Thinking back to bemoaning that Sis doesn't help much around the farm got me to thinking about what I ought to be grateful for! Do you ever see your attitudes about things reflected in your children?

In the OS mag thread, I said something about how Jessie had plans to abscond with several of my things when she moves away from home. The thing is, most of the things she likes have come from auction at 50 cents or so a box, rummage sales, the Sallies and Catholic Charities; not to mention things friends were getting ready to throw away! Lately, this former name-brand-you-wouldn't-catch-me-dead-in-anything-from-Wal-Mart preppie has been not only shopping at Wally World; but also picked up some things at the Dollar Store when she stopped in on a mission for me!

When she redecorated her bedroom this year, instead of looking for a new bedspread and shams; she talked me into buying fabric and we stitched up a duvet cover to cover an old comforter we had on hand. We also bought coordinating and contrasting fabric to make curtains and pillow slips for her bed. Scraps were used to make small accent pillows, stuffed with the innard of some old bed pillows.

She is working two part time jobs, while going to school (along with extracurricular activities). Both her Dad and I did this - several times, in fact!

The other day, she and some friends headed down to St. Louis to Six Flags - and she made them all bring stuff to pack a lunch to take with them! A cooler full of drinks and sandwiches plus chips and cookies and other snacks! "I'm not paying those prices for a lousy sandwich" she said!

Guess sometimes those chickens do come home to roost...

-- Anonymous, August 29, 2001

Answers

Good for her!

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

My mother says children learn by osmosis, even though you think they are not paying attention to what you do, they learn by the exposure to it over the years.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

Polly, I already see things coming out in Maranda, it's Justin that I hope things are sinking into his mind and yet to see if it pans out. We can only hope as parents that everything we have taught them comes into play at some point. It's nice to know when it does. Phyllis

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

Sounds like you're doing something right Polly!

Just wondering, have any of the rest of you noticed that talents and interests seem to "skip a generation" in your family? For example, my Grandma McVean sews and quilts, and I sew and quilt, but my mom can barely sew on a button. She has a big stack of mending saved up for me every time I go home. :)

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

I don't know, Sherri, probably going to screw up your statistics again . . . :-) My two grandmothers both sewed, one of them had been apprenticed to a seamstress and learned to sew quite well -- made most of her kids clothes (5 of them) until the girls were old enough to sew, then they had to make their own. So my mom and her 3 sisters all know/knew how to sew quite adequately. The other side, grandma could sew, her daughter (my aunt) could sew, never had children herself so the line stops there. I can sew, better than my mother. Julie can sew, but only "sort of" and certainly doesn't like it.

Now, cooking, both grandmother's were adequate, if not great cooks and they could bake (yum -- cardamon bread!). My dad couldn't cook anything beyond burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, that kind of thing. He'd eat any food you put in front of him, but I bet if he had to make the salad, he never would have had salad (for instance). I guess he COULD have done it, but just wouldn't. And I take after him in that respect -- I am NOT thrilled with cooking. I do okay on things like stew, chili, lasagna -- the kind of stuff where you throw it all together. Julie is MUCH better at cooking AND she can make bread and beautiful baked goods. My baking efforts, as long as they don't include yeast, taste well enough, but looks -- forget it! As far as mom cooking, well, somethings she does well (her meat is usually quite tasty), but others are barely adequate. We used to call her the high priestess because she'd serve burnt offerings so often. Usually it was the vegetables -- I guess she secretly disliked vegetables. Julie did her first Thanksgiving dinner in her teens, and mom was happy to let her do it!

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

Well it's too early to speak for James yet (he's seven), but I agree with Annie...I think a kid (or anyone) absorbs without thinking about it. My mom used to read Mother Earth News (back when it was REALLY good) and I did too, as a kid. After my teenage/college "acquisitive" phase I found myself living in the big city, sitting in the library reading...you guessed it...old bound copies of TMEN. Living in an apartment, I had to cover my patio with plants 'cause I couldn't stand to be without growing green things around me, and I eventually had to come back to the country to live. Heredity? Or environment? Hey, as long as it works I won't knock it!

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001