THE NEW DOMESTICITY
the
NEW DOMESTICITY
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By Julianna Lawson On bright spring mornings, my mom was prone to hum as she went about her housework. Occasionally the hum swelled, giving birth to words: Open all the windows, Open all the doors! Let the merry sunshine In upon the floors! Such a merry approach to housekeeping made an impression on me. Her ponytail swinging to the rhythm of the scrubbing was indicative of my mom’s feelings: cleaning was hard work, but the effort and final product were well worth it, even worth humming about. And I know she was following her own mother’s example every time she added that elbow grease to her endeavors. As the year blossoms into spring, I can’t help but think of how other women of the past faced their housework during the season of rebirth. Certainly the “merry sunshine” which streams “in upon the floors,” serves as a great stimulant, awakening in us a desire to freshen up and simplify. (Or, as a friend aptly stated, “It reveals how dusty my wood floors are!”) Indeed, light has a way of revealing the grime we tend to miss in the darker days of winter. The warming, blinking sun often reminds me of dear Mole in “The Wind in the Willows,” eager to finish his work and welcome spring: “The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs, with a brush and a pail of whitewash.” I suppose the burrowing Mole didn’t have to worry so much about windows. We, on the other hand, do. And plenty more besides. But rather than approach spring cleaning—whether it be a deep cleaning or a routine tidying—with a sense of foreboding, perhaps
we might poetically invite our families to join in on the wholesome endeavor known (prosaically) as housecleaning.
Open all the Windows . . .
As it turns out, opening the windows isn’t such a bad idea. In her book, “Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House,” Cheryl Mendelson encourages readers to embrace the oldfashioned art of “airing out” their beds: “Each day when you arise, air the bed. Open the windows, if possible; throw the bedcovers back . . . The bed should air for at least an hour . . . This helps immensely toward keeping the bed feeling and smelling fresh until you next change the sheets.” It stands to reason that the rest of the house would benefit from frequent airing, too. So as soon as the sun peeps its head out and the temperatures rise, don’t hesitate to “open all the windows” and let the air, light, and birdsong fill your home.
Open all the Doors . . .
Perhaps we can think of “opening our doors” in two respects. On the one hand, opening our doors reminds us to take advantage of the urge to purge. Reduce clutter by sending out the items your family simply does not need. Tuck a cardboard box in the corner of each room, and add items “to go” throughout the month. Embracing simplicity is remarkably freeing. Opening our doors also means our doors swing toward inviting others in. Often the simple act of opening our home to friends and family serves as the nudge we need to freshen up our homes, that we might provide for them a hospitable and welcoming environment.
Let the Merry Sunshine . . .
As the sun routinely follows an order, rising and setting with assuring regularity, so might we embrace routines in our homes. continued on next page
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • April 2017