Growing up, no one gave me a choice about learning to sew, fix a car or harvest vegetables. We were all expected to learn these skills so we could take care of ourselves once we went out on our own.

These lessons didn’t happen by chance. Over time, they have made me more resilient and saved me countless amounts of money.

All this bubbled up in my memory while chatting with my friend Anita Record. She recalled walking from Grove Public School to the May School for home economic classes long before both schools were torn down.

Likewise, my classmates and I were bussed to another school for sewing, cooking and shop classes. Once I reached high school, my father made sure my siblings and I signed up for drafting, woodworking, auto shop, small engine repair and building construction.

Mind you, he ran that department and saw the value in all........

© Peterborough Examiner