Many people marvel at skills that I have accumulated – sewing, cooking, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needle felting, bead weaving.

It makes me laugh.

You want to know my big secret?

I read the fucking directions.

Yup. 

That’s it.

That’s what the real name for “Home Economics” should be – “Read the Fucking Directions”.

Just about anything you want to master, that doesn’t take actual innate skill/talent (playing an instrument, creating art, dance, sports, etc.), can be accomplished by reading the directions.

It’s not always easy.  It doesn’t always (hell, it doesn’t usually) turn out right the first time; but you’ll get there, eventually.

And kids today (okay fat old lady boomer) have it easy – they can find all the directions on the internet plus a video demonstrating how to do it – a video that you can freeze frame and take all the time you need to figure out what’s going on.  

I had to go find a book!  Or somebody with the patience to teach me – which was my Grandma Harris (who taught me to knit, crochet and embroider) and my mom (who taught me to cook, sew and do my own laundry). 

So now ya’ll know my deep dark secret. 

I can read the fucking directions.