We have finally taught D to try to eat “neatly” if she wants to share whatever she doesn’t finish eating with her brother or anyone else. She used to make everything on her plate an unappetizing mess–deliberately or not. Since she’s a “small eater,” she often doesn’t finish these super-sized portions.
^^When my S opens an envelope, it is generally totally torn in half down the middle. It’s a wonder he gets anything legible out of them.
I can still remember my son asking me why I never taught him what Carhartt was. Apparently there were a lot of hunters in his freshmen dorm. Carhartt was never in his wardrobe.
How to fill the dishwasher!
Stethoscope with removable heads - didn’t make sure both heads were tight when took it out of box to use. Lost one head but doesn’t know which hospice patient home.
The lesson, check things that can rattle loose before you use them and when you put away.
Things my kids did not know: 1. How to read a non-digital clock; 2. How to jump start a car; 3. how to write out a check by hand.
Newly married son feedback from his bride:
- His way of washing dishes is inefficient and wasteful of water.
- He just stuffs his clean laundry in a drawer – does not fold it first.
Mentioned this to his older sister, married three years.
Her response re #2: That is how H and I put away laundry as well.
Now that I think of it, back when I did their laundry, I guess I just had them take it to their rooms and handle on their own. In middle school they started doing their own laundry.
Guess I never gave “putting laundry away” lessons. My bad.
Oh well, guess it could be worse.
My niece didn’t know where you can get stamps. She called my sister and asked her if she would mail her one!
The months of the year, in order. Which holidays come in which months. This young man has finished his first year of college and has a summer job and an internship lined up for next year. (Don’t ask him which month it starts.)
"Cute story from a friend, whose daughter posted “I know I’m 20 and in college and should be grown up, but going to urgent care without your Mom is scary”
So help me, I’m still proud when I go by myself and get a shot.
@jollymama, my son came out of the SAT and said the question he simply did not know the answer to was “How many days are there in July?” Particulalry bad because July 31st is an “important” day in our house.
I don’t know if either of my kids could say the months in order and know how many days are in each month.
I use part 2 of the above link, but just one hand. Make a fist. Starting on one end: knuckles have 31 days, valleys 28/29/30. When you get to the end, start over on your first knuckle. You have to know the months in order, unfortunately.
I learned the months using my knuckles too.
My kids went to a catholic grade school. There is no way they didn’t learn the months and the number of days. There were (church) calendars on all the walls, the cursive alphabet trimming the rooms, music included singing the patriotic songs, holidays were the traditional ones. They know all the jump rope songs, the playground games like Four Square. The director held spelling bees and geography quizzes, adjusting the questions for each grade level (k-8), so they are very good at facts like the months in order whether numbers are odd or even, divisible by 3 or 5, .
Most embarrassing is their lack of political knowledge of any kind. One thinks she knows everything from sound bites and says things that are not true or she can’t explain why a proposal would be a good idea ($15/hr minimum wage? Great, but can’t tell you any of the pros or cons). The other one doesn’t pretend to know anything. Recently asked me if the Clinton running for president was related to the other Clinton president. I said yes, they are married. She said no, that can’t be because the one who was president is old. Really old. I know she doesn’t believe me that they are, indeed, married.
I have one kid who could expound at length on any aspect of history / politics (not just in the US but all over the world) and one who couldn’t care less and only votes because her brother tells her so!
In any primary grade (K-2) classroom I’ve ever been in there is a months of the year calendar or display on the wall. One of the first things that primary teachers usually do is graph everyone’s birthdays on the calendar, and see how many children are born in each month. Usually in morning circle time throughout the year they can use decals or illustrate the weather and holidays.
.
D always asks me which way is hot and which way is cold at the kitchen faucet. So does her father. (yes, they are plumbed the regular way) sigh.
Well, today D17 had to be reminded to turn on the headlights.