The Home Atmosphere We Crave

I recently read of the the food industry’s attempt to emphasize a “home atmosphere” in the marketing of their products because it appeals to our senses and sensibilities. This fascinated me because I have experienced that warm, fuzzy feeling when picking up a jelly jar off the supermarket shelves, with it’s beckoning red-checked lid masquerading as homemade goodness. What is it about these “homey” tactics that appeals to us so strongly?

Here’s my theory…

Our entire lives are made up of memories.  These memories employ our 5 senses to tell us if something makes us feel good or bad.  We remember how chocolate chip cookies cheered us up.  We remember how a certain song made us sad.  We remember how Grandmother’s arms made us feel safe, how the smell of cinnamon reminds us of Christmas, and how every time we see gingham, it reminds us of picnics at the lake.

Memories are very personal.  The images our senses conjure up are unique to each of us.  However, there are certain senses that most people have been trained to associate with good memories – usually because they are traditional in our culture.  It is those types of things advertising companies play off of – gingham, carousels, aprons, pie, laundry hanging on a line, picnics, quilts, and countless other “icons” of our society.

Another thing the advertisements are banking on is our desire to belong.  God created the concept of family.  It is a reflection of our belonging to Him through Jesus.  Even if our home life wasn’t wonderful growing up, we want home to be what God created it to be, and we associate certain things with that notion of home.

This use of home atmosphere to evoke certain emotions is nothing new.  Have you ever looked at those lovely Victorian paintings and photographs?  They elevate the status of the home to something etherial in order to elevate the Victorian era people to higher standards in their personal life.

The children are neatly dressed.  Mother plays beautifully as Junior sings at her side.  The family is engaged in a culture of belonging.  It is an atmosphere of near perfection where everyone has a place, and all are content.

So, when advertisers work to tug at our heart strings with visions of a happy home atmosphere (either real or desired), we fall into their trap because they are serving us exactly what we crave – happy memories and a sense of belonging.

Now, I could sit here and debate all day long WHY we want this sense of home so badly, but what I would rather do is encourage you to not need those advertising ploys to give you that strong sense of home because your own home already serves you up plenty of memories and a sense of belonging that cannot be rivaled.

And how do we build a home atmosphere that creates these precious memories and a strong sense of family?

We live fully-present and full-tilt.

Be a mom who is fully in the moment with your family.  Don’t constantly be thinking of the next thing you need to do.  Stay away from the pull of too much technology.  Look your children and your husband in the eye.  Say yes more than you say no (or “later”).

And be a mom who lives with gusto!  Feast with your family!  Laugh, cry, pray for and with your family!  Enjoy the moments, no matter how small or large so that some day, their memories will be inextricably linked with the traditions of YOUR home!

Today, I encourage you to do one thing with your children and one thing with your husband WITHOUT thinking about 6 other things!  Be fully-present, in the moment, full-tilt mom/wife!  It doesn’t have to be quantity to start out with, but it does need to be quality!

And if you are looking for a way to get a jump start on your day, you can get the first lesson in the Make Over Your Mornings eCourse for FREE right now!

This course has been great for me, and I truly believe it will help you get a handle on your day so you can begin creating that home atmosphere you so desperately crave!