Community Corner

Five Things My Sisters And I Learned From Our Dad

Hard work, follow-through, responsibility and community service.

How do I describe my dad? He's a well-meaning, matter-of-fact guy, who at-times has a short fuse that might remind you a little of Archie Bunker. He's also an amazing guy who provided well for his family, taught us many useful things and wanted only the best for his three daughters. While growing up on a farm, he demanded a lot of us at a time when raising a girl meant something entirely different in the late 1960s and early 1970s than when he grew up. Here's a little insight on how us Lockwood girls were raised.

1. Working hard - A work ethic in the Lockwood household was mandatory. Of course you could choose to do housework with mom or outside work on the farm with him, but Saturday mornings chores, all hands on deck work projects, and daily responsibilities like washing dishes, cooking, and laundry were non-negotiable. As a result, I know how to mix cement, build a fence, and drive a 1942 Case tractor with a crank and an electric start. Canning and cooking, however, have never been my forte.

2. Education - You didn't have to be good at everything, but if a teacher so much as suggested that you procrastinated or you didn't turn in homework there were consequences. With regards to college, he wasn't going to pay for your education. You could count on him giving you money for incidentals, but financing your education came in the form of... "here's the loan application." What you became was up to you, but going to college was non-negotiable.

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3. Dating - This was the source of much angst in the Lockwood household. Me and my sisters were checked out like library books. He expected to meet anyone we dated. He kept a loaded shotgun by the door, and constantly asked where we were going and when we would be home. If we came home late, you could count on the fine being a revocation of 'library" privileges. 

4. Marriage - The Lockwood girls were prohibited from marrying before the age of 19. Period. He paid $2,500 for the wedding. This too was non-negotiable.

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5. Driving - Before we could drive my dad's car, we had to learn how to change a tire, drive a stick shift, and parallel park a tractor with a manure spreader on it. If we wanted to use "the car," we were given the keys to a 1972 powder blue Ford pick-up truck with a stick shift on the floor that often got stuck in reverse if you accidentally put the emergency brake on. The car also featured an AM radio, no heat and a hole in the floorboard. Needless to say, we didn't ask for the keys much.

 

 


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