Things your parents taught you (that aren't common)

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  • KandGRanch
    KandGRanch Posts: 131 Member
    My papaw taught me how to clean game when I was three.
    my dad taught me how to shoot at four.
    my mom taught me how to make suncatcher-cookies.
    how to build a custom handgun.
    how to use a bandsaw.
    how to reload ammo.
    how to rewrite computer programming
    how to find all the hidden Mario levels.
    card tricks.
    how to build a grandfather clock.
    how to wind that clock.
    how to make chicken and dumplins
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    My parents taught me to use proper grammar and spelling.

    My wife and I are doing the same for our children, but it seems like a losing battle.
  • melissay28
    melissay28 Posts: 100 Member
    My grandpa made me learn my social security number
    My entire family taught me to respect military service members, and their families for the sacrifices that they make (both grandfathers retired from the Air Force, who knew I'd end up being a military spouse!)

    Respect & manners were also big in my family. We have passed it to our son and people comment all the time on how polite and well mannered he is.

    How to cook
    How to stand up for myself and not take crap from anyone
    How to sew
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,855 Member
    My dad, an engineer, taught me basic car maintenance and repair but that's not unusual. What is unusual is that he taught me how to measure electric current and electrical resistance. Once, he even bought me a multi-meter because he thought I should have my own.
  • zcb94
    zcb94 Posts: 3,678 Member
    respect


    look at today's youth!

    I know! I'm sure everyone in my house grew up learning The Magic Words, but it feels like I'm the only adult in my family who still says them when appropriate. Others simply tell what to do regardless of listener age or rank.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    My parents taught me why it's important not to be anything like them. Thankfully, it was a lesson I learned before it was too late.
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    Lefty loosy, righty tighty
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Wow, I feel a little neglected now. I guess the best thing my mom taught me was how to fold a fitted sheet so it comes out square and flat.

    THAT is a skill few people have mastered (and it is worse now with the elastic going around the whole sheet, not just the corners).
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    My Dad was willing to teach me how to shoot, but his #1 rule was that, before any of us kids put our finger on the trigger of a gun, we had to take a gun safety course. I decided to learn to shoot at age 50 and yes, I got my safety certificate first even though it is not required by law for my age group.
  • wonderfullymadebyhim
    wonderfullymadebyhim Posts: 170 Member
    From my dad -- how to play chess and tennis
    From my mom - how to be generous and loving to others :)
  • shellma00
    shellma00 Posts: 1,684 Member
    Even though I dont use these much today....

    My mom taught me to sew

    My dad taught me how to change my own oil in my car and how to change a flat tire, we raced go karts growing up so he taught us how to change tires, gears, oil in the motor and many other things about working on a go kart, obviously what the different tools are because we had to use them to work on our cars and go karts

    And just recently my dad has been teaching me about gardening and canning my own food. We ALWAYS had a garden growing up and we all had to help with it, but as I grew older we didnt plant much, now that I am growing my own garden and trying to can some of the food I really appreciate that he can help me with doing it on my own
  • Silentfool
    Silentfool Posts: 189 Member
    My dad taught me how to create a spear, from found objects, and then to fashion a launcher to increase speed and distance.

    BTW he grew up on a farm. I grew up in a town. Not a big call for spears in my street

    :bigsmile:

    Edited: for spelling coz I be dumb
  • carrieliz81
    carrieliz81 Posts: 489 Member
    My parents taught me that throwing away/getting rid of things is important and feels good! And thus I am not a hoarder, and I am so glad.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    My mom taught me how to swear and say beer chants in German... which is weird because if I ever even said the word "crap" in English I got in trouble...

    I was also taught that if you ever cook live lobster, you must let the cat play with it first (omg, hilarious to watch - but do leave their claws bound).

    Other things... I was taught about investing in mutual funds starting around 10 or so (wasn't given control but boy do I thank my dad for this).

    If I think of any more weird things I'll write them! I'll leave off the more ordinary things haha.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    Wow, I feel a little neglected now. I guess the best thing my mom taught me was how to fold a fitted sheet so it comes out square and flat.
    You're not neglected! Many moms don't teach that skill (mine did... plus the hospital corner on the sheets. This is what you get taught from a military dad and a nurse of a mom. I never could bounce a quarter on the bed and have it hit the ceiling though).
  • JONZ64
    JONZ64 Posts: 1,280 Member
    My Dad taught me an important life lesson

    "There are 3 sides to every story"
    1. Yours
    2. Mine
    3. The Truth


    Oh, forgot to add his marriage advice "Can she cook? Good, because Love gets old, Sex gets old but you'll always be hungry"
  • MissKalhan
    MissKalhan Posts: 2,282 Member
    My mom taught me to always look for the good in the bad, to "kill them with kindness", how to be an independent woman and how to be happy with the little you have. She as well inadvertently taught me how to be good with money and to not settle for just anyone who gives you attention.
    My dad taught me that you don't need a man and to get respect you need to earn it, as well once its lost it will take years for it to come back.
    My grandmother taught me how to cook (little old newfie woman can COOK!) without recipes, how to follow recipes, always be available to help your elders, how to do the laundry and all the cool cleaning tips before cleaners were a thing.
    My grandfather taught me that even the biggest meanest looking bear is inside a giant teddybear, that family will be there for you when you need them, as well as a few choice words in Austrian ;)
  • blupanda12
    blupanda12 Posts: 54 Member
    My dad taught me how to walk in heels - all of us children, actually, including my brother. He was taught by his mom because "you'll need to teach your daughters someday". He also taught me how to check and refill most of the fluids in our cars - important skill since they were always leaking.

    My mom taught me how to properly freeze a deer, how to can, how to fold a fitted sheet, and to always do my research.
  • CaitlinW19
    CaitlinW19 Posts: 431 Member
    I think I've bucked the system on most of those things...like the proper way to make a bed. My mom worked in a nursing home in her yonger years and has carried that skill with her and still tried to impart it to me every time I help her make a bed. I still don't know how to do it. Lol. Setting a table the proper way...I can't ever remember which side the knife is suppose to go on.

    They taught me how to play bar dice, including bar dice etiquette. Yes that is a thing. :-)

    My mom likes decorating and cooking...both things I've learned a lot about from her. I learned to bake from her, but I would say I'm a more accomplished baker now. She's probably still the better cook.

    Someone else mentioned nursry rhymes...it might be unsual that I know the songs for all the nursery rhymes. My mom is a music teacher, so she sang a lot to us as kids.

    My mom also taught me how to parallel park a car like a rock star.

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