Once when my daughter was in sixth grade she was watching a boy trying to strip insulation from some wire. He was having problems so she talked to him about it. He said he was amazed, he had never met a girl who knew about that kind of thing. She just rolled her eyes and said, “If you had led the life I lead. Have you ever built a tractor?”
The first picture on the left is of my husband and her assembling our little tractor from a kit. The second shows her getting a ride in the front loader of the assembled tractor, and the third shows her doing a bit of road work with it.
We bought some land up in the mountains when she was seven years old, and we spent most weekends and holidays working together on projects until she was in her teens and started having her own life. It was a great education. In addition to the tractor we built sheds and fences, planted gardens and fruit trees, did road work (the reason for the tractor), etc.
It was a great experience because:
1. We bonded as a family and have all sorts of wonderful memories.
2. My daughter learned a lot of practical skills.
3. And she learned about the satisfaction of working. Once one really understands that, motivation is no problem.
Well, maybe we overdid it just a bit. Here’s a picture of Andy, Kaitlin and Torben (our son-in-law) taken during their visit last April.
What can I say? We do like to be actively involved in projects. We have a good time, and motivation just isn’t a problem.
What About You?
What work gives you satisfaction, makes you feel truly alive?
Ha! I had to smile at that final picture 🙂
My husband and I really want to get some land someplace in the mountains. I cannot wait to get my husband to read this post – you have lived our dream!
Mayas last blog post..Slideshow: Dogs Lessons for Life and Work
I used to think my work work gave me satisfaction. Working with computers was a hobby and it was also my profession. My, how things change.
Now, my blog (if that’s the work your looking for) gives me more satisfaction than anything that I have done in the past. To think that maybe, just maybe, something I say will help someone through a tough time? What a feeling.
I suppose this could be a ‘new love’ as it was once put to me. But you know, if that’s the case, it’s a love that continues to grow everyday. I’m learning about me, my family, and just growing. It’s truly a blessing.
Made me think early this morning. Thanks for that.
Scotts last blog post..Who Is That Character
Jean, I adored this parable. I never learned any of the practical sorts of things you mentioned, and when I was divorced five years ago, living on my own, there was a real learning curve for me. Now, using the philosophy from ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE, I always look carefully at something I have to put together. I try to engage with it, step into its soul without fear (a fear many women have), and let it speak to me. The culminating event was the desk chair I’m sitting on right now. Not only did I put it together all by my lonesome, but I did it quickly and easily. That series of tractor pictures is utterly wonderful…..
Jodys last blog post..Who Am I?
Your post had me smile at the part when you wrote that your daughter asked “have you ever built a tractor?” It’s brilliant how you involved her in the projects that you do. Kids learn a lot that way!!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..The Lipstick Indicator To Great Wealth
Hi Jean,
I just loved your post…the pictures are great! Definately brought a smile to my face too! “If you had led the life I lead.”
Universal and Unique!
To your question…hmmm…. The Arts! Volunteering!
PS.. Where’s Bikehikebabe?
Maya,
🙂 I love that picture, too. It’s not everyone’s idea of a party. Let us know when you get your land.
Scott,
Yes, we do change. I know what you mean about hoping our experience will be of help to others. For me it works both ways…hearing about other people’s experience is invaluable to me.
You’re right, blogging fits under the category of work. Some of the things we do for free is more valuable than the things we do for money.
Jody,
I know what you mean about the joy of being able to figure things out for ourselves. Congratulations on your chair!
Evelyn,
I figure we were homeschooling her in things the public schools didn’t cover, as well as bonding as a family.
Diane,
🙂 Glad you liked it. bikehikebabe is around. She commented at Transforming Stress and found a broken link for me. I’m grateful to her for being my friend.
I love the pictures here too Jean! What great memories (and can-do attitudes that exist yet today…). Reminds me a bit of my childhood, growing up helping on my grandparents farm. There was always work to do, and I think it did teach me valuable lessons that I have with me yet today. I hope I am passing some of this on to my children – but I do wonder sometimes if they are “getting it” – the value of hard work, of learning new skills…
Lances last blog post..Believe In Yourself
What a post! Simply blew my mind away. I really wish that I could have done something like that when I could have!
On the other hand, I have done a lot of other things together with my family and friends and they have all certainly been a learning experience as well as helped strengthen the bonds between all of us.
Right now, there is little “work” that I do, though I am quite active and busy. I suppose that is the difference between doing what gives one pleasure and “working.”
Lance,
That was the great thing about the land, we didn’t have to live on a farm to instill those values.
About learning new skills…when my daughter was in high school she was toying with the idea of not going to college. We weren’t going to pressure her because going wouldn’t have done her any good if she weren’t doing it for herself, for her future. My husband just said, “You don’t have to go to college. With your background you can always get a job digging ditches and building barbed-wire fences.” That comment, plus her working at a drive-in with adults who were doing it full-time because they had limited choices, convinced her college was a good idea. She ended up getting a Ph. D. in biopsychology.
rummuser,
Thanks! I don’t think it makes much difference what the projects are. My husband happens to be great at building things and it was a great way of passing some of his skills on to her. My skills were more in caring and listening. It’s nice to have a bit of diversity.
I use the term “work” loosely. I regard my making the weekly videos for the local public access TV station as work because I’ve made a commitment to do it regularly. It only takes a few hours a week, but I’ve been doing it for four years now. And I think committed blogging is “work” too. You certainly do that.
Great story — I love when parents teach resilience, teamwork, and motivation to their kids this way. I grew up on a farm and pitching in or self motivation was always expected. I get motivated now with work that helps others.
Lori,
I think a lot of kids are being cheated now-a-days by not being taught that. We all face a challenging future.
Obama’s election night speech reminded me of JFK’s, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” I’m with you, I want my work, no matter how humble, to make the world a better place.
For me it is getting to the guts of ideas or people. It is both intense and relaxing.
Evans last blog post..Blogs With Great Content and That Make a Contribution
Evan,
Is there anything in particular you’re focusing on now?
My big pre-occupation for the last couple of decades has been: can I make my income doing what I love?
Currently I’m finding out if blogging can be part of this.
Evans last blog post..Mindless Eating
Evan,
Good luck…please keep us informed. We’re rooting for you.
Thanks Jean.
Evans last blog post..Mindless Eating
LOL – I love that last pic.
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this post Jean. I like how you refer to the time you spent with you daughter as a “great education”. I think there can be a tendency to think of education as something that happens only in schools. It is so important for parents to be involved in their kids and to teach them the types of skills they won’t learn in a classroom.
Peter | The Change Blogs last blog post..The Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Kids
Peter,
Yes, we Browmans do know how to party. 🙂
Thanks for coming by.
i’m like the others… i do so like that last picture…
and really also the ones of kaitlin and andy working together.
i remember my own father saying “i want you to THINK!”
i came into life as a people pleaser, apparently. and people pleasers tend to not think for themselves naturally. my brother on the other hand (the scientific mind) has always thought for himself. a built-in reasoning skill that i admire!
i’m getting better at “thinking” for myself. what i believe, value and aspire to. it makes life more rewarding on many levels.
i enjoyed this post and all the commenters.