What do you want to be sure to teach your kid before they head off to college?

[bethievt]

Not mixing marijuana and alcohol.

[UMMom2015]

Here's a silly-sounding but practical one. . . If you were that Mom who always bought all of the "supplies" in your home, take your kid to the drugstore with you before he/she goes and show them exactly what the items he uses look like in the package! Better yet, have them start buying their own this summer. Don't laugh but the toothpaste choices can be very overwhelming! S1 actually bought "the wrong kind" and it was "vile" after walking 5 blocks to the drugstore had to go back the next day. Sad but true.

[lookingforward]

In addition, I wanted them to know, really know, how to get out of trouble or solve personal problems, what profs really look for (it's just not like hs,) how fast gossip about you can travel, whether or not it's true (ours are girls.) Absolutely agree with the condom thing (funny, they've also been hearing that from teachers, since middle school,) never let a drunk drive you someplace, always have or be a designated driver, and don't walk alone in deserted areas, no matter what.

[UMMom2015]

Oh, and teach them to check the date on the milk! Another pathetic, seemingly obvious one, but in a house where a)the milk is always used up well before the expiration date or b)Mom always throws it out and buys fresh before the date, darling might not have any clue when he buys a gallon for himself that it won't stay fresh before it's finished! Another sadly embarrassing to admit tidbit, but true.

[shoboemom]

adding a couple more...on transportation...

Lock the passenger door when pumping gas, so no one can reach in and grab your purse/things you've left on the seat. Don't let someone leave you in the backseat of an unlocked, running car while they run into the store.

Know how to drive a stick shift in case you are the sober one and that's your only option.

Learn how to call a cab (and which ones are more reliable/safer in the area )

Be familar with your town; how it is laid out, places to avoid, etc.

[Lakemom]

The stick shift need made me think of an experience I had in college. I knew how to drive a stick shift, my own car was a stick.

One day I went to borrow someone else's car that was a stick and it was a VW bug. I sat there for about 10 min trying to figure out how to get the car in reverse and could not for the life of me do it. I ended up pushing the car out, alone, of the parking space to avoid using reverse. It was drizzling rain outside so the ground was slick.

I asked the girl after how to put her car in reverse and she said, "Oh, you have to push down on the stick then slide it in." Never made that mistake again when I drove another friend's V-dub years later.

[romanigypsyeyes]

How to use an ATM. I can not believe the number of people who don't know how to use an ATM. Mom and dad were always the banks.

[lamom]

So much I forgot, oh well he survived. He was better prepared than I was.

[familyof3boys]

kc1214mom - Just copy your post and put it in the 2012 thread. We'd be happy to have you join us.

[vlines]

so many of these things I think people need to learn by doing. For example, a few swigs of curdled milk is the best way for someone to learn to check the expiration date. That is how I learned. I also had my purse stolen off the passenger seat at a gas station, and had money stolen from a contractor because I though he was a nice guy and we would not need a contract. Oh, my mom and dad warned me about all of those things and more, but sometimes you gotta drink the sour milk a few mornings before you "get it".

For me, other than some of the obvious do laundry, and driving rules, I hope that my S is not afraid to ask questions so he CAN continue to learn and survive. And that no long term harm comes to him but he still is confident enough to take risks.

But you can't really teach that...

[shoboemom]

what profs really look for (it's just not like hs,)

What DO profs look for that is different than HS?

[glopop11]

Along the lines of curdled milk.....

As I was putting away the groceries today I realized I never taught DD to rotate the eggs, making sure the fresh ones are on the bottom and the older ones on top!

[Nikara]

As someone who is in a group kitchen this summer, please teach your kids what a sink food disposal is and how to use one. I wind up running it every time I'm in that kitchen, because it seems that no one else has any idea of what it is and why the sink smells weird.

[laurendog]

Lots of good advice in here.

Mine is - Never let them take you to the second location.

Learned that one from watching Oprah. She had a security expert on that was talking about crimes against (mostly) females ~ abductions, rapes, murders, etc. The one thing he wanted to make sure every woman knew was --- DO NOT let someone take you to a second location. SCREAM, KICK, FIGHT, RESIST, MAKE A SCENE if you have to, but if you allow yourself to be taken anywhere, you're as good as dead.....

[intparent]

Teach them that not all sizes of envelopes can be mailed with one 44 (or whatever the first class price is at that time) stamp. D1 sent off a bunch of large envelopes for internships her junior year of college with one stamp on them because she had no idea that more postage is required if it weighs more.