Our Moms would have gotten along famously! I actually got an A in Home Economics when we traded places with the girls (they took shop, while we cooked, ironed and sewed). Maybe the funniest was Mom trying to impart enough cooking knowledge "so you don't starve when you're on your own." I'm minimally capable, but I never really took to it like some men do. My Dad was the best auto mechanic I've ever known. He tried to teach me, but I was truly painful to watch. I can do stuff, but it usually results in blood loss and serious profanity. (Remarkably, in all the years I watched him work I don't think I ever heard him swear!) However disappointing I turned out, I always appreciated their efforts when I was grown.
Old school parenting! I started using power tools with my dad as soon as he thought I had the strength to hold them. No gloves, no goggles. Just "Be careful not to loose a finger".
Not if my life depended on it! (Or at least, not any more. Cars have become too sophisticated for most ""driveway mechanics" now. Also, I'm now old, and I don't appreciate rolling around with them any more. Past a certain point there's no shame in paying a pro.)
I keep telling myself and my son that I'm focused on the long game. It's very hard when your kid's friends are all frankly very spoiled. Yesterday while we were pulling weeds together, I got to listen to my son keep saying how he doesn't know anyone that has to do yard work....in the hot sun. All I could hope in these moments is that when he is an adult, these times that he hates imprint a memory that he cherishes.
It's possible that he only _thinks_ he doesn't know anyone who has to do yard work, because some friends might not say so. I had a group of friends from middle school to high school, one or two of whom I've stayed in touch with till today. Sometimes those similarities in upbringing or values are only revealed much later. Or he will one day have a new group of friends with whom it will be a bonding moment, like, "you had to do yard work, too?!"
Our Moms would have gotten along famously! I actually got an A in Home Economics when we traded places with the girls (they took shop, while we cooked, ironed and sewed). Maybe the funniest was Mom trying to impart enough cooking knowledge "so you don't starve when you're on your own." I'm minimally capable, but I never really took to it like some men do. My Dad was the best auto mechanic I've ever known. He tried to teach me, but I was truly painful to watch. I can do stuff, but it usually results in blood loss and serious profanity. (Remarkably, in all the years I watched him work I don't think I ever heard him swear!) However disappointing I turned out, I always appreciated their efforts when I was grown.
Old school parenting! I started using power tools with my dad as soon as he thought I had the strength to hold them. No gloves, no goggles. Just "Be careful not to loose a finger".
So you can fix a car without cursing?
Not if my life depended on it! (Or at least, not any more. Cars have become too sophisticated for most ""driveway mechanics" now. Also, I'm now old, and I don't appreciate rolling around with them any more. Past a certain point there's no shame in paying a pro.)
Imagine the functional world we would be living in, if all mothers were like that!
we can dream
I know. When I was young I thought all families were like this. I was so surprised that a lot weren't. That was a different lesson altogether.
I keep telling myself and my son that I'm focused on the long game. It's very hard when your kid's friends are all frankly very spoiled. Yesterday while we were pulling weeds together, I got to listen to my son keep saying how he doesn't know anyone that has to do yard work....in the hot sun. All I could hope in these moments is that when he is an adult, these times that he hates imprint a memory that he cherishes.
He will. I complained a lot about a lot of lessons that I'm now grateful for.
It's possible that he only _thinks_ he doesn't know anyone who has to do yard work, because some friends might not say so. I had a group of friends from middle school to high school, one or two of whom I've stayed in touch with till today. Sometimes those similarities in upbringing or values are only revealed much later. Or he will one day have a new group of friends with whom it will be a bonding moment, like, "you had to do yard work, too?!"