tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post5736372730512121600..comments2024-03-29T16:34:01.380+10:00Comments on down to earth: Wanted - skills for lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-30811459611561737182013-04-24T20:02:08.680+10:002013-04-24T20:02:08.680+10:00I have to start cooking, from scratch, so I did no...I have to start cooking, from scratch, so I did not read the comments, but I wish schools still tought simple homemaking skills, like sewing and knitting and hooking and some "boys"skills too, like repairing leaks in bicycletubes. Surely a little knowledge would prevent many thrown away appliances, because of small failures. A simple way of reducing use of electricity is just not ironing everything that has been washes. Teatowels absorn=b more water when not ironed, as doe bathtowels, underwear not ironed absorbs sweat much better. Want that neat look in your chest of linen? Simply fold the towels and sit on them for a minute, for hyqiens sake always put a bathtowel on top, same with under wear or bedlinen, we always call this Geesie-ironing, because my Aunt Geesie did not like loosing time on ironing and taught us to "iron"this way. WE7Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-46105202676199677592012-06-18T18:10:46.741+10:002012-06-18T18:10:46.741+10:00I grew up in a home where frugality, healthy food,...I grew up in a home where frugality, healthy food, knitting, gardening, buying quality ect. was the order of the day, lucky me! When I was a kid and teenager in the 70´s and 80´s it was not normal to worry much about environment, consumerism ect. but my Dad was a very critical person and have tought me to not just accept the standard way of living or thinking without asking questions, and my Mom has always been very practical and showed me the way to save money, keep a houshold, use my hands to produce things and grow vegetables and a lot more. At the time I thought my parents was a little strange and really old fashioned, but over the years I have learnt to appreciate all the skills and values I have recieved at home, and I also love finding new ways to make myself independant and selfreliant, and try to show my daughter too.<br /><br />School system here does not do much to teach our kids how to balance a household economy, cook real meals, clean not using chemicals, sew, grow a garden or other useful things. Focus is mostly on skills that allows young people to move on in the education system, the rest is up to the individual to learn. So many young people here have serious problems because of the crisis, having bought expensive houses expecting property prices to keep on rising, and now facing the fact that they are insolvent since their homes are worth less than they still owe on them. Others have placed themselves hopelessly in dept to buy stuff the medias tells them they need without any thought of the long term consequenses, as if their lives and future was someone elses responsibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-51718211805209420712012-06-08T06:24:34.880+10:002012-06-08T06:24:34.880+10:00I missed this post while I was on vacation. So tru...I missed this post while I was on vacation. So true. I'm fortunate that I was taught excellent homemaking skills by my mother, aunt, and an older neighbor. It's really exciting for children to see fruit growing on trees, berries on bushes, and to learn how to cook, sew, and clean house. I agree with some of the other commenters that many of the mothers don't have these skills anymore. You can't teach it unless you know it. My neighbors used to make fun of me (in Spanish,) for crocheting on my porch, washing me windows, etc...They didn't know that I speak Spanish. They referred to me as "grandma." ( I was in my early thirties at the time.) But, now, in this economy, they look a little sheepish. Meanwhile, I have a booming orchard and vegetable garden. <br /><br />awakenedsoulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-32148753552815914602012-06-06T07:10:44.885+10:002012-06-06T07:10:44.885+10:00Sadly I think all this needs to be back in the sch...Sadly I think all this needs to be back in the schools because our current generation doesn't have the knowledge to pass down -- whdich is the way it should be done to begin with.<br /><br />also, if there was some way the countries could provide AFFORDABLE, safe, decent housing for everyone (even minimum wage) I think many more families would be able to make it without other assistance. <br /><br />But how do we do that?autumnesfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-75101222135195443472012-06-02T07:52:32.366+10:002012-06-02T07:52:32.366+10:00I've seen one thing lately that really struck ...I've seen one thing lately that really struck me as a great idea. My city's Farmer's Market has started a new token program for people who receive food stamps, for every $10 worth of food stamps they trade in at the market they get $10 in blue tokens (can be used for anything at the market) and $5 in red tokens that can only be spent on fruit and veg. The city then offers the farmers the choice of cash or a tax deduction for the red tokens at the end of the month.<br /><br />A lot of the sellers don't accept debit/credit cards so regular buyers get tokens as well and the food stamp group doesn't stand out (which is important to a lot of people). But it's a nice incentive for lower income families to keep the money in local businesses and to spend their assistance money on healthier foods and cooking instead of buying lots of processed junk food. My friend gives her little ones the red tokens to pick what they want for packed lunches, they don't always like their choices but they always feel hugely important getting to choose and pay for their own food.<br /><br />LaurenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-81492530625313225012012-06-02T02:21:17.984+10:002012-06-02T02:21:17.984+10:00I so agree with you Rhonda and here in the USA we ...I so agree with you Rhonda and here in the USA we have a man running for office that only wants BIG business to not only survive but make billions more on the demise of the earth and the backs of the already under-privlage. <br />My daughter, or friends and I have started an every other week sewing classes here and my home. I teach them how to sew and all about their machines. It is fun we have made pajamas, aprons, small coin bags with zippers and now we will be fitting patterns to ourselves to make skirts. <br />I think it is up to us to teach the next generation Rhonda, our governments just do not " get it"Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031688737964746427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-32611313389943897202012-05-31T07:18:53.810+10:002012-05-31T07:18:53.810+10:00Maybe it needs to be taught on TV. Cooking became ...Maybe it needs to be taught on TV. Cooking became trendy with the Masterchef shows etc perhaps a reality TV show for life skills along the lines of some of those classes an earlier commenter talked of that she had in her high school in Canada. Which sounded fantastic by the way! TV seems to be the only way to engage a lot of people. Though could we trust the TV Networks to get the message out!! I second Rhonda for PM..Julia in BowenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-69194127233866949902012-05-31T00:18:51.085+10:002012-05-31T00:18:51.085+10:00I wholeheartedly agree with Jilly's comment. ...I wholeheartedly agree with Jilly's comment. I am responsible for myself and my family, and living frugally is quite naturally an expression of this. I choose to live this way. If my choices can serve as an example to others on how to lead a rich and full life, one void of deprivation, one that will help them weather storms, all the better. For true change to take hold and flourish, repeated examples of a heart-and-soul way of life are a must. Community involvement and programs are the way to go. I am unconvinced that legislation is.<br /><br />MarnieMarniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755933519396572020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83927491917294269952012-05-30T18:38:26.820+10:002012-05-30T18:38:26.820+10:00love the idea of re-teaching fundamental skills in...love the idea of re-teaching fundamental skills in schools and getting the WI involved! You're right about most young families having lost a lot of clever homemaking skills which could be so helpful in times of economic pressure. <br /><br />Giving handouts of food or financial aid only helps in the short-term but helping people to help themselves can make the difference between poverty and a comfortable and sustainable lifestyle.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03861108457109878599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-1645728038145157002012-05-30T14:51:28.483+10:002012-05-30T14:51:28.483+10:00My neighbour (deceased now) was in her 80's an...My neighbour (deceased now) was in her 80's and talked about how she used to teach these very skills at the community/govt housing locations closest to her. She talked of the need to teach people basics who have never learned these things. I agree with her and with you!!! It's sad that it seems that this needs to be institutionalised, but that's better than them being lost altogether!Amelianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-21873751178146800822012-05-30T14:12:33.913+10:002012-05-30T14:12:33.913+10:00So true Rhonda! If our young people are taught all...So true Rhonda! If our young people are taught all of these skills when young they will automatically carry them with them for the rest of their life. The same can be said for praising little ones no matter what - they never learn to deal with disappointment and take it for granted they are good at everything! Our improving technology and new ways has done some damage to how people actuallu survive from day to day now!!creations.1https://www.blogger.com/profile/06091470077700396841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-23047897970829307732012-05-30T12:03:01.660+10:002012-05-30T12:03:01.660+10:00Rhonda for PM !!Rhonda for PM !!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4990475118511158182012-05-30T12:02:50.695+10:002012-05-30T12:02:50.695+10:00Rhonda,
Once again you have brought up a subject c...Rhonda,<br />Once again you have brought up a subject close to my heart. We can each do our own little bit in our neighborhoods, but I think it is needed on a larger scale.africanaussiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16660727599623626163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-87216601998657564502012-05-30T11:45:15.813+10:002012-05-30T11:45:15.813+10:00Just look to a quality Montessori adolescent progr...Just look to a quality Montessori adolescent program and you will find life skills being taught, from sewing to knitting to farming to canning to making jams and sauces. I am fortunate to be part of such a program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.debiwebihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07204261367231611422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-64860558884342131132012-05-30T10:19:27.144+10:002012-05-30T10:19:27.144+10:00Hi all,
perhaps those who come in for the food par...Hi all,<br />perhaps those who come in for the food parcels regularly and yet not come to the workshops should be shown a carrot. Some how link the workshops to the food parcels. Come and learn how to make X, Y and Z and we'll give you the ingrediants to do it at home?<br />Some thing like that.<br />DaylaDaylahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04544561530618570093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-91736130349918815132012-05-30T09:39:43.178+10:002012-05-30T09:39:43.178+10:00RIGHT ON!!! I have for a long time been teaching ...RIGHT ON!!! I have for a long time been teaching my children what I know so they can in turn teach their children. I strongly believe their should be no homework on weekends, especially for primary school children, as we do 'life school' This means in the vege patch, tending to our chooks and other animals. We also bake prepare for the coming school week, by having uniforms washed and ready. The list is quite endless.<br /><br />Schools seem to only be there for the education and book learning. I do appreciate what they try to achieve as I know I couldn't do this all on my own. Though they do push university and careers too much. My daughter is 11 and already worried that she doesn't know what she wants to have as her career. I will support her in what ever she chooses but in the mean time I am teaching her to become a good parent and provider by showing her by example. I've been blessed with a family that had these skills. I will endeavour to continue this blessing.milkmaid74noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-13275969934362969322012-05-30T09:33:14.113+10:002012-05-30T09:33:14.113+10:00Rhonda, as much as I agree with you re schools nee...Rhonda, as much as I agree with you re schools needing to teach students life skills, there are two things to keep in mind. Firstly these are skills that parents should be teaching their kids and secondly, as a retired primary (elementary school teacher) here in Australia (Queensland to be precise), curriculums are controlled by the government and so are very very slow to change (think of a 10 year cycle to change something in the curriculum, from planning stages to teacher training to implementation in the classroom). Governments are more concerned with student acedemic progress (and getting brownie points from the voters for showing increased results in the NAPLAN tests) than in teaching students life skills. Doing the latter does not "buy" votes from the voters.<br /><br />Re parents teaching their children lifeskills, most parents if working are so busy doing that (because of the economic situation) that they have little time for doing so of a night-time and then there those who say that that is the school's job. <br /><br />End result is students going out into the workforce with little knowledge of life skills. Maybe before students get Newstart or whatever the dole is called in this day and age, they need to attend classes at Centrelink to teach them lifeskills. But somehow I doubt that would happen!Bernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04138869022449931488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-87764203762136087902012-05-30T07:55:46.055+10:002012-05-30T07:55:46.055+10:00The ONLY place I have seen life skills taught in s...The ONLY place I have seen life skills taught in schools, is in my sons special school high school. They are taught to cook, clean, how to go shopping with real money at the local shopping centre. My son is the 4th of 5 kids to go through high shcool. The others were mainstream and as far as I saw the school didn't give a damn about 'normal life,' just marks marks marks! Marks mean nothing when they are unemployed trying to live on a few dollars a week and know no better. Great blog post!A Little Bit of Me-Timehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11408156982880043622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-52237362775512093962012-05-30T07:11:47.589+10:002012-05-30T07:11:47.589+10:00I agree that living skills should be a part of a c...I agree that living skills should be a part of a child's education before they are of school leaving age. Great idea, Rhonda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-46715713610943891882012-05-30T05:50:12.015+10:002012-05-30T05:50:12.015+10:00Once again you have hammered the nail on the head!...Once again you have hammered the nail on the head!! I couldn't agree more. I'm 39 and when I was in high school we (girls only, boys did wood/metal work) did Home Economics. Apparently it is no longer taught as it is 'sexist'! The programme we followed was quite basic; cooking, meal planning and budgeting and needle work and I think your 'Life Skills' idea would be far more suitable today. However, the simple lessons I learnt back then, ie. organizing the washing-up - cleanest to dirtiest, to save on water, are a valuable asset to any family looking to lead a more frugal and sustainable life, and I'm definitely passing them on to my boys!! au revoir et à très bientôt!EMMAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02900165967124695510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-53819045614884812682012-05-30T05:20:56.654+10:002012-05-30T05:20:56.654+10:00Here in the UK its getting worse. Prices up but wa...Here in the UK its getting worse. Prices up but wages not keeping up. retirement age has risen from 60 to 67 for me. and from 65 to 67 for my DH. Very recently I have been told I need a hospital appointment yet there are no slot for months. I need treatment NOW not in several months time. Its terrible.Jotohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06025269638300442436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-60742273000679986962012-05-30T03:29:20.954+10:002012-05-30T03:29:20.954+10:00Great article, and this topic needs to be said ove...Great article, and this topic needs to be said over and over. I remember in High School (USA) going to Home Economics class, where we learned to cook, sew, etc. This is no longer being taught in the schools. The government here will never help because they are hooked up with big business and want us to keep spending money on their products. But there is no reason why we cannot do this on our own. I fully intend to teach my two-year old grandson how to live, at each stage that he is ready. This will include how to: cook, shop carefully, clean house, sewing repairs, gardening, handyman skills (grandpa will help with this too), balance a checkbook, wise spending and saving, etc.LANAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05946005009680968861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-5816115103066496672012-05-30T03:20:13.466+10:002012-05-30T03:20:13.466+10:00Hi Rhonda and everyone,
My high school was in a s...Hi Rhonda and everyone,<br /><br />My high school was in a small town in Alberta, Canada. When I was in grade 11 (2001-2002), we had a mandatory class called CALM (Career and life management). In this class, we: had a 'partner' to act as our spouse, and a teddy bear to act as our child that we had to take absolutely everywhere for a month; got a 'salary' ($35,000 to $300,000) and, four weeks later, got an 'adjustment' to this salary (some of us got a raise, some of us got a wage cut, some of us got fired); had to make a budget for monthly expenses, buy a car (choose a car and a price from the newspaper or online, and factor in compound interest and work out what our monthly payments would be), and buy/rent a place to live. In grade 6, we had to take "Home Economics" which was cooking and sewing. This remained an optional course for grades 7 and 8. In high school (grades 9-12), we had the chance to take a class called "Food Preparation" (the resulting food was often sold in the cafeteria at lunch, after the students int he class ate some) and there was also a class of sewing and design called "Fashion". In grades 10-12, there was also a class called "Enterprise and Innovation" in which you started and ran a small business doing things like silkscreening, laser engraving, embroidery (using computer-guided machines - they were fancy! I did this, and I still have some of the sweaters I embroidered), graphic design, or signmaking.<br /><br />Some of these classes had a direct impact on my life, and some did not. I have enjoyed playing with a sewing machine since just after I graduated (spring 2003), but I still dislike cooking. I'm good at doing up a budget and sticking to it, but I'm not that great at estimating the cost of supplies for a business (my business partner and I lost money in our last year of E&I, thanks to cheaper-than-cost grad hoodies for our friends). But how much of this was because of the classes, and how much was from my parents? My mom always had a sewing machine, though she was often too busy to use it. She cooked nearly every night though not always 'from scratch' - sometimes we had soup, or Hamburger Helper, or something similar, but I can't blame her. There were two of us kids, she worked full time and was involved in some extra activities like support groups and her union, and Dad was often out of town for work. When Dad was home, he'd often be out in the backyard, trying to fix a problem or make something useful with the supplies we had on hand (I acquired this skill from him, recently fixing my husband's motorcycle with some jewelery wire I had and screwing a pallet to the wall of the shed to hold rakes and shovels).<br /><br />So while I think that it is important for schools to teach children these skills, it is equally or more important for these skills to be picked up from the community, be it immediate family, grandparents, or neigbours. It is one thing to create little scenarios in a classroom, but it is quite another to see the smile on Grandma's face when you cook her dinner, or to make it to the end of the week with some allowance money left over. That being said, I think you are right, Rhonda, that in some cases parents don't have these skills themselves, and I feel that schools can help fill those gaps.<br /><br />Thank you for this fantastic and thought-provoking post. My husband and I are not currently planning on having children, but I anxiously await the day that my brother's children (when he has them!) will come to visit their crazy Auntie and Uncle living in the woods, and I can show them how to garden, to budget, and to see the possibilities in objects in their backyards.<br /><br />Best,<br />MandiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-73257364690980265452012-05-30T02:59:13.580+10:002012-05-30T02:59:13.580+10:00I had a heavily focused academic track in high sch...I had a heavily focused academic track in high school and it was common for those in those classes to rather look down on those who took vocational or life skills classes as if they weren't going to do anything more interesting or valuable with their lives. I graduated early and no doubt would have chafed under a requirement that meant that I had to spend another year in a setting that I viewed as a stepping stone to something better. <br />I did have a mom who made sure that all of us had some practice of the basics of home life in order to keep us comfortable and the sense that it was ok to not have everything that we wanted. I've learned even more now that I have my own household and I live with the necessity to manage well. Having these resources via the internet has been so helpful even though I'm also fortunate to have access to other women who can help me with some of the hands-on learning. Despite my attitude in high school, I do now have a hard time understanding the disinclination to make one's life smoother by education or work either practical or academic.<br />I can sew, cook basic nutritious food, knit, preserve, clean, budget and I'm learning how to grow vegetables (step #1--teach the kids not to pull up the sprouts). None of these things are fun all of the time but I'm glad that I know how and can see how they benefit me and my family. I want to learn more skills as my babies get older and I have more windows in my day.<br />I will say that I am really looking forward to this summer's fruit harvest. I processed 150 lbs of apples last fall (along with peaches and a few other things) and I am really tired of applesauce. But what else can you do when you don't want to pay $3/lb for fruit over the winter?kharkingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54345227888064981042012-05-30T02:23:42.078+10:002012-05-30T02:23:42.078+10:00Hi Rhonda,
I am in exactly the age group you are ...Hi Rhonda,<br /><br />I am in exactly the age group you are talking about - 24, learning how to live independently, thinking about starting a family. I am so interested in these skills but often struggle to find someone to teach me. I am very grateful that my mother taught me the basics of knitting, sewing and crochet, but as one example, I asked her to teach me how to darn (as she was taught by her grandmother) but she refused to teach me - told me to buy new socks instead!<br /><br />I think some kind of lessons (particularly community based for young adults) would be great - bear in mind that people ignore stuff in schools because they think it's irrelevant. The time to teach these things (in an organised fashion, rather than by parents) is as people leave home and suddenly realise that they don't know how to cook/clean/mend etc. Students on a tight budget - who often are developing an eco-conscience - would be very open to something like this.<br /><br />I think there will always be the need for some kind of organised classes, because for some people family will just not provide this - whether for those orphaned or with separated parents, those whose parents cannot care for them, or those whose parents cannot or will not teach these skills. But it should be community-based rather than classroom-based.Nickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15821748425176220106noreply@blogger.com