I found this little gem with funny man Mike Rowe while perusing old posts on another blog.  I love his sense of humor and he describes my childhood perfectly when he talks about "forced labor" as we would have called it then, but what was actually a great learning opportunity. I remember helping my father video weddings (one of his many money making ideas), build decks, dig post holes for fences, dig trenches for water and electrical lines, create office partitions and so much more. I learned how to use power tools such as miter saws, skill saws, drill presses, table sanders, etc from a very early age. I was taught the value of doing something yourself versus paying someone to do it.  Now as an adult I don't avoid the difficult tasks but work to find solutions to them.  I love to learn new skills and the sense of accomplishment that comes with success at mastering them. I am thankful for parents who taught me to use my hands and be thankful for the ability to do so.  It is definitely a dying art and most Americans have become dependent on others to do what they should be able to themselves. I hope I pass this tradition on to my children and they on to theirs.