Recently we wrote about the declining number of so-called “DIY dads.” That piece highlighted that fewer young men are learning hands-on trade and repair skills from their fathers than in previous generations. It’s equally important, however, to recognize the other side of the story: women who DIY and the mothers who taught them.
I can speak to this from personal experience. My mother taught me how to use basic tools, showed me minor electrical work, and encouraged a do-it-yourself mindset—figure it out, try your best, and make what you have work. Today I’m the main DIYer in my household, and I’m also a mom.
Images of capable women tackling home improvement projects are everywhere—from TV channels like HGTV and DIY Network to numerous websites encouraging women to pick up a power tool and do it themselves. Many traditional “women’s” crafts—cooking, sewing, knitting, decorating, quilting—are also forms of DIY, requiring creativity, technique, and hands-on problem solving.
My first tool was a crescent wrench. My mom handed it to me while we installed can lights in my high school’s new auditorium. My father was handy too, but it was my mother who took the time to teach me, encourage me to try, and laugh with me when my early attempts were imperfect.
One of my proudest parenting moments came when I was assembling an Ikea shelving unit for my son’s room. He was just over a year old, and he walked over with his toy tool set and “helped” without being prompted—pretending to brace pieces while I fitted the screws. He learned that by watching me. I encouraged him, because fostering curiosity and practical skills is part of parenting, regardless of gender.
When we consider the apparent generational decline in DIY interest, it’s not productive to blame one parent or one gender. Interest in working with your hands grows from exposure, mentorship, and opportunity—whether that mentor is a parent, teacher, neighbor, or friend. The old saying “it takes a village to raise a child” applies here: it takes a community to nurture practical skills and a love for making things.
Who helped you develop your DIY skills? A parent, a teacher, a Scout leader, or a friend? Or who do you share your DIY passion with now? Share your story in the comments so we can see the community behind the next generation of makers.
photo 1: ZachKlein
Photo 2: Micah Taylor