My brother Scott has been serving as my mother’s “editor and publisher” recently, helping her sort through a lifetime’s worth of collected musings and publishing online those things that might be of interest to others. This one was of interest to me: a “maturity checklist” designed to help me and my brothers know if we were ready to make it on our own. It provides an interesting glimpse into that rugged, rural West Virginia life we were living in those days, in an old white farmhouse up on a hill with a big garden and lots of dogs, cats, ponies, rabbits, and chickens.
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You can know if you are grown-up enough to leave home and be on your own.
Can you: work eight hours in the hot sun, love God, take care of yourself and have enough strength left over to tend someone else?
Here’s the checklist for the six Somerville sons:
I CAN
USE CHAIN SAW SAFELY AND SHARPEN
BUILD CAMPFIRE AND KEEP IT SAFE
BUY MY OWN DOG, DOG FOOD, SHOTS
FIX A COMPLETE MEAL FOR OTHERS
CHANGE A TIRE AND GET REPAIRS
READ FEVER THERMOMETER
FOLD SHEETS, PLAIN OR FITTED
HANG CURTAIN RODS
USE ELECTRIC DRILL
EARN MONEY
PACK A SUITCASE
SKIP A MEAL AND PRAY INSTEAD
TITHE
SAVE MONEY
SPLIT KINDLING
RIDE A HORSE
FEED DOG DAILY WITHOUT REMINDER
ADDRESS AN ENVELOPE
MOW GRASS
WRITE A LETTER
IRON A SHIRT
MULTIPLICATION TABLES
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
54 PREPOSITIONS
PARTS OF SPEECH
TEN COMMANDMENTS
LORD’S PRAYER
USE CONCORDANCE
USE A DISHWASHER CORRECTLY
FOLD CLOTHES
SORT LAUNDRY INTO DARK AND LIGHT
USE LAUNDRY MACHINES AND CLOTHESLINE
TAKE OUT GARBAGE
USE AN ELECTRIC SANDER
WASH DISHES IN SINK
SCRUB OUT BATHTUB
SWISH-CLEAN TOILET
USE A CATALOG
USE A DICTIONARY
CLEAN SHOES
READ A BOOK
“CLEAN” A ROOM
HANG CLOTHES ON HANGERS
OVERCOME OBSTACLES
OVERCOME FATIGUE
OVERCOME DREARY WEATHER
DO ONE JOB AT A TIME
NOT AFRAID OF RAIN OR SNOW
AVOID SIDETRACKING
OVERCOME SLUMP
ACCEPT DISAPPOINTMENT
MAINTAIN PACE
KEEP IMPROVING
OVERCOME BOREDOM
—Mary Rice Whiting Somerville
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I’m still working on those 54 prepositions, but my chainsaw sharpening skills are strong.
Thanks, Mom.
Jim,
It wore me out just reading the above list. As far as the fitted sheets are concerned, as long as I can fold them so that they can fit in the linen closet, that is all I am concerned about.
Your mother sounds as if she is a very special and a very industrious person. Best wishes to her and your father.
SIGH! Nobody ever taught me how to use a chain saw properly and sharpen it! Just ain’t got those chainsaw skills! And it is frightening that, back in the ’70s, the military,had I joined, wanted to entrust me with nuclear missiles! Of course, I turned them down and thus probably saved humankind from nuclear disaster, ha, ha! Anyway, that sounds like a great list from your good Mother! She probably should have included “raise some great sons”! I hope that your brother will help her to write and publish a book! May God bless her!
Wow, Jim!
What an assignment! And after all of these years I am still working on folding the bottom sheet properly. I get so frustrated! As far as changing the tire is concerned there is no hope for me. And, our boys thought their list was tough!
Well, I have been out of town for a week, and after church yesterday, I was planning to write to tell you how much I was missing your blog entries as well as the personal stories that you frequently use as springboards for the point you want to make related to the sermon’s scripture reference. What a pleasant surprise to discover that the sermon I missed while gone was the one that included Dr. Philpen’s predictions and your mother’s Y2K closet, and the blog I had missed was the one featuring your incredible mother’s list of necessary life skills. My thought after reading these was, “Yes, he’s back!” Thank you!
Hi, Jim.
I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m one of the Harless kids – Sarah Grace. I’m all grown up now, and have four boys of my own. This list is priceless to me – such wisdom in it. I love your mother – I so fondly remember her visits to our childhood home in Morgantown (I don’t remember much of Peytona) and she would bring Billy along. He was the perfect playmate for me – I think he was just a year younger than me. Anyway, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed this – and how much I LOVE the photos of all of your brothers on fb.
Fondly,
Sarah
I was all set to splurge and have the chain sharpened by professional machine. Now I will go and do it by hand.
Thanks for the list.
Len