However, I do somewhat think it's a cop out opinion (in my humble-tree-hugging opinion).
Just because I have successfully conceived and given birth to 4 children does not make me a complete failure in other areas of my life, nor will it hinder any future plans I have.
It is true that I have not spent years studying to become 'something' in my adult years, choosing instead to gain my qualifications in the school of life. Some do not think this qualification is worth much. I disagree.
For instance, I can work equally well behind the counter of a shop, as I can in the hustle and bustle of a busy dressage yard environment.
I can wait on tables...and I can restore tables.
I can file paperwork in the most hectic of offices, and I can file down rusty vintage garden planters and make them usable and saleable again.
I can organise a children's party, and I can organise a venue for a monthly social gathering for local HE families, with the full backing and interest of our local councillor.
I can look after my brood and my home - cleaning, cooking entertaining and of course, educating - and I can look after our small but growing company which will one day become a family business for each of us to be proud of.
These are skills which life and necessity have taught me, and they shall stand me in good stead for future years.
And so, with this in mind, my husband and I have begun teaching the many arts which our business relies upon, to Ethan. He has always enjoyed 'before and after' things, so we decided to teach him the art of French Polishing.
We have so many items to be getting on with, it seems a shame not to teach him how, especially when it is so easy to get the basics.
Now there are going to be those who will look at this and think, 'ahh, that's nice, at least when he fails academically, he can always clean furniture'
And yes he will, and he'll also be able to charge an absolute fortune to do it! Because these are dying skills we are teaching here. And even though he is likely never to become a furniture restorer, or a professional french polisher, with skills like this which he can fall back on he'll never be out of a job because he'll be able to do alot of things fairly well, instead of this fascination people have with being able to do only one thing, really well.
I would rather watch my kids out in the fresh air, applying REAL skill to something they are doing, over sitting at a desk learning how to construct a sentence or understand algebraic formulae which they'll never use again.
Loz
Ahh loz this is great firstly let me say it makes me smile because it immediately brings to mind the yellow pages advert where they kids have a party and require a french polisher... anyway that out of the way I totally agree its great to know how to do lots of different things, I wish I had been given such opportunities when I was younger.I might not have turned out to be an insurance broker!!! You might be interested to know that when I took my step daughter to look around Northampton University a few months ago, they could not emphasise enough that the students needed diverse experience and knowledge and that in this day and age 'specialising' in one particular art was not going to get them very far in finding employment. They said that their students who had taken every opportunity to learn all sorts of different skills had found it much easier to get a job because they could show their employer that they were an asset to their business in more than one sector. Mmmm that is harder to put into words than I thought it would be. Anyway there is nothing quite like the satisfaction of 'before and after' is there, the feeling of achieving and creating something more beautiful than it was before,and being able to do it outside too!!! xx
ReplyDeleteAhhh...the Yellow Pages advert...we were talking about that last night! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI couldnt agree more with you. Experience is key these days. You coud spend years studying a specific subject, in order to achieve a specific qualification which will lead to a specific job, and hopefully many will achieve what they want if they take this route.
But like you say, being able to demonstrate a wider field of knowledge and experience to prospective employers is surely worth more than a handful of certificates?
I know that Ethan will do well in whatever he chooses to do when he's older, but I would like to make sure that he has many things under his belt to fall back on if things don't immediately go to plan for him. Better that than have him sitting at home twiddling his thumbs waiting for opportunity to come knocking for him I say.
(golly...I see what you mean about things being harder to type than actually say) :P
On another note, you say; 'I might not have turned out to be an insurance broker!!!'
Do you ever talk to N about what she might like to do when she is older? (I've noticed alot of people steer clear of doing this, and just wondered why)
I don't need to ask N what she wants to do, she spends ages telling me, planning it etc etc.(It does change quite frequently, so she has lots to talk about!) The current plan is she basically wants to either have an animal rescue herself or work in one. This week she emailed dogs trust to enquire if she was working there, could she bring a dog to work! There's nothing like getting organised!! Obviously she is only 9 and when I was growing up I had grand plans for about 8 different occupations, none of which would have been 'Insurance', but just because I didn't really know what 'I wanted to be', doesn't mean she can't become what she wants to and I do try and encourage her to 'follow her dreams' in which ever way possible:) I am not sure why people would not want to talk about future jobs with children as it leads to lots of different discussions about what the jobs entail, what considerations you would have if you were setting up your own business etc, which is something we regularly discuss as sometimes it is hard for N to remember that you can't just have cheap prices so everyone can afford it, you have to cover your overheads.....welcome to the woods family school of business!! I knew my GNVQ would come in useful for something!!!
ReplyDeleteLoz says-instead of this fascination people have with being able to do only one thing, really well.
ReplyDeleteIf you can do something really well much better than most other people you will find you can earn far more money and will be in big demand!