What life skills are you teaching your kids?

jennilee8380

really-

Kindness and class... even for those who don't deserve it, because sometimes they need it the most.

Acceptance and open mindedness... listening to others and thinking before speaking.

Hard work and the satisfaction of challenging yourself/achieving goals... in all aspects of life.

There is so much, I could go on and on, but those three are the first that came to mind.

sunglasses_and_ocean_waves

picking up girls in bars.

salembambi

veganisim
feminisim
the truth about the world we live in
empathy and compassion without hypocrisy
self love
self acceptance

mbailey423

To respect their elders...yes ma'am and no ma'am. Yes sir and no sir
To be themselves because dammit they are pretty flipping great
To wait and hold the door for a complete stranger
To try hard, and if you didn't succeed to figure out why and try harder from a different angle
That failure is a part of life, but if you learned from it it's a success
That success isn't a grade on a paper, but the amount of hard work you put into getting that grade
To learn history. Specifically our countries history
That fighting isn't the way to solve a problem....but it is a great way to defend yourself
Give respect.....get respect
Mistakes happen....you will make them....that I expect you to make them... And that I'll be there to help
That if they ever get in a car with someone that is drunk I will personally break every bone n their bodies
That I'm always available for them day or night to keep the above from ever happening, and they will not be in trouble for having me pick them up

Family first........everyone else comes after
To shoot straight .......literally.......and they are safer and better that most adults I know ( heck as a LEO I can say they are safer and better marksmen than some of my fellow coworkers
Stand up for what you believe in and don't let anyone convince you otherwise

That they are no better than any person out there
That you are not truly grown up until you stand there and take responsibility for your actions, and face the consequences with your chin up

I'm truly lucky, I was blessed with great kids......and as a dad couldn't be prouder...boy/girl twins that are 14 now and in 9th grade

DenDweller

1) A well-developed doe-eyed expression will get you everything you need.
2) Whining and begging will be rewarded if you're persistent enough.
3) Screw table manners, wolf down your food. This may net you additional food.
4) Pant at chicks, they'll still think you're cute.
5) Regular bathing and oral hygiene are optional.
6) Screw PETA, wear fur everywhere.
7) Everyone has a "magic spot". You just need to find it.
8) The proper response to "Did you do that?" Is to look guilty and cute at the same time.
9) Circle three times before lying down.
10) If you're happy, wag your tail. You can wing the rest.

seltzermint555

I think the most important one I was taught by my mom was keeping positive and having a hard work effort. It sounds stupid but I've been at my job for less then two months and I've been promoted twice already and I think these skills are major reasons why.

Not a parent but I absolutely agree with that! I feel that some of the biggest & most important lessons my parents taught me, they weren't even trying to, necessarily. Although they divorced when I was pretty young, they both set an awesome example for me in their own ways and I feel like that gave me a great foundation for work, school, and life in general. Just certain things like you don't ignore people, you smile & act politely, you try to keep a positive attitude, you ALWAYS try to give things your best effort, if you can make something better or a correct a problem you do it, you don't pay bills late ever, you don't buy things you can't afford...and so on for days!

The other stuff is important too...practical skills like laundry, keeping accurate records, safe driving, etc. They didn't really teach me cleaning or cooking but that was easy enough to figure out on my own.

seltzermint555

Lots of great points here. PLEASE also teach them to be responsible with money and not live beyond their means. WAY too much entitlement around these days.

Agreed. Unfortunately I see a LOT of this. People who have made a nice comfortable middle class (or better) life for themselves often teach their kids that they're "better than" a part time job, a used car, etc. Telling little Chip at age eight "NO you will certainly NOT be a firefighter, maybe you can be a mayor...after you're a CEO for awhile! Not a NURSE, a cardiologist maybe...." So their kids who are of average intellect are twenty and up, living at home and barely passing their college courses, have never worked in any way, shape or form, but think they're too good to live in an apartment or work at an entry level job for a year or so. They've been fed those lines for their entire lives. Mom and Dad now text their college professors about better test scores.

Yeah I sound like an old lady griping about "kids today" but really this has been going on way longer, I just think it's getting worse & more frequent now.

SwashBlogger

Lots of great points here. PLEASE also teach them to be responsible with money and not live beyond their means. WAY too much entitlement around these days.

Agreed. Unfortunately I see a LOT of this. People who have made a nice comfortable middle class (or better) life for themselves often teach their kids that they're "better than" a part time job, a used car, etc. Telling little Chip at age eight "NO you will certainly NOT be a firefighter, maybe you can be a mayor...after you're a CEO for awhile! Not a NURSE, a cardiologist maybe...." So their kids who are of average intellect are twenty and up, living at home and barely passing their college courses, have never worked in any way, shape or form, but think they're too good to live in an apartment or work at an entry level job for a year or so. They've been fed those lines for their entire lives. Mom and Dad now text their college professors about better test scores.

Yeah I sound like an old lady griping about "kids today" but really this has been going on way longer, I just think it's getting worse & more frequent now.

Yes! And may I add that young Joey or Josephine may not require a $200K University education. The idea is to make them employable adults...NOT impress the neighbors.

OlyCapitalChick

I just have one (17 y/o boy). Some of the things I focused on w/him are (not in any specific order):

1 - Say your sorry if you mess up.
2 - Stay organized.
3 - Be a good friend.
4- Don't be a door mat, conversely don't an a-hole
5 - College will be a must.
6 - Just 'cause weed is legal here in Washington doesn't mean it can ruin your life.
7 - Never txt or drink and drive.
8 - Push yourself to try new things.
9 - Save your money, work hard and plan for the future.
10 - Have no shame in who you are. Be proud.

anncook158

The Montessori Method of education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood.

PamelaW41

Cook, clean, work, save, plan, chill, respect, manners, and self defense.

brb_2013

I'm a nanny and my constant life lessons are to be kind and treat others with kindness, to stand up for themselves and their bodies (practice ownership of their body, they decide who can touch, and teaching words to help them say when they don't want something done), and to be caring. I can see my lessons in them every day, they're courteous and conscientious, inquisitive and careful. The boy likes to call himself a "Guarder" which in his mind is a knight or soldier that protects little ones on the playground and guards small animals or insects that might be in harms way (he will stand by a slug until it crosses the bike bath, just in case). The little girl struggles with outward caring about others (an age thing), but she is getting confident about owning her body. At the playground today a boy kept bumping into her, multiple times. She has a hard time speaking, but I was so proud of hear "don't touch PUHLEEZE" with so much sass it just about killed me.

Sure, they will learn how to cook and dress themselves, but for now a firm sense of self and their place in the world is more important They know they deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, and they are taught how to give the same to everyone we meet.

synchkat

Charm can get you really far (it worked and continues to work for his uncle)

everything else he just seems to figure out himself like being kind and nice. He doesn't want for anything which is ok because then he's more than happy to share.

finny11122

Never give up your freedoms . Dont follow the herd , Never listen to hateful people who try to play people , groups , different sex's off against each other . Way to many young people with hearts full of hate and disdain these days .

synchkat

finny11122 wrote: »

Never give up your freedoms . Dont follow the herd , Never listen to hateful people who try to play people , groups , different sex's off against each other . Way to many young people with hearts full of hate and disdain these days .

My child loves everyone and thinks everyone loves him. We're lucky to have friends from all communities so he's learned acceptance very young

Hey_Its_That_One_Guy

Abstinence.

jnichel

The three most important things.....

1) Lord loves a working man
2) Don't trust whitey
3) See a doctor and get rid of it

InfoomaousTete

1. If a girl try’s to change you …dump the you-know-what. You be you!
2. Condoms will save your life…and by your life, I mean I will kill you if you make me a grandmother before 50!
3. Explore the world, make bad choices (minus #2), and enjoy being young before life gets in the way!

-Mom of 19 & 20 year old boys!!

EvgeniZyntx

To be comfortable with themselves, anywhere, anytime and in any culture.

This requires a few subset of skills.