One of my friends at school is a girl from Puerto Rico named Patricia. (Pronounced Pat-ritz-ea) We got to talking about culture and the differences and I found out some really interesting stuff. Like how ever since she was a little girl everything she and her family had was home made. Her mother taught her how to sew and knit and make adorable little hair ribbons for church. She does them now for friends and family and she expressed how odd it is that Americans BUY everything for their kids.
Patricia: “I remember my mother taught me how to make (gestures to shoulder) those cloths…you put them here.”
Me: “Burpie cloths?”
Patricia: “Yes burpie cloths. We would knit them up and put binding on them and stitch little hearts and their names on it. It was all very important to us. It means a lot to have one made by family. Some people sold theirs but it just didn’t mean the same if you bought it.”
I kind of explained to her that it really began in World War II. When the men were all drafted and the women had to have a way to make money we kinda left the kitchen and the sewing machines and behind to get a job and support our family. When the men came home most women kept their jobs but we were still expected to maintain the household like before. So we started simplifying as much as possible. Canned and instant foods became en vogue. Washing machines were popularized. And of course items that were usually sewn by hand or patched together began being mass produced. The easier women found it to use these products the more popular they became.
Patrica: “But all the clothing looks the same. Didn’t your mothers teach you?”
Let me be honest here, my mother does NOT sew, stitch, knit, bind, darn, cross stitch…etc.
So we got on the subject of Home Economics.
Honestly, I think with the way the economy is (and likely will be for a while) it would be a big benefit for men and women to take. Heck if they offered it in college I would take it in a heart beat. Don’t get me wrong, I have no intention of becoming a complete stay-at-home-50’s-Leave-It-To-Beaver-mother. It’s just not me. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with knowing how to do these things. I’m a pretty good cook. I can sew a little bit. But I would love knowing how to make little outfits and dolls and fix clothing. *squee*
I also told Patricia she could go to Etsy.com and make a mint with that kind of merchandise. Americans go bonkers for handmade baby stuff.
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