StormySar thanks for the link to your site. You have a lot of very useful information and I subscribed to your email list.
As for the question about our DH/DPs. Nope. Mine can't find his way around a car, has no plumbing, carpenter or electrical skills. I've built every piece of Ikea furniture in this house and just about anything else that requires assembly. He is not handy in that sense. It was his upbringing. His father died when he was two and his mother is a drug-addicted wench. He was eventually taken in by his grandparents, but it was a almost too little, too late. His self esteem was incredibly low as a kid (constantly told by his mother and stepfather that he was stupid and worthless) and he had no drive to learn. It's horrible becase he always feels like a failure as a "man." As if you're not a real "man" if you can't change your own oil, fix a pipe, start a fire and skin a rabbit (and this is not an attack at those dp's who can, obviously). But our society has a stereotype and my hubby does measure himself up against it at times and tells me he feels like a loser and a failure. I feel bad for him. He's not handy in the traditional sense, but he is an awesome father and husband. He is very smart and has a lot to teach ds. He's incredibly strong, supportive and protective. He's quite the activist when it comes to homebirthing rights, breastfeeding, intactivism, animal rights, the environment, etc. I despise Dr. Laura, but she always asks, "will your husband swim through shark-infested waters to bring you a glass of lemonade?" That's definitely him. He's also incredibly strong (physically) and if I need a 300 lb load moved for me he can do it.
He also tries his best to cook on the days I work, pack me lunches and he cleans his little heart out when I'm not home. Sorry for the little ramble. Just wanted to give kudos to my non-handy hubby.
As for the question about our DH/DPs. Nope. Mine can't find his way around a car, has no plumbing, carpenter or electrical skills. I've built every piece of Ikea furniture in this house and just about anything else that requires assembly. He is not handy in that sense. It was his upbringing. His father died when he was two and his mother is a drug-addicted wench. He was eventually taken in by his grandparents, but it was a almost too little, too late. His self esteem was incredibly low as a kid (constantly told by his mother and stepfather that he was stupid and worthless) and he had no drive to learn. It's horrible becase he always feels like a failure as a "man." As if you're not a real "man" if you can't change your own oil, fix a pipe, start a fire and skin a rabbit (and this is not an attack at those dp's who can, obviously). But our society has a stereotype and my hubby does measure himself up against it at times and tells me he feels like a loser and a failure. I feel bad for him. He's not handy in the traditional sense, but he is an awesome father and husband. He is very smart and has a lot to teach ds. He's incredibly strong, supportive and protective. He's quite the activist when it comes to homebirthing rights, breastfeeding, intactivism, animal rights, the environment, etc. I despise Dr. Laura, but she always asks, "will your husband swim through shark-infested waters to bring you a glass of lemonade?" That's definitely him. He's also incredibly strong (physically) and if I need a 300 lb load moved for me he can do it.
He also tries his best to cook on the days I work, pack me lunches and he cleans his little heart out when I'm not home. Sorry for the little ramble. Just wanted to give kudos to my non-handy hubby. 
I tried for ages to get him to help me in the garden, and finally succeeded when I had to dig out some shrubs and was in dire peril of busting my spine doing so. At least, I sort of succeeded... he found an unused kitchen knife, called it his machete and started scientifically whacking away at the leaves, practicing his test-cutting (he does martial arts). It occurs to me as I write this that the roots of the shrubs are still in the ground, and thus DH's foray into gardening wasn't particularly productive... especially as he de-leaved rather more shrubs than I was intending to get rid of. 
Still, the quality time was nice.
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Maybe thats why I quit. My brother was a boy scout and they learned how to make picnic tables and live off the land. Sounded like more fun to me!
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this thread. will post a bit about myself later.
(Tomorrow is Day One for that.) I learned to sew, only the most basic stuff. I know a little about gardening, just enough to buy seeds, get started and then get really frustrated. I need to learn to can, for sure.
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