I never took a Home Economics class and I've always regretted it. My mom tried her best to get me to take the class and to teach me cooking and sewing, but I was very stubborn and resisted her immensely! My daughter has said that she'd like to be a stay-at-home mom if possible, so I'm going to prepare her for that! I have purchased both of us a copy of the Treasury of Vintage Homekeeping Skills by Martha Greene (read reviews here) and I am also going to use Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping because it covers some topics not covered in the Treasury book. Both books are around 250 pages and have spaces to fill in lots of good information - not sure which book we'll fill in until we get to each topic. I know that there are several homemaking curricula on the market, but these books will do just fine! Jenna and I also need to pick back up our study of Beautiful Girlhood that we let slide this year... shame on me!

The Dunwoody book is on its way to me - should be here any day now. Jenna and I have 20 topics to cover in the Treasury book next year (the first 4 sections - Homekeeping, Hospitality, Home Duties and First Aid in the Home). Once I can see what is in the Dunwoody book, we'll add to that and have a nice study of the "basics" next year. Then we'll tackle the Gardening section beginning in May and through the summer. The following year, our focus will be on cooking and handiwork. Soon, I'll be receiving the Family Recipe Keeper book from Martha and Jenna and I are going to create a recipe book for her of her favorite recipes from her family members. We are going to "fancy" up the pages scrapbook-style, too! This should be a fun year creating such a keepsake that she can share with her family once she is on her own. The following summer, her dad wants to complete a "shop" class and teach her all about tools and simple home repairs.

My son and I will read through Boyhood and Beyond next year and then Created for Work (you can get this book free at Timberdoodle with any order!) by the same author in 6th grade. However, when he's in 7th/8th grade, he will ALSO complete a Home Economics class and learn about basic housekeeping and cooking because it's important for a bachelor to keep a tidy home and also be able to help his wife around the house - I coudn't do it all without the help of my husband sometimes! I have purchased a book called Clean Like a Man and do believe I will have to do some basic editing when going through the material with my son (based on the description at Amazon - ha!), but I know that my son will be more apt to want to follow that book rather than the pretty purple floral covered Treasury book! But just today I found out that Martha Greene has a new book coming out soon called The Young Man's Handybook - Preparing Your Son on the Homefront. Once I have it in hand, I'll review it on my blog. My husband really liked the title and I'm sure there will be lots of useful things in there. My husband grew up on a farm and he is a regular 'ole Mr. Fix-It, so he will take over a lot of the repair/yardwork/taking-care-of-cars instruction for our son (and daughter) over the next few years.

Well, I guess that covers my plans. Are you planning on having Home Ec. in your home? What books are you going to use to cover this important topic?

... Kris ...