Practical Things My Mother Taught Me

My mother, Mary Alice, taught me practical things; that is, how to do things.  She didn't wait until I was "big enough."  Instead she started me early, around five years of age for some things.

She showed me how to match my socks.  Then roll them up, and pull back the top of one to make the  pair one ball.

She showed me how to arrange my underwear drawer:  socks in one corner, panties in another corner, undershirts in the middle.

Mother taught me to iron.  First I learned on flat items, like handkerchiefs and pillow cases. Later I advanced to clothing, like shirts and blouses.  Dresses and pants were even more advanced.

• Before ironing we dampened the items with water.  This was done by dipping our fingers in a bowl of water and shaking them over the item to be ironed.  Then we rolled them up, and set them in the refrigerator for about an hour.  
• When they were ready, I plugged in the iron and set the temperature to match the fabric.  It was hot enough when drops of water sizzled on the hot part. 
• Then I ironed out all the wrinkles.  It was important to keep the iron moving so as not to burn the cloth.  
• When finished ironing the fabric had to cool and then be folded or hung on a wire hanger.
• When not in use we put the iron in a vertical position.  When finished unplug the iron.

My mother also showed me other household skills like dusting furniture, vacuuming carpets and rugs, scouring sinks and tubs, washing mirrors, and scrubbing floors.

She also taught me to bake.  I learned from her to make and bake cookies from scratch and cakes from store-bought mixes.  We had a Sunbeam Mixmaster with a variety of bowl sizes.

• Whatever we made, we started by reading the directions from a recipe book or on the box.
• If we wanted more or less than the recipe called for, then mother showed me how to calculate the measurements proportionately.  Sometimes she wrote them in the cookbook for future reference.
• We put down newspaper to cover our work surface, which was usually the kitchen table.  We wore aprons to protect our good clothes.
• Then we assembled and measured out all ingredients.
• We mixed everything gradually and step-by-step, adjusting the speed of the mixer appropriately.
• Angel food cake was a specialty.  The ingredients had to be folded in carefully!  We also used a special cake pan with a tube in the middle.  I loved this.

Basic cooking skills came in handy as I grew older.  Mother was a chemist and when I was seven she took a full time job.  Our grandmother lived upstairs from us so there was someone to watch us after school.  Mother used to leave notes for me with chores to do after school.  This included going to the store to get milk or bread or some other necessity.

When I was twelve, mother decided I had the skills to get supper started for the family, and so I did.

These skills later translated into one of my best summer jobs, working in the lab with my mother as my supervisor.  She showed me how to use the lab equipment and care for it.  I learned from her how to do quality control using such glassware as pipettes, burettes, flasks, and more.  I also handled Bunsen burners, desiccators, and sensitive balances. 

My mother was very practical and had a scientific approach for doing many things.  I'm grateful that she taught me how to do things.  I wasn't helpless. It gave me confidence.  I felt I could do anything to which I set my mind.

Happy Mother's Day, Mother!!!!