Hippie Homemaker

Hippie Homemaker's picture
Submitted by Hippie Homemaker on Sat, 04/15/2006 - 7:23am.

First: I'm new here and I'm trying to figure this site out, so have patience with me!

Now, to let it all hang out! Hi everybody. I'm so thrilled to have found this site! I've been blogging for a few years now, but have never found my "spot". It appears I don't fit in with the majority of homemaking blogging sites.

As the title of my blog says, I'm a hippie homemaker. I'm a lot of other things also. I don't like labels, because labels never fit a person to a "t". But since that's the only way someone can describe themselves to others, I guess we have to live with them.

My other labels: liberal, tree-hugging, Christian, feminist, democrat, you get the idea.

The reason I was thrilled to find this site is it stated it was secular. You may think that a strange thing for me to say, since I stated I'm a Christian. Let me explain.

I'm a born again believer saved by the Grace of God. I'm also a feminist, have been all my life, intend to be until the day they put me in the ground. Most people believe the two cannot coexist. I strongly disagree.

I'm a stay at home empty nester, a decision I made long ago. I love my home and hate the rat race. I enjoy searching online for ways to improve my homemaking skills. I enjoy belonging to a community of like-minded women/men. The problem is, every blog site geared toward homemaking is usually Christian women who are conservative, submissive (that REALLY gets under my skin), Republican, with twelve children going on thirteen, etc. The only thing I have in common with these women is my love for Jesus and my home.

I finally found a homemaking site that doesn't cram their religion down my throat. Some of these women on the other sites don't even really talk about homemaking or anything else except quote Bible verses constantly. It's like they're afraid if they talk about something else besides their religion they'll be instantly sent to Hell. It's very hard for me to be happy in an environment like that.

I'm a Christian, and proud of it. But I'm quickly becoming embarressed to be tied in with the group of extreme, radical, shove it down your throat, judgemental, self-rightous, fundamental, Republican, war-loving, fanatical, submissive, religious nuts that have hi-jacked Christianity in this country. They make the rest of us look very bad.

Just for the record, I know there are probably some fundamentalist Christians here, and I'm sorry if I step on your toes. But, you have been stepping on mine ever since bush went into the White House, and didn't particularly care that you were. I'm tired of having blogs where I keep my mouth shut to fit in and get along. That's why the Pubs have control over our government now. The right wing group don't care who they make mad. Liberals are too nice and they've carried their "live and let live" philosphoy too far. Now we're suffering at the hands of the corrupt idiots running this country. It's time for us to get tough if we want to turn this country back into what it was meant to be.

I love Jesus and He saved my life. But I don't think one should try to force their religion on other people and be self-rightous. Different people have different views and the quickest way to turn people off is to constantly quote Bible verses at them. I'm a Christian and I don't even like other Christians to quote to me. My religion is a personal matter, between me and God. I will announce to the world that Jesus saves, but it's up to each individual to decide if they want to come to the Lord. I can't do it for them.

I get tired of Christians trying to "re-save" me. They accuse me of not really being saved because of my liberal views. They think because I'm liberal and a feminist I can't possibly be saved. I guess I'll find out when I stand in front of Jesus on Judgement Day, just as THEY will.

Anyway, I'll end this rant before you get the idea I'M a nut. I've just held this in so long it had to come out. I just wanted to state my position going in, something I've never done before when starting a new blog. I intend for this blog to be different. I'm going to boldly state my position on different things, and if I offend some people that's too bad. I've been offended constantly by the right wing.

I know this is a homemaking site, but that's not all I am. Everyone is made up of different parts, and I'm the sum of all these things. I just happen to love my home. I look forward to being a part of this community. I'm really a very nice person, just opinionated, and right now I'm digusted with my present blog smack dab in the middle of "submissive wife" country and am going to say "goodbye" and delete it. And here you have "me". Take me or leave me.

A rather aggressive first entry I know, but I've tried the other way of going in all nice and sweet and it didn't work for me. Because I never opened my mouth they thought I was "one of them" and I've never been able to be happy denying who I really am. I don't mean I pretended to agree with them on these matters, I just didn't discuss how I felt about certain things. I just talked about what cleaner worked best while they talked about that and their conservative views. It was very one-sided.

Anyway, nice to meet all of you, and I promise with this blog you won't be bored!

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Lynn's picture

righteous!

Submitted by Lynn on Sat, 04/15/2006 - 10:07am.

Except for the Christian part, you got it, babe. That's me, too, and that viewpoint is where I came from when I started TNH. NO ONE GROUP HAS A MONOPOLY ON FAMILY VALUES, AND HOW DO WE DEFINE "FAMILY VALUES" ANYWAY?

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Hippie Homemaker's picture

Hi Lynn!

Submitted by Hippie Homemaker on Sat, 04/15/2006 - 10:31am.

It's great to meet you, and thanks for starting this site! It's a breath of fresh air.

I must say, I got noticed pretty quick! I've got plenty of things to get off my chest. Stay tuned. I know we won't all be on agreement on everything, but it sure is nice to find a place where I feel like I can say what is on my mind without being put into the corner!

Becky's picture

hello!

Submitted by Becky on Sat, 04/15/2006 - 10:44am.

There are a lot of ranges of views on this site, so no need to fit right in because none of us really do!

I once did an informal "liberal/ conservative" survey of the Americans who regularly post on this site (leaving out non-Americans as being part of a different discourse), and came up with about 60% liberal and 40% conservative. Of these, almost all, liberal and conservative alike, are Christians. I am not and Lynn is not, though.

jennye's picture

variety

Submitted by jennye on Sat, 04/15/2006 - 11:52am.

That's TNH. Except for the Christian part, we are pretty opposite! But I've been good about not debating lately. Haven't I, Lynn? Just remember that there are a couple of conservatives around here (yay Bush, Yay Rush!!). LOL!!

Welcome!

Shaun's picture

Hello!

Submitted by Shaun on Sat, 04/15/2006 - 2:56pm.

Yes, we are a varied group. I do more posting on the forums than blogging. Basically, I blog when something is basically an announcement, statement, or about me; I go to the forum for conversation and asking questions (usually). I think the the forums we pretty much stay away from anything political or religious, except as it pertains entirely to ourselves. (E.g., religious observances we're doing at this time of year).

I do know what you mean about "holding it in." I have been pretty cautious on my homeschool blog, since homeschoolers are a very conservative, Evangelical group by majority at least, while I am a liberal Catholic. Then again, I'm also relatively private -- and I flee from conflict!

Shaun
www.homeschoolblogger.com/shaunms

Hippie Homemaker's picture

Thanks

Submitted by Hippie Homemaker on Sat, 04/15/2006 - 5:20pm.

for all your comments. It's great to get a "welcome wagon" like this! You all have made me feel right at home here.

I've been reading different parts of the site on and off today and digging into archives. You're right, this is a very varied community and I like that. I also like the fact all of you speak what is on your mind and bicker back and forth, but it's good natured and when it's over, it's over, and you're still friends. That's the way it should be!

Kerri's picture

The way you're welcomed

Submitted by Kerri on Sun, 04/16/2006 - 12:41am.

has a huge impact on the way you feel about a site, so when a newbie or a lurker introduces themselves we make a point of returning the courtesy and saying hello! We just very friendly like that. Smiling

As an intro your comments were great, and I suspect Lynn was too busy agreeing with them wholeheartedly to point you in the direction of her rules. We've had a few bust-ups over the years, some people have even left because they felt attacked, so we all try really hard not to get started on the issues which we know are going to get everyone sensitive - religion and politics are good examples. Lynn does have a set of rules somewhere for you to have a glance through sometime. But as a statement of who you are and what makes you you, I think it all fits fine!

so yeah, we are a pretty eclectic mix, but it's amazing how many things we agree on, given the number of things we disagree on. I think the only way we don't have a mix at the moment is of race - I think we're all caucasians at the moment. Since my husband is Chinese I notice these things more than most perhaps. We have had others, but not at the moment (anyone like to come out of lurkdom and join us??). Otherwise we have views of all hues! Laughing out loud

I hope you'll stay with our community because this is probably the greatest group of women I've ever encountered anywhere, and it sounds like you might just fit in perfectly!

Kerri.

Becky's picture

race

Submitted by Becky on Sun, 04/16/2006 - 6:31am.

Of course, we don't actually know what race everyone is, only the members we've met or seen pictures of (which, I admit, is most of the regular posters but Lynn only knows how many lurkers and irregular posters there are). Just so Hippiemom doesn't think we've all actually met at some point!

Anhata's picture

Amen and Hallelujah, Sister Hippie Homemaker

Submitted by Anhata on Thu, 04/20/2006 - 4:37pm.

I too am a liberal, treehugging, feminist, Christian, stay-at-home mom, homeschooling, homemaker. There's probably more labels I could paste on myself, but nothing's coming. Anyone? Oh, a friend once called me "hippie-dippie with an edge." It was a sort of compliment!

You're preaching to the choir, with me. I was raised in the Protestant faith, lost my faith as a teenager, found my faith five years ago and have been a proud constituent of the Religious Left ever since. Mine is an incredibly liberal denomination, the UCC, and I have no truck with Christians trying to tear down other Christians (and non-Christians for that matter) for not following "their brand" of faith. You bring people into harmony with their creator not by hammering them with scripture but by leading a life that celebrates your faith. That example is what makes people want to know what you know. I love the quotes on St. Francis of Assisi on the subject: "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." And "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."

Off my soapbox now.

Glad to have you here, hope you learn to love the place as we have. It's kind of a virtual hen-party, in a good way. It's saved my sanity more than once! Lynn's done an amazing thing here giving everyone space to stretch out and be themselves and at the same time providing tools to help us become the homemakers and the people that we want to be.

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

mummadee's picture

Hi!

Submitted by mummadee on Thu, 04/20/2006 - 10:32pm.

Smiling

Andrea's picture

I didn't know you were UCC

Submitted by Andrea on Fri, 04/21/2006 - 3:23am.

I didn't know you were UCC Anhata. I am a liberal Methodist I guess you'd say - very similar.

Welcome Hippie Homemaker! what is your real name by the way - I feel funny calling you that!

artofwife's picture

I think I just got a crick

Submitted by artofwife (not verified) on Sat, 10/20/2007 - 5:26am.

I think I just got a crick in my neck from nodding so vigorously. I was starting to feel like a total outsider, like maybe I couldn't actually *be* a stay-at-home-wife without being a vocal Christian, conservative republican with children. So, so, so glad to find that there are others like me out there! Smiling

Lynn's picture

That's the entire point of the site

Submitted by Lynn on Sat, 10/20/2007 - 10:25am.

Family values are for everyone.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Benjamin Goldstein's picture

Revolution of homemaking blogs?

Submitted by Benjamin Goldstein (not verified) on Fri, 01/18/2008 - 7:02am.

I guess we'll have to make a club of odd homemakers, My new blog "Disasters in male mommying" is also a liberal, non-christian [I'm actually Jewish], homemaking site.

Although from a male perspective.

So I guess I've got even less of a connection than you do to the standard homemaking blog!

Kristen's picture

great site :)!

Submitted by Kristen (not verified) on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 6:02am.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only person who's a homemaker/stay-at-home-wife but not of a politically conservative or Christian conservative mindset. I'm glad to have found this site Smiling!

Helga256's picture

I love your post

Submitted by Helga256 on Wed, 04/09/2008 - 10:31am.

I'm new here myself. In fact this is the first I've written here. I'm a divorced, Buddhist,empty nester, living smack dab in the middle of republican territory myself. Just throw in a good measure of artist that grew up in the 60's in norther California and you'll start singing "One of These Things is not Like the Other"

Getting a feel of how this site would be, I'm so glad your post and the subsequent replies, was the first thing I found. I think I'm going to enjoy this site and am looking forward to getting to know you all.

cjsmom44's picture

RE: What is the Average Homemaker Anyway

Submitted by cjsmom44 on Wed, 04/09/2008 - 3:10pm.

There are many reasons, why many of us are homemakers, personal, parenting, life choice, financial choice, caring for elderly parents or relatives, but whatever the reason, it seems there is little support (other than this site) on the web.
I suppose I am also a rather odd candidate for homemaker as well. My kids are semi-launched and I'm still at home, I am a Christian, Buddhist, Quaker liberal with somewhat traditional values, I am a soapmaker-crafter-seamtress, who loves to make everyone homemade bread, whose own sisters (3 of them) think I have gone off the deep end and tell me I should get a real job! (Thanks for the encouragement Sis..I'll burn some sage for you and meditate on forgiveness)
But really when all is said and done, for me it is being true to myself and who I am ...For years I tried to fit the mold of what others thought I should be doing with my time...which was trying to prove myself worthy through the lenses of others. Life's a Journey...Thanks for this site, I make it part of my day every day..! Thanks

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