When I was growing up I thought my parents knew everything in the whole world. While I certainly don’t know everything, I try to learn something new every day and I encourage my kids to do the same.
Not all of us were able to get a post-secondary education but that doesn’t mean that we’re incapable of learning or that we can’t expand our personal world with a little bit of knowledge.
I personally love learning and though I was never able to go to university I have always made it a point to use the resources available to improve my skills, learn new ones or simply find answers to questions that I have.
Books – Reading is one of my passions in life and always has been. Without the information I have acquired through reading, my world would be very dull. We have an excellent library in our area and when my kids were small we would pick a topic and then go research it just for the sake of knowing about it. Any piece of knowledge is useful in my opinion and you just never know when someone will want to discuss the mating habits of the scarlet tanager! It doesn’t have to be something scientific either; it can be new recipes or information on living a healthier lifestyle. When I meet someone from a different country I make an effort to research their country so that I can converse better with them and as a result I have learned so much about places that I have never been.
One problem that I’ve noticed many of us single moms run into is not having the time to read. I always keep a book with me and if I’m waiting in line somewhere, sitting in the doctor’s office or even if I arrive at work 5 minutes early, I use the time to read. Why grumble about having to wait when you can lose yourself in a book?
Internet – The internet has become one of my go-to places when I want to know something. I know that not all of the data is accurate so I like to research carefully but I love the fact that there is so much at our fingertips. Until six months ago I didn’t have a computer at home so I can really appreciate the wealth of information available at the click of a mouse. My daughter has introduced me to wikihow.com. I have learned how to remove a steering wheel from a tractor, give myself a caviar manicure (!) and find cat urine with a UV light. On a more personally relevant note I have learned how to improve my e-mail etiquette and make my own deodorant spray. Another good site is Pinterest and I confess I’m addicted. Whether you’re looking for recipes, garden tips, ideas for activities to do with the kids or any other kind of information that involves living, Pinterest has great ideas for everyone.
Continuing Education – With the availability of online courses, it is much easier now to take classes that may have been off limits to us before because of distance, time constraints or lack of child care. There are various free online classes available through websites such as www.alison.com or www.uopeople.org or www.khanacademy.org. I have not yet enrolled in any courses through these websites but am looking into it. A website that is helpful in upgrading work place skills is www.gcflearnfree.org, another one that I plan to use in the near future.
Seminars and Workshops – Many libraries, community centres, medical clinics and local interest groups sponsor seminars and workshops that are free or a minimal cost and some even offer childcare to enable parents to attend. I live in the Toronto area and there are enough of these events to keep me busy every day of the week if I choose. A One Parent Families group that I attend has an informative speaker once a month and the topics vary from physical fitness to helping kids cope with trauma to photography. It’s a great way to get practical information that we may not normally be exposed to and to get out and talk to new people.
Learning from People Around You – Our friends, family, neighbours and co-workers often have handy tips to pass on and are glad to do it. There are times I have gone out for a walk and seen someone watering their flowers and have complimented them on their garden. These people were very proud of their gardens and were happy to give advice and answer any gardening questions I had. Over the years I have learned many creative ways to stretch budgets, ground beef and my thinking ability simply by taking the time to listen to others instead of waving them off and remaining in my own little world of Me, Myself and I. I believe that everyone has something to teach someone and some of my most valuable lessons have come from people that I have made small talk with in the lineup at the drugstore, at the bus stop or at the cash register. I have not seen some of these people since but the wisdom they were willing to share with a stranger impacted my life in a very positive way.
Even if you don’t like to read, don’t have access to the internet, are too exhausted at the end of the day to even think about attending a seminar and really don’t feel comfortable talking to people unless you have to, it is still possible to learn something new every day if you remain open to it. Whether it’s discovering a new route to get to and from work or another destination or stumbling upon a new way to trick your kids into eating vegetables, every piece of knowledge that we gain is valuable. Learning can make life more interesting and give us a sense of accomplishment when all we seem to do is never-ending dishes, the pile of dirty laundry doesn’t seem to shrink and our home never seems to stay clean and tidy.
The mind is like a muscle and there are opportunities for us to exercise ours all around us every day.
Happy learning!
