Journal #23

Being self-sufficient is the ability "to supply one's own or its own needs without external assistance" ("Self-sufficient"). Everyone should be self-sufficient, and if they are not, then they should work to become it.  Once you leave your parent's house, they will not be there with you at all times to cook you dinner or fold your clothes.  You have to be able to do these things on your own. I would have to say that I am pretty self-sufficient in certain categories. For example, if I were to have to live on my own, I would know how to cook different foods other than Ramen noodles and mac n cheese.  From a young age, my mom taught my siblings and I how to cook.  At first, we learned the basics like peanut butter and jelly, eggs, mac n cheese, toast, and other noodles.  We took the next step, which was making chef salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and pizza.  Now we are being taught how to cook meatloaf, lasagna, Swiss steak, chicken corn chowder, and many more things!  What I said are only a quarter of the things I have to knowledge of making.  My mom taught us how to cook so that when we have to live on our own, we will not starve.  I love food so being able to make a variety of foods is AMAZING.  Another thing that I would say I am self-sufficient in is cleaning.  My parents make my siblings and I do chores such as, cleaning the toilet, dusting shelves, unloading and reloading the dishwasher, doing laundry, etc.  It is crazy that some people are so dependent on their parents or guardians that they have never cooked themselves a meal or even done chores.  My parents wanted us to grow up knowing how to do all these things so when they were not around to help us, we could be self-sufficient.  I am very glad that I was taught how to be self-sufficient because I know I will be able to keep myself alive when I move out!

"Self-sufficient." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012.