An Offer/JMIT Babble

[debka_notion]

(Because I'm a Jewish Mother In Training) I'm noticing a distinct lack of household skills in a number of folks I know, of late- in things that I always thought of as really basic: cleaning, cooking, basic mending (sewing buttons). I feel like I should offer some sort of basic hosuekeeping lessons for a number of my friends. Today I gave a basic demonstration of resewing buttons. As far as I know, this is something I learned from my mother before I started high school, possibly before middle school. Certainly she started me sewing "straight" lines around age 6- it was a real treat too, because we could only sew with her supervision, so when she made the time to do so, it was very exciting. I've been cleaning for longer than that: it isn't hard, you just keep scrubbing, unless you're doing walls or something like that.

If anyone is interested in lessons or the like- aka, chances to get help mending or making pleasing food, let me know.


Outside of that, I had a quiet day- slept in, called home, did work, editted Hebrew: all the usual Sunday stuff. Life continues.

Comments

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

But these things do go much easier if someone else shows you how. ANd they are more fun in company, anyways. Sure, they can be, to some extent, learned on one's own: but why mess things up that many times? Not that I'm a wonderful cook, or an expert seamstress: but I can do pretty decent food, and I can sew a straight seam and replace buttons and mend small holes. So...

[jessebeller.livejournal.com]

yeesh
for all the flack im catching, youd think i denounced your efforts rather than lauded them.

agreed on all counts. particularly cooking is a great group activity with very tangible and immediate (not to mention gratifying) results, and one where there is so much to learn that sharing knowlege can be incredibly fruitful. i think its good, what youre doing.

im just saying that untill people decide its worth their effort to make their own food rather than order takeout or live off mac&cheese they wont change their habits. especially in the case of maintaining a clean living environment, but in all such things. the fact that its obvious to you doesnt obviate it for everybody, and no ammount of showing on your part will, in itself, change habits.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree with you. And sorry if you perceived this as giving you flack, I'm just responding however strikes me- and I tend not to bother responding to bits I agree with: I mean, what's the point of saying "yes, I agree with you" constantly?

I don't think that people will so much necessarily change their habits, so much as I want my friends to have the skills to do so when they're ready to do so/when they need to do so. Also not to discard perfectly good clothes just because they loose a button, or tear part of a seam/hem.