positive benefit of total homemaking is that it allows families to spend more time together. Each day, both parents can work to manage the home and create a comfortable, loving environment for their children. This extra time builds strong family bonds and allows children to experience the kind of close, meaningful relationships with their parents that many working families miss out on.

Furthermore, staying home affords parents the opportunity to provide important guidance, mentorship and discipline to their children in an age-appropriate manner. Without the help of teachers or daycare providers, parents can control the pace and scope of their children’s learning. They can also actively monitor their children’s development and intervene in problem behaviors.

Finally, staying home allows more parents than ever before to do meaningful, fulfilling work. Since most total homemakers don’t receive traditional salaries, they often take on paid gigs such as freelance writing, designing, or tutoring. These work-from-home jobs increase the family’s earning potential while allowing the spouse to remain a full-time caregiver.

In short, total homemaking provides an array of positive benefits to American families. From economical advantages to closer family bonds and increased learning opportunities, staying home to manage the household helps keep families closer, happier and financially sound.