Life Skills

When I was growing up, my mom was a stay-at-home mom. She had pretty much everything done during the day as far as keeping a house and baking and things like that, so that when I got home from school, she was starting dinner or going through the mail, things like that. She did show me briefly how to balance a checkbook when I turned 18, and I did vacuum and dust and do dishes occasionally, but I really don't remember her intentionally teaching me how to cook or clean or anything really involved with taking care of a home and family. Most things I picked up from Home Ec in school or by reading directions. In fact, the one time I took the initiative and tried to do my own laundry, she caught me doing it, promptly told me I was doing it wrong and told me not to do laundry again! I know she was always a bit insecure, and I think she thought if I knew how to do these things, I wouldn't need her. But isn't that the eventual goal of raising kids?

So I've been trying to come up with a list of things I want my kids to know how to do before they graduate high school. I've mentioned before about wanting them to know how to cook at least 2 weeks' worth of meals and teaching them to do laundry and balance a checkbook. They both can do dishes, sweep, vacuum, mop, dust, plant flowers, mow and follow basic recipes and make cookies. I also need to start teaching them car maintenance issues, how to pump gas, check the oil and tire pressure levels, fill the window washer fluid, and I would love to find someone who will teach them - and me! - how to change a tire. I need to start teaching them how to meal plan and more intentionally teach coupons and shopping sales. They are both doing well budgeting their allowance (one of my main goals for using an allowance system), and I need to continue to reinforce that, especially with DS.

I don't think teaching these things will be a problem; I think allowing them to be responsible for them once they have been learned will be the true test. DD already is finding that out with her laundry. She wants to be responsible for it, so I'm letting her do it, and she's finding that by putting it off, she's running out of things to wear, and she only has herself to blame. It's actually rewarding to listen to her because she knows it's something she has asked to do, and she's owning up to it.

Once I get a complete list made, I'll post it and hopefully track our progress. The goal is independent young adults. And a mother who can facilitate that and be glad when it occurs!