We learn a lot from our mothers. They carry us in the womb. They feed us from their bodies. They nurture, discipline and love us unconditionally.

And they teach us so much.

I look back on all the things my mother taught me. I am forever grateful for her commitment to her kids and her home.

As a homemaker now myself, I often find myself recalling things she instilled in me about homemaking. Little habits that seemed insignificant have stuck with me. My mother’s mindsets and routines left an impression on me, and I carry many of them into my own homemaking.

Today I want to share with you 15 Things My Mother Taught Me About Homemaking. Some of them are big and some are small, but I treasure them all because they are little glimpses of her.

So let’s begin.

15 Homemaking Lessons

1. Folding laundry can be enjoyable.

Don’t dread household tasks. Find joy in them instead. While most people see laundry as just a chore, my Mom actually finds it pleasurable. She loves to fold laundry. She takes pride in it. How cool is that?

2. Clean your kitchen sink.

Don’t just rinse your sink, wipe the sides with a cloth. Get all that grime washed away, and watch it shine! See if you can get it as clean as my Mother did!

3. Be present with your kids.

Even if you’re busy doing household chores, be present with your kids. Talk, listen, and laugh with them. Stop, and hold them if they need. My Mom was productive. She didn’t just sit and play with us a lot but she was always available and always present when we needed her.

4. It’s okay to prioritize a clean home.

Value a tidy, clean home. This doesn’t mean you don’t spend time with your kids or become paranoid about germs. You can want and strive for an orderly home. My Mom did, and I loved growing up in a tidy household.

5. Let your kids make messes, and clean them up at the end of the day (teach them to clean up too).

Let your kids be kids. Even if you value a tidy home, let them make messes sometimes. I remember the huge games and worlds I would build with my friends and sisters (aka…the messes). My Mom didn’t stop us. She didn’t stifle our creativity when it came to playing make believe. And yet, we always knew we had to clean up at the end. And she was such a sweet Mom that she’d even sometimes help. Her home balanced creativity and order beautifully.

6. Take time to rest.

Lay down, and close your eyes. Your kids can learn to play on their own sometimes, while Mom rests. For almost as long as I can remember, my Mom has taken an afternoon nap. It may not be long or deep, but she takes time to close her eyes and be still. She prioritizes rest, and we kids were just fine with it!

7. Meals don’t have to be fancy in order to be delicious and healthy.

Cook simple, delicious meals. My Mom was (and still is) an excellent cook, but she didn’t stress about it being fancy. We ate home-cooked, nutritious, normal meals. And it was lovely.

8. Take care of your garden.

Take care of something. See it grow. I always remember my Mom having some kind of garden. Whether she was tending five hundred pounds of potatoes (yes, you heard that right) or simply colorful pots of petunias, she nurtured what she had well.

9. Replace the hand towel before guests arrive.

Put a dry hand towel in your bathroom. My Mom taught me this little thoughtful act, and I think it goes a long way in making someone feel welcome.

10. Egg sandwiches are the perfect road trip meal.

Fry, and salt an egg. Put it between two toasts with cheese. Wrap it in tin foil. My Mom has made so many egg sandwiches for my Dad, and it is something that I like to do for my family too.

11. Saturday is for deep cleaning.

Designate a day for deep cleaning. My Mom would write down chores for us on Saturday morning, and we worked together to vacuum and clean bathrooms and whatever else needed doing. Although I didn’t always appreciate this rhythm, I now see the wisdom and intentionality of it, and I’ve carried some of this routine into my own homemaking.

12. SOS scrubbies are a lifesaver.

Use SOS or some other kind of stainless steel scrubby to clean tough pots and pans. You can also use them on your stove to clean food that’s been baked on. My Mom used an SOS scrubby a lot when I was a child, and I like to buy them on occasion too.

13. Learn how to use a basic sewing machine.

Know how to do basic tasks on a sewing machine. There may come a day when you want to hem a dress, make a rice bag, or put on a patch, and knowing how to thread and operate a sewing machine will come in handy. You don’t have to be an incredible seamstress or love to spend hours on a project, but knowing the basics goes a long way.

14. Fill your home with music and books.

Play music. Read books. Give your children the gift of good art and literature.

My Mom is an amazing violinist and pianist. She loves classic books, and her appreciation for these things influenced us kids.

15. Coffee is always a good idea.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee. My Mom would be proud. Even as a homemaker with a family of my own, I still look forward to my Mom’s good coffee when I go home to visit.

My Mother taught me so much about the value of keeping a home. She had struggles like the rest of us, but by having certain mindsets and rhythms, she made our home warm and welcoming. She did it faithfully and not just faithfully…but joyfully too. She showed me that being a homemaker is one of the greatest jobs in the world.

And I’m so thankful I get to follow in her footsteps.