What Is “Mother Culture”?
In a lovely book titled just this – Mother Culture – author Karen Andreola defines, “Mother Culture is the skillful art with which a mother looks after the ways of her household and herself. In her home she creates a culture all her own with a mingling of love and responsibility. A mother does a lot of taking care, so she also takes care of herself. So much depends on how she manages her life.” The term is popular with the Charlotte Mason-style homeschooling circles, and it has become a catchphrase among women who have established the concept as an element of their daily rhythm.
“Mother Culture” is deeper and wider than the trending topic of “Self Care.” It certainly shares the important theme of filling your own vessel so you can in turn pour out for others, but it goes beyond rest, exercise, nutrition, grooming, etc. (not to diminish these, which ARE indisputably essential).
Mother Culture is a nourishing of your mind, your spirit. It’s an exercise in creativity, an opportunity for growth. It’s a mental break from daily duties. It’s a beautification of your being.
What you include in your life for Mother Culture can be varied according to your interests. About what are you passionate? What did you enjoy doing in your youth, before you were responsible for caring for a household? What makes you feel well-rounded, refreshed?
Handicrafts, gardening, baking, journaling, taking an online course, singing, playing piano, biking, dancing, weight-lifting, horseback riding, photography, painting, drawing – these are just a handful of ideas to consider. What ignites a spark of interest in you? Whether you enjoy your hobby indoors at the dining table or outdoors in the yard while the children play, the expression of your creativity will not only be vivifying to you, but also inspiring to your children who will no doubt observe you.
One of the best and most obvious ways to practice Mother Culture is reading, and reading various genres at that. You can -and arguably should – have a few books in progress at once, so you can reach for whatever suits your mental energy or mood whenever you have a moment to pick up a volume.
Through books, I enjoy learning about a wide variety of subjects – health, food, finances, interior design, parenting, home education, business, historical figures, the Bible, and more. I also relish a good work of fiction – a thrilling mystery by Agatha Christie, a romantic comedy like Her Royal Spyness, a classic like Jane Eyre, a Jane Austen novel like my beloved Emma, or an old favorite like Anne of Green Gables. Additionally, I make full use of audio books, as they allow me to enjoy literature while driving, cleaning, or even resting with my eyes closed.
Discussing what you read with friends or family members takes the experience a step further, and serves to ingrain the knowledge you’ve gleaned. The ideas that bloom in your mind through your reading can pollinate ideas within your family over mealtime conversations, kitchen chats, or family devotions. I’ve appreciated many encouraging exchanges with friends who have enriched my life by sharing what they’ve learned through their reading.
What would you pursue as an enriching pastime if you had a few extra minutes in your day? Once you’ve landed upon it, friend, I implore you to make time for this pleasure. Even if only for fifteen minutes a day or half an hour a week – you will benefit from it, and so, by extension, will your family. It will become part of the beautiful culture that you ARE creating in your home – your own unique Mother Culture. 🌿
