When I first learned that this week's focus would be on "Crafts," I must admit that I felt I wouldn't have much to blog about.  After all, we are dealing with high school here!  We have no lap books, no decorated folders, no little animal booklets.  We don't make jewelery out of macaroni. 

But, once I gave it more than just a passing thought, I realized that "crafts" are a part of the high school at home, and in quite an exciting way!

In high school, crafts take on a different focus.  Like everything else we are doing with our young men and women at this time in their lives, crafting wants to become practice for their adult years.  In my mind, I like to “fast forward” to the time when they are living on their own.  What do they need to know how to do in order to live independently?  When I think about a parallel to “crafts,” sewing and cooking come immediately to mind.  My friend, Mary (aka "CanadaGirl" here at HSB), is a fantastic knitter.  Wouldn’t it be a useful thing to learn how to knit, so one could inexpensively make hats, mittens, throw blankets, sweaters, etc., for one’s household?  Mary makes many beautiful things from a skein of yarn, and will be publishing an ebook of her patterns soon...I plan to be one of her first customers!  Many of her unique items make wonderful gifts.  As I think about the years to come and the economic meltdown that is only a breath away, I must say that one of the things I pray my sons’ future wives will know how to do is knit and sew!  (My sons will learn basic sewing skills before they graduate, so they can repair a hem, or a torn jacket, and sew on a lost button.) 

Another friend, Katelyn, is a young wife and mother now.  I met her when she was in high school, and she was a gifted seamstress then.  Her skills were developed under the careful eyes of her parents at our local community college where she took an upholstering course.  She now contributes to her own household’s income by picking up local re-upholstering jobs here and there as time permits; she has also been able to take outdated but inexpensive furniture finds and make them tasteful and lovely again for her own home.  She’ll have this marketable skill for the rest of her life.   In addition, her sewing skills save her family hundreds of dollars in clothing costs.

A lovely young teen I know, Jessica, is already an accomplished cook.  Her yeast breads and rolls have won blue ribbons at our County Fair more than once!  She and her older brother, Graham, both assist their family by taking on cooking duties part of the week.   (Graham makes a mean homemade garlic loaf!)  One of the basic tasks of independent living is food preparation.  So many young people today, who have not been prepared for adulthood think that putting a plastic tray in the microwave is cooking dinner!  One look at the poor health and obesity rates in this country shows the results of our inability to prepare nutritious, balanced meals. 

Most conservative homeschool families with sons desire to prepare their sons to lead single-income households, with the husband earning an income and supporting a stay-at-home wife and the children with which the Lord may bless them.  We certainly do.  But if this is to work, the wife must know how to live within the household budget.  Careful training and practice in either money-saving or money-making “crafts” takes on such importance when we take the long view!  The making of too many “knick-knacks,” though pleasing and relaxing, may end up costing a young husband more money than can be apportioned.   If the crafts are useful in the running of the home, and/or are actually marketable (we can attempt to sell just about anything…but is there really a market for the items?  Will enough people buy them so that we consistently make a profit on them?), then by all means, develop the skill and test the market during the high school years!

As for the young men, “crafts” may be called “skills,” if they feel more comfortable about incorporating it into their home education.  I remember listening to Moody Radio (from the Moody Bible Institute here in Chicago) one day.  The teacher shared that his father had advised him to learn a trade before going to college.  The conversation was something like, "Son, you can go to college if you like, and you can become whatever it is that you know God is leading you to become.  But first, I want you to learn a trade...a skill that you can always have, ready when needed."  He said it was the best advice in the world, and he is so grateful for it.  I have searched online to try and find out who the teacher was (Chuck Swindoll?  Charles Stanley?), but haven't been able to find the source.  Nonetheless, I remember it having quite an impact on me and my way of thinking.   

We took it to heart, and our sons have now started their own successful service-industry business.  Many of our friends' sons have done the same.  They will always be able to do these jobs, and will be able to bring in extra money for themselves, their families, and the work of the Lord.  Who knows...these skills they learn now could make a very big difference in their futures!

May God bless you and your homeschool this week!

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