Homemakers have to understand presentation. Everyone knows the value of presentation in food preparation, but that is not what I am talking about here. (Although also pertinent to keepers of the house!) The family is blessed and the culture of a home is fortified when Mom knows how to do a little pomp. In many instances this can be completely free.

1. THE ART OF ANTICIPATION

First, I recommend honing the art of anticipation. It costs nothing and requires only foresight to create anticipation, which can make anything more special.

If you make a big batch of trail mix, set it out in an attractive jar the day before and say we are going to crack this open when Dad gets home from work Friday night.

2. ATTACHING THINGS TO EVENTS

Knowing how to attach items and occurrences to EVENTS enforces for children and adults that our family life is active, and a party. The many special days throughout the year help with this a lot. If you get a new sofa, and it’s February, say we’re getting a new sofa as a family gift for Valentine’s Day. If you are painting a bedroom, call it the new bedroom to celebrate the new school year. If you’re getting take out burritos, call it burritos to celebrate we finished our multiplication lessons.

My children surprise me with how powerful this is for them. I personally forget every little thing we’ve done for special events. But years later they will still say, “oh that is the jigsaw puzzle we got on New Year’s Eve.” Or, “these were our new notebooks from the First Day of Spring.”

3. POMP

For halloween, hang all your children’s costumes up on a nice hanger on the back of their dining chair with their props and swords laid out for when they wake up or come home. It’s exciting to walk in and see them nicely ready. Say once rooms are completely clean then everyone can put theirs on. (Anticipation again). In the hustle and bustle of life, I miss opportunities to do this sometimes. (And sometimes you just gotta run, with no pomp!) It’s fine, we can’t do it always and I will keep at it day in and day out. For example, I bought my son a new reading light for his bed and we opened the box and he was happy and we moved on.

Instead, I would have opened the reading lamp without him noticing. Set it up nicely while he was away and put in a warm lightbulb. Remake his bed for him in the totally perfect, “Mom was here” way. Get a favorite book and action figure and prop them up nicely near the lamp. Handwrite a small message or draw a personal picture of him reading. All of this would have been free. And we both know the affection and warmth communicated is off the charts for the second.

What does all of this require of a homemaker? Time, and availability.

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