Momma Said

Are you familiar with the old song that says “momma said there’d be days like this, there’d be days like this my momma said…”? Well, that’s the soundtrack running through my mind these past few days. It all started on Sunday when an S1 boy came to me, trousers in hand. He had borrowed them from an S3 boy and fell while wearing them- tearing the knee. The trousers needed to be fixed ASAP.

Mom tried to teach me to sew before I left- it didn’t take. I had no skills in that department; everything about sewing stressed me out- cutting, stitching, darting, creating, looking at things inside out, you get the picture.

Knowing the S1 boy would get pounded if the trousers weren’t fixed stressed me out more than the thought of sewing the “L” shaped tear, so I resolutely got out a needle and thread. Two hours later I was finishing the mend job and stretching my aching fingers, back, and neck. (Sitting hunched over trying desperately not to mess up too badly takes its toll.) I felt accomplished as I handed back the trousers.

My sense of accomplishment was short lived however; when taking a walk around campus another boy approached me with a serious expression on his face. “Aunt, may I talk with you?” We stepped aside and he whispered “Aunt, I request you help me with my trousers. They have a tear.” (no I am not making the dialogue up, they really say things like “I request you” and “madam” “may I disturb you” etc)

Alas, they were uniform trousers; they needed to be sewn immediately- in time for school the next morning. His “tear” happened to be from the crotch down one leg, over a foot long. Now I hear some of you saying “teach them to fish!” and normally I would agree. However, being unskilled in the “fishing” department and altogether unsure of myself, I decided on an alternative. It turns out sewing is not only stressful, but also boring (to me). So I made the boys sit with me and tell me stories as I struggled with the tricky needle and thread. One helpful student stopped by long enough to inform me that machines could also be used sewing, and I should use one. (Some days I just have to sigh, machines, yeah, I remember those.)

When mom tried to teach me to sew she warned me not to give up; “One of your kids will need something mended one day and you will want to be able to help them.” Turns out momma was right.

I don’t want to say this too loudly, but I am becoming more proficient with a needle and thread. Rebekah and I suffer from the same chronic condition – clutziness- and our skirts often pay the price. We find ourselves needle and thread in hand, “fixing” the latest tear with less trepidation now that we have to mend regularly.

The week continued with a few more “mend” jobs and two impromptu “button” workshops when I “taught” some boys how to sew buttons on their uniform shirts and trousers. One boy watching me thread the needle said “Aunt, I think you are practiced in sewing.” I had to laugh.
Practiced indeed, oh well, “Momma said there’d be days like this…”