By now your family should understand your desire to become self-reliant. Hopefully you have helped them catch the vision of the peace and comfort that comes knowing you can care for yourself no matter what challenge may present itself.
Summer is coming and it’s time to plan. Make this the summer of enlightenment. Ask family members to decide which skills they or all of you, are lacking. We all realized the importance of knowing how to sew when we were all scrambling for facemasks and medical gowns.
Create a list of skills you would like to learn. Skills may include, sewing, cooking off grid, cooking with food storage only, preserving foods, growing a garden, budgeting, car repair, building a fire, cutting hair, how to care for a medical need such as creating a splint or dressing a wound, or a very specialized skill such a getting a HAM radio license. For younger children consider coaching them so they learn to do the laundry and hang it out to dry, make a simple meal, create a one of a kind dessert from things in the pantry, or add items to the grocery list when they use them up.
Once you understand which skills you want to learn make a list of those you know who have those skills and can lend a hand as you grow in your understanding and competence. Never be afraid to ask for help. You will probably discover your friends and family are excited to pass along what they know and love.