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Probably with no sheet as well.</p>
<p>I just showed my college-aged son how to sew on a button.</p>
<p>Himom, I am still miffed that girls in my generation never took shop, as those skills would have been very useful. I have tried to find classes, taken a few home maintenance classes, subscribed to Family Handyman, and the know how is hard to come by. However, ask me almost any question about sewing or cooking…</p>
<p>I never taught my kids to sew on the sewing machine, which I regret. It seems practical considerations come up periodically, and am floored they don’t know these things. How to write out a check, and why paper checks are worth having. One D thinks I should just get a paypal account, as it is easier for her when paying me for her cell phone. No, she can arrange direct deposit or send a check. </p>
<p>We were recently discussion mattress pads with a new college freshman. D didn’t know, despite always having one in college and through her childhood, the reason for mattress pads. “Oh that is why the sheet keeps slipping off” </p>
<p>They also seem vaguely disinterested, when I teach them to put air in car tires, check the oil, etc. I took on each new skill as a badge of adulthood and was thrilled to learn. </p>
<p>The Adulting blog is great! </p>
<p>Gosh, I never had to teach my kid any of those things. He did go to camp so learned how to make his bed properly (have to or the bunk won’t pass inspection) and we made him write thank-you notes, not just send an email, so at some point he starting addressing his own envelopes - probably around 9 or 10. He taught himself all the other things, including how to sew on a button. He can also iron, but prefers to use a steamer. </p>
<p>He had to show me how to deposit a check by phone. 
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<p>Apparently my 18yo soon-to-be freshman didn’t know–until yesterday–that you can’t use dish-washing liquid in place of dishWASHER detergent. (It didn’t say not to on the label–I was surprised.) He said we were out of the dishwasher detergent. Not so. Apparently he doesn’t know how to “look for things,” either. Full box of detergent, sitting right in front, in the cabinet, in its usual place. This particular son is always on me for constantly giving him “captain obvious” advice, warnings, instructions, etc. Looks like those are still necessary. . .</p>
<p>Maybe you CAN use dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher. I sometimes suspect that a lot of the bottles we have around the house actually have the same stuff in them.</p>
<h1>45 No, too sudsy. You can probably use powdered dishwater detergent in the washing machine though, but only on whites.</h1>
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I found that out when I was close to 30. Not sure why it was so obvious they weren’t inter-changeable. We had bubble every where.</p>
<p>Dish washing liquid is designed to make much more suds than dishwasher detergent. It does nasty things to your dishwasher and can overflow with suds all over the floor. Yes I used to work where they make the stuff AND a family member sold and serviced dishwashers. The difference is definitely worth teaching your child. </p>
<p>There should be a huge warning.</p>
<p>I don’t think my 25 year old knows how to file an insurance claim. </p>
<p>Good thing life is a learning process. :)</p>
<p>Wow, my kid is not the only one who can’t open an envelope without shredding it! I just texted D2 to let her know that she is not alone.</p>
<p>D1 was applying for a bunch of internships in DC one year. She received applications from the offices she was applying to, completed them, and included a very nice cover letter and resume. Put them in a manila mailing envelope and… put one first class stamp on them, dropped them into the mailbox. So they arrived at their destinations with postage due… amazingly, she got an internship anyway with a prominent senator. She said later she had NO IDEA that heavier items required more postage.</p>
<p>I never realized so many people today grew up not knowing how to mail things. I am guessing this is more of a problem for people who are lucky enough to live near their families. Most of my family members live 500 miles away from my hometown, so we were always mailing cards and the like.</p>
<p>My parents didn’t teach my older sister and me how to pump gas. One of the first few times I went out with just her driving, we had to go to the gas station and were there for over 20 minutes, first figuring out which side was right, then trying to open the darn thing, pressing every button in the car and pulling out the manual, and finally getting the gas to flow. Seeing as my parents also didn’t teach me how to drive, I’ll probably have more problems with this in the future…</p>
<p>I can’t even open a cereal box without ripping one of the flaps, and now people expect me to open an envelope without shredding it?? ~X( </p>
<p>I didn’t need to know how to mail envelopes. My mom mailed all the pictures and awards acquired over the years. Although, I’m sure I learned when I was in elementary and middle school. I haven’t mailed something in a long while. I’d have to give a good think to make sure I’m doing it right, but Google’s got my back. </p>
<p>Add my D to the list of envelope shredders. She too was happy to know this wasn’t unique. </p>
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</p>
<p>If I know that there are two that are different my intuition would say that there should be a strong market for both, and there would only be one if they performed different functions. Even if I wasn’t sure, that intuition would lead me to look it up. </p>
<p>Sometimes I read posts by students, especially on Fin Aid/Scholarships, with parents who can barely do nothing. I don’t know how they get by in life, and I feel so sorry for these articulate kids in need of leadership to guide the through the FAFSA etc and so much more…</p>
<p>My daughter who will be a Sophomore in Sept…I did everything for her, held her hand and helped through the whole college app process. Now that she is home this summer and I am absorbed with elder-care, she asks me to cook and I ask her to do it herself, and she does for herself and her sisters, and it works out.</p>
<p>Before we had children, I used to iron my silk shirts for my teaching job and my husband’s shirts for work. Now, years, later, everything is drip/dry.</p>
<p>Don’t worry ! this is in the scheme of things such a small–and sweet–concern.</p>
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There are body soap and shampoo. Is there anyone out there would say that by using body soap on hair or shampoo on body would cause any harm?<br>
I had to giggle about “intuition would lead me to look it up.” When I was in my late 20s, there was no google or internet. I guess I could have looked it up on my encyclopedia. I am dating myself.</p>
<p>It must be dead of summer, so many kids on parents forum.</p>
<p>vladen- we had a german exchange student who put the dish soap into the dishwasher- not good- it caused bubbles all the outside of it onto the floor. I learned that there was a difference and I had to add- get this- oil to the dishwasher to settle it down so I could use it.</p>