Homemaking

Words & Photography
by Suzanne McCarthy



I once attended a party where I was playfully asked: What use would you be in an apocalypse? My answer: I would be good at making the dingiest place feel homey. I could create some kind of comforting nest amongst the rubble.

Maybe my fascination with home and homemaking began when I was a kid watching Looney Tunes. Remember when the camera would travel into a hole in the wall and therein was a family of mice? Remember the scene? It has always stayed with me - the tidy and cozy home with little beds made from empty match boxes and an empty spool of thread for a table.

...my impulse has always been to establish some sense of beauty, comfort and harmony. To make things cozy.

Whether it was student apartments in run down old Victorian houses, or the home I share with my family today, my impulse has always been to establish some sense of beauty, comfort and harmony. To make things cozy.

For me, a home is more than just a shelter from the elements. It's a haven, too. When we return home after a long day at work or a long trip, our home should embrace us like a warm hug, not overwhelm us.

I feel pretty strongly that the goal of homemaking not be about competition, status, or self worth. It shouldn't be done for the sake of appearances. For me, homemaking is about beauty, comfort, hygiene, safety, and to support our routines.

I'm also well aware having a home is a privilege denied to many; there are upwards of 100 million refugees and homeless people in the world. Yet I'll never dismiss homemaking as a shallow pursuit. It's not everyone's reality but it should remain an ideal.