Yesterday a friend of mine who is recently divorced sent me a text:
You know how to use a lawn tractor?
I told her I did, but I was at swim practice and I couldn’t help her out until today.
Her ex did all the lawn work, and she had no idea how to use the tractor. But she wanted learn so she could cut the grass.
I went over to her house this morning and discovered the battery was dead. I told her we could jump it just like a car, but I was a little hesitant to attempt that myself, cause I’ve only ever jump started my car.
Fortunately, my dad was coming over later, so I asked him if he’d take a ride to my friend’s house with me to look at the tractor. My dad was a mechanic for Chevrolet for over 40 years, and he can fix anything. And I just wanted to be sure I didn’t do something wrong.
We got to my friend’s house, and my dad jumped the lawn mower, showed us what to do (same thing as the car so I really didn’t need his help) and got it up and running.
My friend said, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle this thing.”
I assured her she would be fine, and we showed her how to work everything.
A couple minutes later she was pulling out of the garage on the tractor and she said, “I FEEL SO EMPOWERED!”
And that got me to thinking.
That feeling of empowerment, of knowing you don’t need someone else to do something for you, of being totally capable, is pretty awesome.
And we all should have it.
So I have an assignment for all of you.
This weekend, this month, this summer, empower yourselves.
Learn how to:
- start and operate a lawn mower
- start and operate a string trimmer
- add oil to your car
- add washer fluid
- change a tire
- jump start a car
- use a drill
- use a hammer
- sew a button
- hem a pair of pants
- cook a few basic meals
- plant a garden
- put air in your tires (on a car and a bike)
- Change a bike tire
- fix a bike chain
- and anything else you might normally respond to with “We have to wait until Dad/Mom gets home to fix/take care of that.”
Find a friend who can do all this stuff and ask them to teach you.
If you know how to do all these things already, then make sure your kids do, too.
Make a list and check that sh*t off as a family.
Set your kids up for total empowerment when they are adults. Help them realize that they can do anything.
It’s definitely nice to have people to count on to help you out.
But it’s even nicer knowing that when push comes to shove, the person you can totally depend on is yourself.
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These are all wonderful. Personally I know how to do all of these, thankfully. But I 100% agree that they are all empowering. Learning them all is wonderful. Another great things is teaching them to your children.
I can do most things on this list but have just realised that my 27 year old son cannot as his father never taught him and I never thought to! This will be on my to do list with him this summer.
Great, Deb! I had originally written “teach your daughters” and then changed it to children. When I was helping my friend out with the lawnmower, I asked her why she didn’t ask her boyfriend to help her out with the tractor, and she said he had no idea how to use one! So it’s not just a girl thing 😉
My mom lost my step dad 12 years ago. She has 2 acres of yard so she quickly learned how to run the lawnmower. Luckily my husband helped her out. When he got busier and couldnt be there as much, she learned to change the oil on the mower, on her own, which she does every year before the start of mowing season. Just yesterday she had a flat tire on it so had to come to my house to get her air compressor and got her tire pumped up. Unfortunately, it went flat again. My hubby will fix that. She shoots all the critters that come around that shouldn’t be there too. She’s 65 and bad ass!
This weekend my 7yr old and I were headed to an outing. I asked her to grab a soccer ball and Frisbee to bring. She did (on first request!) but said that the soccer ball needed some air. When I told her to just leave it behind (more because I didn’t want to mess with it than I didn’t know how to fix it), she said “No Momma! I know how to fix it!”. She went in the barn pulled out the hand pump, told me where to find the pin, and she pumped that sucker up all by herself! I was so proud of/ impressed with her! And with her dad who apparently has shown her how to do that at some point!
This is a great list. I am trying to learn how to use our riding mower. I have always just let my husband do it. I didn’t quite get the hang of it last weekend, but I will try again. Thanks for writing this. Being able to handle things for yourself is empowering.
I live on 5 acres. My hubs family sold the farmland years ago. Each time I learn something it feels great. I couldn’t drive my Dad’s car until I could change a tire and new where all the belts, fluid levels and whistles were. Ran the rider when I was 9. Learned to drive at 13 (in town), passed my test 98%, baked, cooked, did laundry cleaned, took care of 3 younger sisters. Earned our spending and extras, babysitting, shoveling, cleaning cars, and houses. Amazing what you can do when it’s not given. Started school with a couple sets of clothes, and a bonus few more at Christmas. A great way to prepare us to work hard and be autonomous. My experience was more like bootcamp. I’m 60 today. I tealize times have changed but, I am trying to influence my Grandkids the same. No not bootcamp level. The older they get the more they love it. It is such a powerful gift, teaching to do for yourself. I’ve met 20 year olds that cannot bake a potato, or run a washer. I do know how to use a computer and t.v. remotes. Lol. Love your posts.
I’d add to this list if you are a homeowner know where the master water shutoff is in the house, same for your breaker box and how to emergency restart your furnace. Know how to use your thermostat (especially the programmable ones). After my dad died my university professor mother had no idea where or how to manage any of those things.