I am surprised you had this kind of childhood. I don't know what I thought your life was like but, since I knew very few children my age who had to work like this, I suppose I thought you were more like me. I was one of those kids out playing, with the other kids who were out playing. I don't remember doing very many chores, and those I did do were easily dispatched, and only now and then.
I sewed when I wasn't out playing. My mother taught me very well there, and I sewed a lot of my own clothing. That's one of the female's counterparts to the male's cutting of wood, a lot less physically grueling than splitting wood (try as I might, I never managed one single split, not one). It took a lot of planning though, thought, foresight, fine motor skills. I loved to sew. I haven't done it in at least 40 years. I gotta get my sewing machine fixed. It's a lovely 100 or more year old Singer.
I'm not surprised by the innuendo in your first sentence, the double meaning. You are very good at that!!! You write very well, too. I enjoyed both reading and responding to this post.
It amuses me to read about people's surprise about my upbringing and in truth it happens in real life also;' people see what they see and don't tend to scratch the surface, or I don't let them.
Don't get me wrong, I played too, but I had things to do first, responsibilities , and I took them (and take them now) seriously. I'm happy and content with that upbringing and like what it made me.
Sewing was not something I knew how to do (not with a machine) but I could mend a holey sock and sew buttons on by age ten, could iron clothes and all...I am grateful for having parents who thought those things were important and those things, the lessons, were pivotal to my progression through life.
Thank you for complimenting this piece of writing; you know, I put so much into my writing, a lot of the real me, but most never see it...some do though. I like to make people think, as with this post, and that means they sometimes read between the lines and words at what I say without saying it and I really enjoy adding that element. I also like hearing people say they enjoyed responding, so thank you.