The Skill of Teaching a Skill

As we chatted and sewed and spent a nice morning together, Beka was so happy, and so was I. Once she came over for a hug and said, “We have SO much fun together, don’t we Mom?”

I couldn’t help but reflect on how much better teaching my sixth child to sew was going than teaching my first child.  I taught her to sew and after the traditional doll blankets and pillows, we decided  to sew a piece of clothing.  I remember getting frustrated with her because she couldn’t grasp my instructions on things like the facing and setting in the sleeves.

As I vented this frustration to a dear friend, Roxy, who is the same age, but older in wisdom, our conversation changed my life.

Meekly, she reminded me that these were very hard tasks, especially for a 9-year-old, and that something like a simple skirt would have been a better place to start, because they could master it easily, wear it, and have that satisfaction of finishing a project.  It would also make them more eager to tackle another project.

She also gently encouraged me to not be such a perfectionist in judging my daughter’s sewing.  A seam had to really be off before it really affected the outcome of the garment.  If a seam needed to be ripped out, she did it to reduce her child’s frustration.

Her advice turned my Type A Sewing Instruction into more of  the comfortable, fun, mother/daughter rite of passage it should be.

Using Roxy’s advice, I taught the rest of my kids to sew, even the boys.  All our children are required to learn the basics and sew at least one item, just so they have that skill available for the rest of their lives.

My regret over my failed first lessons was appeased when my daughter sewed adorable hot pink curtains with green polka-dotted trim for her daughter’s room in their first apartment.

Sure, I teach my children how to sew, but my dear friend Roxy taught me how to teach.