Domestication

Domestication...what is that?

Growing up I heard the word domesticating, and it's various forms, used with a rather negative connotation. As a woman closely nearing my thirties with a wonderful husband, two beautiful children, and two somewhat shall we say complex dogs, I have come to the conclusion that those people had no idea what they were talking about.

According to dictionary.com, domestic means all of the following:

1. of or pertaining to the home, the household, household affairs, or the family: domestic pleasures.
2. devoted to home life or household affairs.
3. tame; domesticated.
4. of or pertaining to one's own or a particular country as apart from other countries: domestic trade.
5. indigenous to or produced or made within one's own country; not foreign; native: domestic goods.

So are any of these truely negative definitions? I say no. Of course I am somewhat bias seeing as how I classify myself as domestic. I take care of my family, but not just in the stay-at-home aspect because, well, I don't stay at home. I am a high school reading teacher. However, I cook, plan the meals, clean, do laundry, mend clothes, and the like.

I am also devoted to my home life. The place I most want to be is with my family. Helping my son learn to read, creating things for my home, gardening, or fixing things around the house. Yes, I said fixing things.

I suppose you could say I am tame, however; I don't view this negatively either. I get things accomplished and have mellowed as they say in my age. I get more done now that I am "tame" than I did when I was in college, high school, or younger. I prefer to think of this as educated and mature as opposed to the type of taming that takes place after you break the spirit of an animal. As I am sure you have already gathered, I have spirit to spare.

I create baked goods and homecrafted items to trade outside my home. So I also see business and a business mind as being central to a domestic woman. So you ladies who say you aren't domestic because you work in the business world, I would disagree. We all have different strengths, but you provide for yourself and trade services that are uniquely yours for that very purpose.

Those who I believe are blessed with the opportunity and ability to stay home and take care of everything are also involved in the business world. They are training up the next generation and producing goods that stay within their "country" or home. I know my own home is like a foreign country to some.

I am proud to be called domestic and hope to never loose my passion for my home and family.