How to Love Homemaking in Any Circumstance: A Conversation with Jenny Nanninga
- Allison Weeks
- Oct 28
- 3 min read
Jenny Nanninga never expected to raise five daughters in an 800-square-foot home for 11 years, but this California homeschooling mom wouldn't trade those years. They taught her creativity, contentment with God's provision, and how to love the work of the home.
The Gap Between Desire and Ability
Jenny's journey into homemaking began with passion, but little practical skill. She always dreamed of being a homemaker and mother, but marriage and motherhood brought unexpected challenges. Jenny had assumed her desire to be a homemaker would make her naturally good at the job. She quickly discovered excellence in homemaking requires tremendous work.
Living in that tiny house far longer than anticipated forced her to become extraordinarily creative and to come to terms with her lack of contentment. There was no other option but to do the best with what she had been given; a challenge that was magnified by living in such a small space with 7 people people and all their stuff.
The natural clutter of living and schooling with 5 children seems overwhelming when there's no margin in the physical space, no where to rest the eye or escape the piles calling out for you to do something about them. She had to learn what needed immediate attention and she needed to let go.
Teaching Daughters the Worth of the Work
Jenny intentionally involves her five daughters in homemaking. Everyone rotates through different cleaning assignments, they help with cooking and animal care, and her oldest skilled enough in the kitchen to plan for and prepare an entire meal.
When hosting guests, the girls make name cards, set tables, and prepare food. "I always tell them how they are blessing others with that work," Jenny says. And they are into it. She says her girls love to make things pretty for guests or even just every day meals. She beleives they learned from all the years watching Jenny employed everything she could to make beautiful a home that was less than desirable. Her goal for teaching her girls?
"I want them to have all the skills, but I want them most of all to know that homemaking matters. To see the worth in the work."
This is just a sampling of Jenny's interview. Hear her full story of home on The Art of Home Podcast, Season 26, Ep 6.
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Allison's Update: Christmas on My Mind
Stockings I worked on this past weekend. My granddaughter's stocking is made of green velvet and the ruffle is made from an antique table cloth.
My Favorite Holiday Tours on Homeworthy:
The Notebook I'm using for Christmas Planning this year:
My favorite Planner Pens:
Connect with Jenny
Etsy (for Nature Group Start Up Guide and more!)
Instagram @bloom.wild.schoolhouse
The Joyful Life articles
Mentioned in this Episode
Books:
Jenny's Favorite Homemaking Resources & Influences:
Jenny's Signature Dishes
Soup & Bread 101
Jenny's Go-to Bread Recipes: Daily Sourdough or It's Always Autumn French Bread
Jenny's Formula for Soup:
Start with oil, onions, and garlic.
Add in chopped veggies of your choice.
Add broth and seasonings.
Add in meat if desired.
Make more filling with beans, barley, rice, or pasta.
Add fun toppings such as cheese, chips, avocado, or whatever seems to go with the type of soup you created.
This is a great way to stretch a meal from the day before or use odds and ends in your pantry and fridge.
While she would claim soup and bread as her signatures, Jenny knows her family would vote for her Chicken Pot Pie. Her crust comes from Better Homes and Gardens. She tweeks it by substituting butter for the shortening and making a double recipe to have bottom and top crusts for the pie.
She did share her recipe card with us but explains,
"I can't remember where my pot pie recipe is from, but I recommend experimenting with different recipes and tweaking until your family agrees on a favorite."
I agree! Here's Jenny's recipe to get you started.
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