Every once in awhile (okay, I'll confess - usually when I'm procrastinating) I'll reflect on the day-to-day stuff of my childhood and I'll wonder how things could change so much from one generation to another.
For almost my entire growing up years I was lucky enough to have a "stay-at-home" Mom. She was our primary caregiver and handled almost all the domestic tasks required to keep a family and house functioning smoothly. I always hoped that if I had children of my own one day, I too would be able to exchange my place in the paid workforce for ... a spot on the couch ... watching soap operas all day ... eating Oreos straight from the bag ... while the kids were raised by the dog. *exaggerated eye roll* I was a natural June Cleaver - I was sure of it.
I can't quite pinpoint where the wheels fell off. My example was there, without question, but it seems I was either too lazy to learn, or too dumb to retain, even a 1/4 of the domestic skills my Mom (and most of her peers) demonstrated on a daily basis.
+ My Mom baked bread and cookies for our lunches (guess who traded with her classmates for their store-bought stuff? *sheepish*) and prepared a real supper, including dessert, for her family every night.
- I won all kinds of ribbons at the county fair for my homemade baking 'n such ... when I was in grade school. All I have to show for those promising early talents now are - well, the yellowed newspaper clippings bearing my name and show-stopping abilities.
+ My mom picked, canned and froze every fruit and vegetable imaginable. Our cold room was lined with shelves of preserves and the freezer was stocked for winter.
- Okay *sigh* I can't do any of that. But *light bulb moment* maybe it's because I have post-traumatic something or other from the time my Mom "accidentally" (jury's still out on this one) reached for a bottle of rug shampoo instead of the vinegar and fed her poor, unsuspecting husband and kids 'toxic' pickled beets! (We've gotten a lot of mileage out of this one, trust me!)
+ To save money, my Mom sewed a lot of our clothes when we were little. She was even so zealous as to take a course on sewing with polyester! Not to be wasteful, she made us underwear from the scraps - with elastic so tight it left little crinkly marks *ouch!* around the tops of our thighs. (Another classic in our family storytelling repertoire!)
- I think the first (and, not surprisingly, last) article of clothing I ever sewed was a 'wrap-around' skirt for Grade 7 Home Economics class. *shudder* I'm pretty sure my Mom wanted to take her hands and 'wrap-em-around' my throat by the time that project was complete. Apparently I don't take direction well. (Act surprised.)
+ My Mom knit us hats, mitts, sweaters, etc. She could crotchet, embroider, cross-stitch and - AND, I do believe I remember a canister full of those paints used to create the unforgettable black velvet paintings everyone was so fond of back then. Actually, back up. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure my Dad's to blame for the black velvet 'praying Jesus' which adorned our living room wall for years. (He's not reading this, right?)
- I, on the other hand, had to be bribed with big money ($2.00) to finish knitting a scarf I started. My most notable crafty endeavour was a huge, hideous by any recollection, rug hooking *cringe* of a poodle. It only took me approx. 3 years to complete. I think I ended up giving it to my parents as an 'anniversary gift' one year. (Karma - I'm ready for it, don't worry.)
+ My Mom faithfully hung load after load of freshly laundered clothes to dry on the line outside, then ironed and starched each piece - including pillow cases, table cloths and tea towels.
- Here's where I make up some of my deficit. *proud* See, I actually enjoy laundry duty. Well, most of it, anyway. The part about ironing? Yeah, um ... I have an iron, I do. Honest. Just don't ask me to produce it any time soon.
*hangs head in shame* There you have it, the ugly truth of how I mismanaged an entire generation's domestic know-how. What am I going to pass down to my kids in its place, you ask? Um, can sarcasm and verbal posting diarrhea (ask the BWSRN) be considered life skills?
Well, whatever happens I'm sure my best intentions (like those of my Mother) to raise productive, contributing members of society ... will result in countless hours of mockery and larger-than-life tales that they'll use to entertain their friends and, of course, torment ME in my old age. *smile* I look forward to it.
Ut sementem feceris, ita metes.
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1 comment:
Very nice tribute to your ma's skills, where she lacked in some places she made up in others. I'm sure you too will pass on some unique skills to your kiddies...like how you can now buy all those wonderful preserves,baking and shop at VV for half the cost.
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