Domestic goddess...yes indeed...

I'm not sure why it is that the term "housewife" makes me cringe. In the technical sense, that's what I am. But when someone calls me a "housewife" I just conjure up images of a frumpy woman in slippers and a robe with those pink spongy curlers in her hair. I may be frumpy sometimes, but I can at least throw on a pair of sweats everyday. And those curlers? Not since I was in elementary school thankyouverymuch. I impressed my grandmother with my homemade pumpkin butter and canning skills this weekend. She said at some point yesterday that I have turned into a good housewife. I *think* this was a compliment, but it was said in a way that made me think that she figured I would amount to nothing, so at least I can mop a floor with the best of them. She also said I should hang on to Matt because I'd never find someone as good as him. I know that to be fact, but again it was said in a way that screamed (to me at least) that I barely deserved him , so I better keep mopping the floor and keep him happy. I know old folks say rude things. They think they have earned the right to say whatever, in front of whoever (or is it whomever?). At least my grandma has. Sometimes it is downright funny. Sometimes it makes you want to crawl in a hole and die. Recently it seems to always happen at a holiday gathering and it makes me want to cry. She always seems to strike a nerve with me and make me feel like all these years she has thought I would end up a loser. I can't help but wonder why. I was always a pretty good kid. I made good grades, I went to college. I didn't finish, but I went on to a respectable career. Bless her heart, she has no idea that what she is saying is hurtful. She was a nurse in the army during WW II and then for many years at Children's Hospital. She can tell stories that make your toes curl. Over and over, we get to hear those stories :) I know that she thinks I done good, but it just seems it's not good enough. Maybe if I had become a nurse...
Anyways, apparently I make a damn fine housewife. Though if you don't mind, I'd prefer to be referred to as the domestic goddess that I am.

Edited later to add: While I was making lunch for the chiclets today (using all my mad housewifey skills to whip up PB & J) it occurred to me that possibly the reason she says I make a good housewife with a note of disdain in her voice is because she would've rather been strung up by her toes, than be a stay at home mom. She loved her work and needed it. I can totally get that. Not everyone wants to do this job- I don't even want to sometimes! That was a lightbulb moment for me.