A parenting series that doesn't build from one post to the next; rather, it's a collection of thoughts and advice from a mama who's been there, doing that, intended as encouragement, not dogma. I hope you'll check in every day to see if I'm speaking to YOU! ~ ?
Ten things to teach your children
before they leave home for good
- How to clean their bathroom, properly.
- How to separate, wash, dry and fold the laundry.
- Basic concepts of money management, including saving, giving to others and planning ahead.
- How to sew on a button.
- The right way to use jumper cables.
- Map reading skills for when you're out of range for a GPS.
- How to cook at least three things.
- How to check the air in a car's tires and how to change a tire.
- How to calculate a tip for a meal.
- How to fill out a job application and interviewing skills.
Ten random thoughts with a million others yet to be named. Add your voice in comments? What do you think every tween and teen needs to know before leaving home?
THANK YOU for following and for telling others who might benefit. Also, if you haven't subscribed to PENSIEVE already, might you do so in a reader or by email?
Missed a post? Here ya go!
Day 1: to 31 Days of Parenting Teens & Tweens
Day 2: and developing a parenting philosophy
Day 3: Tell 'em what they need to hear, not what they wanna hear
Day 4: Give 'em a push
How to negotiate a conflict with poise- such as a scheduling conflict at work or with a college professor. In other words, I do make his/her voice heard without torching the relationship!
LOVE YOUR LIST – and though I am not commenting everyday – i love your 31 days, dahlin’!
Mine echoes the above comment – how to speak the {sometimes hard} truth in love! something i am still learning….
a few more:
*how to carry on intelligent, engaging conversation with their superiors.
*How to dance well – my heart swooned this weekend at a wedding seeing my 13 year old do this…with girls he did not know!!!
You bubbled to the surface of my heart during paryer time this morning – I hope this day is miraculous!
BLessings!
Great list! My oldest son is 10. Right now, we’re working on doing laundry and cleaning bathrooms. Properly. It’s not going so well…
Hmmm … at 42 I am a bit vague on looking after car tyres, oil etc.! But then I never lived on my own, went straight from home to marriage.
I would like my girls to be able to shop for food wisely and make menus for a week.
And to be confident in social and work situations with older adults.
Lovely blog and excellent post. Passing on our wisdom of basic life skills is a most useful gift to give to our children. In that vein, I would add that a most important skill we can teach our children to prepare them for life on their own is to stay calm in the face of crisis. This coupled with basic first aid skills may save their life or the life of others someday.
Love,
Mary
I get my husband to teach them how to change the oil in the car, too (although I can’t do it).
Oh golly I have 2 teenagers now. I need to test them on how well I’ve taught them these things…egads..I think I missed the button one, at least on my son anyway.