Skill acquisition
When you have to learn an important life skill, who you gonna call? Not the nearest parent, if my progeny are an example of the new world. This evening I offered to demonstrate how to build a big lasagna. Note the italic active verb; around here we should have a permit from the city authorities. To my dismay, the kids didn’t care; supper was over so they weren’t in any danger of going hungry. This was a meal for a different day.
Not only was my offer met with indifference; I was told that if ever the knowledge was needed, it could be found on the Internet. Google how and you’ll be an instant expert. Times have changed!
I remember the hands on education at my house: how to make cookies (how to eat dough); how to milk a cow (actually learned at my uncle’s, but why quibble); how to change the springs under a Stratochief station wagon (I watched, listened and resolved to never try such a thing at home). Or what about banking the house? My last turn at that ended up with a round of pneumonia after I mistakenly developed spring fever and ran around without a shirt in early April on the Island. Washing clothes with a wringer? Thankfully the spin cycle was invented short afterwards.
Perhaps my kids aren’t so far off the mark. At least with the Internet you can reload the web page to get the missed detail. But I still am afraid that the first time one of them needs a good lasagna, he’ll be back here hammering on the front door.
