Food 'experts' at it again.

[Aggers]

Unless kids are taught by mums dad's or grandparents
they have nobody to teach them basics. Must say both my sons love to cook.

When I was just a schoolboy my mother taught me how to cook, how to iron,
how to sew and how to knit, although I had two sisters. On occasions I have
found those attributes most useful.

I wouldn't waste my time watching TV chefs.

[Kaz]

You had a very forward thinking mother Aggers x

[Applecheeks]

You had a very forward thinking mother Aggers x

More like a 'normal' mother

[Kaz]

I wouldn't have thought many mums taught boys to cook and sew in the 1930s Applecheeks. Girls yes, but not so many boys, which is why I said forward thinking

[Diflower]

No, I agree Kaz.
My dad and his brother lost their father when Dad was 7, his brother 3.
They were not expected to do any of those things, not in the 1930's/40s - but Dad learnt how to iron, darn, etc in National Service.

Somewhere along the way all of the basics should be covered - not necessarily darning these days

[Aggers]

It seems my mother must have been different from the norm.

When I married my first wife, she had no idea how to iron a man's shirt, or press a man's trousers.
I had to show her. When she was expecting, she moaned about not being able to knit a christening shawl,
so I said I'd knit one. 'You can't do that', she scoffed. That did it (I love a challenge) so I knit a beauty, but
I've never picked up knitting needles since.

Perhaps my mother was exceptional - I've never bothered to ask other men.

[Workingman]

Hmm, I tend to agree with Applecheeks

I think there was a time when showing children, boys and girls, how to do things around the house was 'normal' and even essential.

Mum taught me how to cook without 'teaching' me. It was all show and try. Dad let me loose in the garden to do my own thing.... then went and sorted my mess out. 1960s-70s.

[Diflower]

Ironing, sewing and knitting WM?
A lot of schools - mine (infants) included - did kind of teach us basic 'sewing', as in those squares with big gaps, sewing crosses, but not actual proper sewing or knitting.
My mum did of course teach me the basics of how to sew a stitch, and knit, but I do mean basics - and I don't think she'd have done that for a boy.

[Kaz]

I can honestly say I never knew any boys of my own age who were taught how to cook, sew, or knit, an that was the 60s and 70s too. I merely meant that Aggers' mum was a real exception in the 1930s to teach a son to do those things, and I still think so!

[Workingman]

Ironing, sewing and knitting WM?

My family was from a tailoring background, Di, so some sort of sewing was going on most days, and mum was widowed so we had to chip in with housework. Ironing was sort of picked up and the knitting was done at primary school!

What I am trying to get at is that in those days, with a lack of 24hr TV and electronic games etc., helping out round the house helped to pass the time. We were not formally taught anything, as such, we simply picked things up from watching and taking part.