Written two months before my oldest was killed, about fishing.

We did not take our children fishing very often mostly due to the fact being my husbands schedule did not allow for it, that is why this article was written about teens and fishing.
This was the last time my two older sons ever went fishing together.

This was written while I was listening to them as they "cleaned" the fish they'd caught, and no I did not help them, as I really don't like cleaning fish, and they both wanted to be "experts" it was really kind of funny.

I hope you all will enjoy this article about the day my older boys were working together to clean catfish, one was going by the book, and one was wanting to do it the way their uncle had shown them, while their baby sister was diligently just doing it. She had also been shown how to clean fish by her uncle, she wasn't worried about doing it by the book or exactly as she was shown though she was just getting it done, while the two older boys both wanted to be percieved as the one who was doing it the "right way".

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                 http://voices.yahoo.com/why-teach-children-fish-241388.html?cat=25



                     "Why Should You Teach Your Children to Fish"
                                                  Teens in Particular



If you know how to fish and live near where you can take your children fishing should you teach your children to fish?

I would say yes. Especially if you happen to have teenage boys, younger children will also enjoy learning to fish.

But if you have teenagers teaching them to fish can be a very rewarding experience for you. Just remember to also teach your teens to clean the fish and cook the fish.

If you can teach your teens to catch fish and to clean fish, then teach them how to cook the fish. You will have taught them a way to provide a few cheaper meals for your family.

Also if your teens are anything like mine you may find it very humorous as they are learning to clean the fish they catch.

Today two of my teenagers and one of my pre-teen children are diligently working together to clean several fish they have caught.

I am finding their conversation to be extremely funny. But that's just me, I suppose. I also have two younger children, who are watching very carefully, with one periodically getting sick, because he did not know that cleaning fish was so messy.

Anyway, they will soon have this batch of fish cleaned. One of my teens was shown by his uncle how to clean fish recently and is doing pretty well cleaning his share, his brother though decided that he was going to find instructions on how to clean fish. So this morning he went to the library to find a book on how to clean fish. He now has the book open on the table so he can "see" how to do this job correctly.

I am finding this highly entertaining. Also as a side benefits the boys are all getting a long. Something that does not happen all that often as of late.

Anyway, as I started to say, teaching your children to catch, clean and cook fish can not only be entertainment for you. But can also be a way for your teens to decide to work together towards a common goal.

And in a little while we will have a nice fish dinner. With plenty to go around because they managed to catch a rather large batch of fish.

I doubt they realized that cleaning fish would be so much work.

They are cleaning catfish by the way. And it has been my experience that the cleaning of these fish is a little more involved than filleting a trout or flounder.

They are really working for this meal.

Anyway, tonight's supper will be catfish and maybe a few hush puppies. And if the boys get to go fishing again this weekend then we will be having fish again this week.

As entertaining as I am finding this, this is also very beneficial to my children because they are learning how to have a nice fish dinner for a fairly low cost.

You do need to remember to have a fishing license. But if you use your fishing license then you will find that you can have several meals that would cost you a lot if you went out to a restaurant.

Also as your children are learning especially your teens who may feel they know all there is to know about everything. You can have some free entertainment.

I would advise not letting them know how entertaining they are though until they have teens of their own. Then you can remind them. Or you can just keep the secret between you and your spouse.

Anyway, teaching your kids life skills is always a good idea and teaching your children to fish can be very entertaining. At least it is today at my house.

And the benefits today for our family are a very low cost fish dinner for supper.

And having enough fish to feed two teenage boys, and three preteen kids can add up to a whole lot of money.

If you can convince your teens that they would like to go fishing this can be a way for you to have a very economical meal for your family.

Also a way to be entertained as your children show you all the fish they catch.

Catching fish can be fun, cleaning fish is not fun, and eating fish is expensive unless you catch them. Entertainment provided by your teens and fishing priceless