Back to basics

I wonder if any other species teaches their young in reverse the way humans do?

Instead of simply taking me out back and showing me how to plant a garden, I am told, “Go plant a garden the way Mrs. Smith did.”

Which Mrs. Smith?  Where?  What were her premises?  What kind of environment did she come from?  Live in?  Grow for?  Why make it all so complicated?

So much of what I have learned about life has been this way and when my garden fails, the powers that be jump all over me because I should have known better!  How?  If I can’t trust my parents to show me the best way, who can I trust?

So, I learn by learning what NOT to do first.  What a cumbersome and dangerous thing that is and how unfortunate that I am often off and rearing another generation of children before I have even figured out the basics myself.

I have yet to see a mother dog telling her pups to eat meat while she is devouring a chocolate cake.

Let’s get back to basics.