Mom Is Teaching

I know this is going to be the last thing you equate to teaching a man to fish but, that’s just what came to mind when I started to write, so, that’s what you got.  You may or may not know that I went to Miami Florida on Wednesday to a Social Networking Conference.  I won the registration which was $2K at the door.  It was cheaper if you purchased earlier and of course, I never would have been able to go, even at the early bird rate of $1250, but I won my spot and I went.

I had no reservations what so ever of getting on a plane, flying to Miami, hauling my own bags, making my own way, making my own decisions and going to this conference, alone.  There was someone who had also won a ticket that I had chatted with but I had not made  true “connection” with them and didn’t expect to even meet them simply because the conference was so huge. 

Now, jumping around a bit here but one of the things that I remember my father (who passed away when I was 19 and I had been my primary "care giver” if you will, since I was 13 – just me and him in the house alone) telling me was that one of the most important lessons he wanted me to learn was to be independent.  And, he did everything within his power to ensure that I could take care of myself.  He was sick and lived 13 months longer than they told him he would.  During that time, he made what I believed to be ridiculous statements to me trying to teach me “how to make it on my own.”

He knew he didn’t have long.  He taught me how to change a tire, how to balance a checkbook and how to fill out and file income tax returns.  He MEANT I would not need anyone.  I would be more than self-sufficient.  And, I have been for the most part.  I suffered here and there on occasion, but for the most part, I’ve never had to lean on anyone.

Until now that is.  I depend on my husband to make a living for our family.  I could work.  We did just sell a daycare remember.  I have a teaching certificate and I could work, but right now, my work is at home and that’s a decision that my husband and I made together. 

Since I’ve rambled on, I’ll tell you the rest of this life lesson tomorrow, but the jest of everything I have to say goes back to some of the things that I mentioned when I first started authoring this blog and that is “education comes in all forms, not just from what is traditionally thought of as “school” and “teacher”’. 

More next time….