They announced in church Sunday that a single mother of a 14 year old boy had just moved. She had everything she needed, but a few curtains.

I had some nice ones and sent our son to deliver them. One set needed a few minutes stitches (they were very nice, but a thread had pulled in the laundry). I sat down to mend the curtains, and it occurred to me that she probably had lots more time than I did and sent our boy with the curtains and a message that they needed a stitch and to show her where.

When he came home, I asked if she was OK about mending the one curtain. His answer made me aware of how unprepared so many of our young women are going to be in emergencies. He said "She doesn't have a needle or thread. She doesn't sew." He told her he would come back tomorrow with a needle and thread and mend it for her."

I don't really "sew" either, as in "make clothes", but when I think of the mountain of clothes I have mended and altered over the years, I fear for a generation who does not see needles and thread as a required item in their home.

I remember when we were down to the wire, finishing out our last Y2K preparations, how I went back again for more needles and thread. I said to my kids when they commented, "Imagine a world where you can't buy a needle - it could happen." (yes, we would make needles, but that's not the point.)

Not owning a needle and thread was not a concern to this mother. How did this happen in our society. I have no reason to think she is unique.

God help our young people if things ever get bad in our land.

-- homestead2 (homestead@localnetplus.com), February 20, 2002

Answers

This story reminds me of the one articles, done by TV news, of inner city youth brought from the city to a farm to see what living in the country is like. The inner city youths don't recognize chickens, because chicken come packaged with FOUR legs and FOUR wings.

(sigh)

We are going to find ourselves in some trouble if we ever have a major recession / depression like the 1920's. Too many of us would not be able to take care of ourselves; we have become too specialized for our own good.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), February 20, 2002.

i know what you mean. i am the jail boss at a county detention facility. you would be surprised at the 17-20 year old inmates that think the jail food is a home cooked meal. most of their mothers have served microwaved or fast food all their lives!!and believe me, the food isnt close to nor does it resemble home cooked. its a shame.

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), February 20, 2002.

That is interesting. I thought that the hot glue gun replaced a lot of curtain sewing (at least for decorative types), and also there are fusible web tapes that are just as durable as sewing as far as hemming goes. But she probably doesn't have an iron, either....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 20, 2002.

It is not just the girls, the boys seem lacking in a number of basic skills too! I have young friends who scrimp and save to pay semi- skilled 'tradesmen' to do basic work for them. Painting a house, car repairs, even simple plumbing jobs.

I guess it is the fault of my generation which did not encourage them to play at such things when they were children.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), February 20, 2002.

Television. Video games. Telephones. After that, there's not enough 'spare time' to have to go find something to amuse yourself or keep your hands busy. Our heads are full, but our hands have not had enough 'doing'. the answer? I think many of the people on this site are working on it. TV's great, so are video games, and phones. But we need to teach our children that they are tools - not the things that control our lives. Nice theory. Really easy to say.

-- Bernie from Northern Ontario (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

I just have to say as a 27 year old women with three kids, I do not sew or iron. It is not my generation not knowing it is most of our parents were to busy to teach us. We are just the products of the generation before and they are the products of the generation before that and so on and so on. I am not saying it is right I am just saying it is not all our fault.If the time comes that I need to sew I will. I have a grandmother and a mother in law that all to happy to do it for me!!! I do iron when I have to! Most of my cloths are jeans and T-shirts or I throw it in the dryer to fluff.

-- sonneyacres (jtgt12@ntelos.net), February 20, 2002.

Sonneyacres, you have a good point. I do sew a little - enough to mend curtains certainly. But, that's not something my mother ever taught me. Simple repairs? Forget about it! I swear my father would have called a repairman to change a light bulb if they would have done it! I never EVER saw him repair anything in all my childhood years. Both my parents were very busy working outside the home. Lucky for me, I married a very HANDY man - he can fix just about anything using whatever we have on hand. He's great! And I'm learning.....

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), February 20, 2002.

I live in an area where the weather is strong enough to regularly muck up peoples plans. If there is one thing I've learned, it's that I cannot predict who copes well and who doesn't. For instance, I would be at work and when the subject of the previous days storm (with power outage) came up (happens most years), one apparently self reliant sort may say something like "oh, we just ordered a pizza delivered; I'm sure glad I don't have THAT job!", while some lady with perfectly manicured nails might say something about feeding her family roast beef sandwiches, having the kids toast marshmallows in the fire place, and using the ashes the next day in the driveway so the car could get out. There is NO way now that I would try to predict who could cope and who couldn't!

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), February 20, 2002.

Sort of on this same subject: The things that are a part of our life that we assume everybody does -

I was talking to my friend about the building we were getting ready to start. I was saying it was so neat to watch my husband gear up to build a new building. --How he draws it out, makes the material list, reworks the drawing, then the list again. Then how finicky he gets squaring the building in. How he is so "on fire" to start that building. I asked her if her husband gets so "into" it when he starts a building.

They have been married almost 30 years. Her answer surprised me. She said "He's never built a building in his life."

When you live this homestead life, you get a mindset about what you think everyone can do. It is not wrong to never have built a building, but how could anyone not - want to.

We built the smoke house, the chicken house (actually three of them - that each, became something else, so we had to build another), the garage, the barns. Ten years ago, he built this house, too. The dog houses, the rabbit hutches, the hog houses. Each one a project that we all got really excited about.

The lady who didn't have a needle and thread has set me to thinking about such things today. We want to know how to do everything and the learning has made this a wonderful life.

-- homestead2 (homestead@localnetplus.com), February 20, 2002.

My mother never willingly sewed or mended a piece of clothing that I remember. Grandma Nettie visited and did the mending. My mother was ther worst cook I ever saw. She could burn water-literally! Guess what! I've been sewing for over 45 years cause I wanted to learn to. I took a class or two and taught myself. As for cooking, I wanted to learn to I did. It's a mind-set. I wanted to do things myself like cooking, sewing and gardening so I learned to. Oh...and I never saw my mother stick one seed into the ground either!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

Due to an ongoing case of "Armaggedon paranoia", I am constantly aquiring new skills that would keep me from getting "kicked off the island". Probably never use most of them enough to make it really cost effective (that is, if I ever spent money on it, which I rarely do), but I feel better knowing that if something terrible really happens my otherwise weanie self would have enough usefulness to earn my keep.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

My 5 year old son is homeschooled and he knows how to sew. He likes to make hand puppets. Okay, I know I'm bragging but I'm a proud mom. When he gets bigger I'll teach him how to use the sewing machine. Even boys need to know the general skills required in life.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), February 20, 2002.

Anita, you're right! Every boy should know at least the essentials of cooking, cleaning and sewing. I vividly remember watching my first DH try to sew on a button and I was amazed! His mother had seven children and you would have thought she could have taught them something that basic!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

Now don't yall generalize too much about my generation. I'm 19 and can and do sew (yes, even some of my own clothes). We aren't all wasting our lives in front of video games.

-- Elizabeth (Lividia66@aol.com), February 20, 2002.

Elizabeth, that's great! You're restoring my faith in the youth of today. I was lucky growing up, my Mom taught me how to sew, crochet, knit, bake bread, forage, grow a garden and can or preserve everything. (I can't leave my Dad out, he definately taught me how to survive on my own) I know I'm leaving things out, but I feel lucky to have had a Mom and Dad that took the time to pass things on to me. (I'm doing the same with my family.) This was their way of life, things have changed so much over the years, lots of parents don't know how to do any of this, let alone have anything TO pass on to their kids. It's sad.

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

My husband does all the sewing. It isnt that I cant, just hate it. Now give me a pitchfork and I will muck out a stall in a few minutes. I dont Iron either, dont own one.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), February 20, 2002.

Go Elizabeth!

To me, this is just another personal responsibility issue. For those who don't know how do so something, remember, it is NOT your parents' fault! It's your own fault! The resources are out there. All you have to do is look them up. For example, I recently learned how to darn socks. Did anyone show me? No! I found instructions on the Internet. Books or internet have provided me with the vast majority of my less common skills.

Sorry to rant so. This all-too-often-heard bit about "I'm such and such a deficient person because my parents did (or didn't) do so and so" just really gets me. Get over it, you know? Move ahead under your own steam!

(Ducking and covering now. Fire at will.)

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), February 20, 2002.

I can sew, but it is not cost effective to do my own clothes, unless it is something custom made (extra pockets, for example). Even if you have free material/notions, your time is worth something.

This is not to say that it is not useful to know how, but at some point the value of your time comes into it. Also, some people actually enjoy sewing or fixing things (a friend who hates plumbing but can do it always jokes about it being a 3 trips to the hardware store job) and get true enjoyment out of it.

Also, looking toward the future, when, for example, we might live in space, some skills will probably be rendered if not outright useless, then unnecessary, or certainly not the necessity that they once were. Just a thought.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 20, 2002.

When I first moved out on my own, the fist things I got as "must haves" was 3 cast iron skillets, 2 stock pots (one large, one medium), 4 sauce pans (1- one pt,2- one qt and 1 - two qt), a biscuit pan, pie tin, cookie sheet, glass baking dish set (one round, one oblong), a 4 place setting of cheap dishes and flatware, 6 glasses ,towel set, first aid supplies and an emergency sewing kit with needles, thimbles , pins and 40 "bobbin sized" spools of thread in various colors and a spool of "invisible" plastic thread. Twenty years later and I still have that $30 worth of cheap gear in my collection.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 20, 2002.

When we first moved to this farm, I was conversing with my new neighbor. I mentioned a book I was reading, and asked her if she'd read it before. Her reply was "oh, no, I don't read." We never did become friends. I started taking sewing classes a month ago, using a 1940 White sewing machine that I picked up somewhere. I LOVE it, and have made lots of good stuff already. And the teacher is showing me how to make rag rugs, too. Next year, I want to learn to knit. (I'm 34.)

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 20, 2002.

I agree with the person at the top. I have always said that if we ever had another serious depression or what have you, people will freak! To be able to feed, cloth, and warm your family is essential and most really don't know how on their own. I think the thing I would panic most over is not having canning lids. Eeek! Hubby just shrugs and says "then we'd dryy it, cellar it, or eat it in season".

Hubby's mom worried the boys would marry to have somebody take care of them, so she made darn sure they coul cook, mend, clean, and do laundry!

Although I choose not to do some things that way for speed sake, or whatever, I have a library on how to and many simple tools. we have tried most of the things we feel would be important and taught them to our kids so they will know to teach theirs etc. If worse comes to worst we won;t starve or be naked, even if we have to eat jerky and wear buckskin...

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), February 20, 2002.

While it is true that one cannot blame their parents for not learning something they need to know. It is also true that things like sewing were handed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. Someone has definitely dropped the ball!

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), February 20, 2002.

As the mother of 5 sons, I felt it important that they should all be able to at least handle the basics of living. they know how to cook (not just microwave) and wash their clothes. I gave each one a sewing kit like Jay bought and they can do the simple things like sew on a button or a seam repair. They can also milk a goat and stack hay as well as clean a rabbit or pick a chicken. Hopefully they will teach me more about computers.

-- Karen Mauk (kansashobbit@yahoo.com), February 20, 2002.

A sewing kit is one of the things that I keep in my pick-up truck. It gets used every once in a while too. It seems a bit weird to me here to be talking about sewing. I learned by watching my grandmother sew up bib overalls. She died in the 50's, but the knowledge lives on.

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), February 20, 2002.

Like Elizabeth, I'm also 19 and I sew many of my own clothes, knit and crochet, cook all my own food from scratch (at college) and every weekend in the right season I'm home gardening, canning, all that good stuff. Most of the skills I've learned from my mother just because I've wanted to...my sister on the other hand hasn't wanted to learn any of that. I just can't stand the idea of all that knowledge older members of my family have just going to waste! Teach it to me!!!

-- Christine Young (Christine_Young@Brown.edu), February 20, 2002.

The only thing I use my sewing needles for are stitching animals and digging splinters out of my hands. I really can't even remember the last time I sewed something. I've used Wonder-Under and iron on patches for years. We have clothes enough to last 10 years anyway, everyone gives us their bags of clothes. I sort them into, fits us, fits someone I know, keep for someone who might need them, and rags. I do have my mama's sewing machine still, just never use it.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), February 20, 2002.

Love this forum and everyones responses. I taught myself to sew, I remember my Mother sewing our clothes but she never taught us. I suppose she would of if we asked, she was a busy stay at home Mom. I taught myself to can, milk, quilt, make cheese, refinish, etc.,etc. The list is enormous for anyone who likes to do for themselves. The young people have the resources to learn anything, I'm constantly learning. It all depends on the individual....

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), February 20, 2002.

hello homestead2,

A stitch in time, saves nine! I use dental floss to repair torn awnings, tarps, car seats, blue jeans, sneakers and anything thing else that can be sewed back into use. I do it out of necessity. With this throw away society that we have now, many people just get a new one when it is torn or broken. That is probably the reason many people can not sew as it use to be.

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

When I was little, we lived in a big house that had a corner back behind the stairs, meant for a closet. Mom stored material in there, in boxes upon boxes. With a family of 9 kids, she needed plenty on hand. We made almost all our clothes. There was just enough room in that closet to get in and play with dolls.

When Mom's sewing machine of indeterminate age became to old to handle the bulk of the sewing anymore, she allowed us girls to have it. We took it back into that closet, set it on a box, and made doll clothes for hours on end. She gave us boxes of scraps to play with. At 8 years old, I was able to measure a doll and create a pattern for a princess-style dress, cut it out and machine-sew it. It fit very well. If it werent for my Mom's generosity and allowing me the freedom to do it, I would never have learned. But my! The mess we made! The scraps generally stayed above ankle height in that closet.

Now, I enjoy creating patterns for people who are hunch-backed or have otherwise impossible-to fit physical problems. Thanks, Mom.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), February 20, 2002.

I too agree that people should have the skills needed to get by in life, and if they don't have the skills, they should take the initiative to learn. We should also be a kind reciever of gifts, especially if they are given in a good and heartfelt manner.

I, must state however, that my take on this topic is a little different than the above posts.

Desperate people do weird things. Maybe this gal was too embarrassed to recieve your curtains. Maybe she didn't want the preacher to announce that she was needy. Maybe your son did not graciously give them to her. Maybe she was having a bad day. Maybe she just didn't like the curtains that you sent, and did not know how to gracefully decline them. Maybe your gift hurt her pride. Sometimes people react rudely when good people try to help them. I have seen it happen so many times in my own life, and, to my own shame, I have acted rudely to others when some one offered me a helping hand.

My suggestion is to be Christlike in how you handle this situation. Fix the curtains yourself, and then offer them to her. Be nice and good hearted. If she turns them down and acts rudely, turn the other cheek. Know in your own heart that you did the right thing, and Jesus will bless you for it.

Just my two cents.

-- clove (clovis97@Yahoo.com), February 20, 2002.

there is mending tape available that you iron on the hem of clothes and curtains. it is very quick and easy to use. and fairly cheap

-- js (schlicker54@aol.com), February 21, 2002.

It seems that kids go to school to learn academic stuff, but miss out on the most important lessons, like how to live day to day life, do practical stuff, balance a checkbook, cook a meal, love their family....

My daughter was an unschooler since second grade. Seems like a good idea to me ;-) She has made her own snowshoes, a kayak, a house, is sewing a log cabin quilt and cooks great food! ;-) She also gives great massages!! Now those are some important skills.

Want to see her house building? http://www.homestead.com/peaceandcarrots/HeathersHouse.html

-- Wendy Martin (wsm311@aol.com), February 21, 2002.

People are divided, I have seen, into Those That Fold or Those That Iron. Anybody without a needle & thread or the knowledge at least of how to do so (if not the sense to appreciate their necessity), would not even own an iron.

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), February 21, 2002.

I didn't get the idea that the young woman was in any way rude or ungrateful---she just couldn't sew! And it was very nice of your son to offer to come back the next day and repair the curtain. As to the post about not sewing because it wasn't financially practical---since when? I do value my time, but maybe because I've been sewing my own clothes for years I can do so rather quickly. The other day I went to Wal-Mart and bought $60.00 worth of fabric, and made myself two pairs of pants and four tops! That works out to $6.00 of material per garment, and none of them could I have purchased for less than $40.00- 50.00 each. Not to mention that they're in exactly the color I want, and fit ME perfectly.

-- Judith Weaver (missvonbatt@juno.com), February 22, 2002.

Here is my story; Both of my parents grew up on the farm in Mo during the depresion. So they were always after me to be thrifty. Being the only child (and a girl)I was always at thier elbow looking at things and jabering a mile a minute. MOm refused to teach me to sew but made me take sewing in 4H and home ec. Her mom wouldn't teach her to cook or sew. So she taught her self when she graduated and moved to town. My dad never graduated high school because he was the oldest son and his father was in his 40's when my dad was born. But he was always tinkering and reading. We ALWAYS had a graden. some as small as 4'x 4'to a "truck" garden of 3 acers. And I didn't spend much time setting on my BUTT. ANd beleave me I was taught not to be a picky eater. Eat what is in fron of you or don't eat, you sat there untile dad was finished eating. When I graduated high school my father told me " you will get a education, you will get a job and you will get a car". I payed for my college and car by myself. I always had some little job. Cleaning houses,work study, mending clothes,..... And here I am at 43,layed of from the printing industry,thinking VERY seriusly about becoming a teacher. My currat DH just can't see me doing it and doesn't want me to get a job until April.

-- cindi in MO (redhenfarms@rovin.net), February 22, 2002.

Judith, I almost never buy anything new, so at any thrift store or garage sale, I could easily do better than sewing for myself (especially when you add in the cost of the trip and notions (you don't always have the right salvaged zipper on hand)). Even if I bought new at Wal-mart, it would be cheaper than sewing for myself. I could see myself sewing some backpacking-type items to save money, but not regular clothing.

Also, a lot of people make the mistake when calculating the worth of their time that "all" a stay-at-home person should make is minimum wage, which to me is wrong. We all have skills, and should take that into account when choosing to do one thing over another.

Snoozy, irons can come in handy for lots of things--like melting the embossing powder on cards when rubber stamping, cooking a cheese sandwich (wrapped in foil, of course), wax paper/crayon stained glass "window" paper for children, etc. A travel-size iron doesn't take up much room at all:)

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 22, 2002.

I have an idea! Maybe the young woman would appreciate a brief lesson in mending. Can your son show her how to do this? I'm a firm believer in teaching people to do things for themselves. If she is willing, go for it. It is a step toward independence for her.

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), February 22, 2002.

Ladies - This is an interesting conversation. I'm almost 50 (I don't believe it), but I've been sewing, crocheting, etc since I was about 9-10 years old. Watched my mother and grandmother then 3 years of home-ec.

At church now I am usually crocheting something, have done costumes for various things. The younger group (10-11 year olds) some have asked to be taught how to do this. The young adults, I've helped with some sewing advice. Starting March 9th, we are going to have a open time at the church where the ladies that want to come and share knowledge will be there and those that need help can come. We are probably starting off with making a quilt top by machine, but crochet is welcome, knitting, embroidery, etc. It's being set up so we can help each other and the sewing is especially interesting to several of the young mothers and young ladies. The only requirement to come is the attention span to learn. (The mom's want to leave the small children with dad for that time frame.) Maybe some of you could start something like that with your church, 4H, y, or whatever.

Regards, AngieM2

-- AngieM2 (ameininger@yahoo.com), February 22, 2002.

I for one, am in complete agreement with you... I am saddned and in shock at how our young women today cant even bake a cake from scratch... The shock worsens everytime my 53 year old mother in law asks me how to fry pork chops or mend a hem... shamefull....

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), February 22, 2002.

GT -- I count myself among the Those-That-Iron, and I also tote my travel iron whenever I travel abroad. I have even converted two people from The Other Side to the Correct Viewpoint!

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), February 22, 2002.

why don't you give her some needles and black and white thread?

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), February 23, 2002.

Quite a while ago now (say ten years or so) I made up basic sewing kits as Christmas presents for my sons and nephews and niece. I made up some oversized draw-string bags out of material remnants I bought (can't get simpler than that, can you?). For each person, I bought a bag of about twenty or thirty of the miniature ten-metre spools of thread in assorted colours, a packet of neeedles, big spools of white, black and navy thread, tape measure, little card of plain white shirt or blouse buttons, a packet of that fusible web hemming stuff that you apply with an iron, stitch ripper, folding scissors, and whatever else I spotted in the sewing sections of the stores. I think I put in iron-on patches in white, black, navy and blue denim as well. Can't remember what else.

I had just given up smoking at that stage, so I had a heap of small double-layer cigarillo tins - about four inches square by half an inch deep (10x10x1cm) just big enough to hold some of those miniature spools. I used those to make travel repair-kits. I put the white, black and navy mini-spools in the tin, along with the folding scissors, a couple of needles stuck in a piece of card, the needle- threader that came with the needles, the fusible web, the buttons (needed to trim the card, but that's where the needles went), folding scissors, and just because they'd fit and it was a place to keep them together, the tape measure and stitch ripper as well. Hey - a guy away from home needs this stuff too, or it could ruin a business presentation.

Got them started - they were all at the stage where they were either nearing leaving home, or at least going on school trips. At least some of the bits and pieces are still in use, some of the drawstring bags are a lot fatter than they were when I gave them, and I suspect the kids wouldn't have been as self-sufficient if I hadn't done that for them. May be worth thinking about as a round of presents - maybe something you can build toward for next Christmas.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 23, 2002.

Snoozy, I fold or hang up, but no longer iron, unless it is for crafting or pressing seams open, so that is why I still have an iron, but just a small one. I also buy carefully so that what I own doesn't need ironing, or I can "wear out" the wrinkles before going somewhere, so to speak. I do hand sew for the small things, however, just as I prefer to type envelopes in the typewriter, rather than hassle with trying to get them in the printer just so....;)

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 23, 2002.

I am a 32 yr. old mother. I just have to say that I don't sew. I am now learning how to make homemade breads, etc. My mother never bothered to show me how to sew, cook, etc. I was willing but she always said I was in her way. I am now taking it upon my self to be more self sufficient. If someday I need to learn how to sew, I'll learn that also. But for now I have enough on my plate.

-- Trish (mybusiness@herwire.com), February 24, 2002.

Ok - I take exception to "those that don't sew" probably don't own an iron. I own two irons and ironed everything, until I figured out that this was bull... (sorry, but that's the way I feel about ironing jeans, and stuff). I work, both off the farm (one full time job and one part time job) and I work on the farm, gardening, canning, cooking, raising horses, chickens, etc. I generally put in about 60 hours off the farm and about 20 hours on the farm. My DH puts in about the same amount of time on the farm. I don't sew but have two sewing machines. One is a Sears and one is a old fashioned pedal type which does work. I was not taught to sew by my mom, and I absolutely hated home ec. I can cook good enough to do Christmas Dinner for about a hundred and can make bread from scratch. Not everyone likes or wants to sew. I applaud everyone who does, but personally, I would rather clean out the chicken house. I never have liked doing that stuff. So maybe the girl is like me - hates to sew. I do crochet and do all sorts of very fancy patterns. I just don't have the patience for cutting out patterns, finding material, buttons, etc. I don't think that makes me a bad person or one that is ill prepared. I could still figure out how to clothe my family were the apocolypse to happen right now. Lots of people just don't choose to do what others think is appropriate for "preparedness". How many people can cut firewood, lay tile, make bread from scratch (no machine), fix a wood cookstove, doctor a horse, teach kids riding lessons, work a full time job, volunteer for March of Dimes Walkathons, work a part-time job, help their ailing old folks out, bale hay, and the list is endless. Not sewing does not make one unprepared. There are a gazillion places where I can buy clothes cheaply - and wear them for over ten years. Then toss them in the rag barrel and start over. Meanwhile, I'm paying down that mortgage..

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), February 24, 2002.

I never cease to be astounded at the great number of people out there that possess little or no basic skills. I have a 13 year old and a 9 year old that can hem a curtain...is it an unwillingness to learn or sit down and figure something out or is it the total brainwashing of the ready made generation mindset that everything comes, stays and remains in perfect working order? As a single mother, I have had a small farm, I garden, cook, can, sew, quilt, crochet afghans, work full time, devote myself to my children, and cant imagine life lived in a tiny city dwelling. I work with a great number of mothers in their 20s and most of these women cannot imagine making a dinner from scratch. If it don't come in a box (sic) where I add water, I cant cook it. Arrgh! Hmmm it must be a rough way to go.....

reminds me of one of my favorite Scriptures:

Raise up a child in the way he should go....

-- s killion (frugalredhead@mauryriver.net), May 02, 2002.

One reason for the decline in domesticity is because the schools think they have more important things to teach like mulitculturalism and sex ed according to Darwin (were all just animals right? so why not act like them?)

We had our homeschool review recently and the reviewer asked me what our plans were for our daughter. I thought for a moment and said that I wanted her to be an economic asset to her home (second only to being a godly young woman/wife/mother). I want her to be more valuable to the home than being out in the workforce.

Could the ladies at your church undertake to teach homemaking skills to this lady and/or her son? Someone could have the boy over and teach him to cook, mend, fix lawnmowers, change the oil, etc...

-- Lavender, Central Maryland (lavenderbluedilly@hotmail.com), May 02, 2002.