Shootin' it Straight - Passing it Down

Spending the weekend chasing whitetail deer with the youngest of the clan turned into long sitting spells with little action. On the walk in, he dragged his feet, making a racket and stepping on sticks, no doubt announcing our arrival to every critter in the woods. I used it all as a coaching session, advising him to lift his feet and take measured steps. We talked about different types of leaves and how to identify the trees they fell from.

It isn’t lost on me how many young people I’m around these days who are completely lacking in common sense and real-world skills. So, this is a thank-you to all those who are instilling a variety of practical, everyday skills in their children, it’s desperately needed.

My own father was never one to be considered “high society,” but he was chock-full of knowledge about a thousand little things that make daily life easier, from using the wind to your advantage while hunting to fashioning a homemade oil filter wrench when you need one. I will be forever thankful for the ability to self sustain and make do from his teachings. 

I always make it a point to brag on kids who show good work ethic, maturity, or just everyday problem-solving skills. It’s refreshing to be around young folks whose elders have poured time into them, it shows. Kids who know what tire sizes mean, teens who take the initiative to tackle a task, children who want to learn tool socket sizes.

Thank you to those who’ve taken the time to show your children how to operate a weed eater, sew on a button, read a tape measure, cook a meal, or square up a foundation. It takes effort, and often setting aside a few of one’s own wants, to teach a child. It’s worth it, because we’re producing a generation that increasingly views many simple, everyday tasks as incomprehensible.

I’m always shocked when a grown adult can’t operate a manual transmission, wash their own clothes, repair a water line, or cook a basic meal. We’re becoming less social, less skilled, less adaptable, and far too short on common sense.

Whether it’s your own child or one you simply have influence over, pass some knowledge down the line. Help make them a well-rounded child, and they’ll grow into a well-prepared adult. Those around them will thank you, now and later.