Things your parents taught you (that aren't common)
Every child is taught things by their parents like how to cook, how to drive, how to play sports, etc., but there are always those oddball things that not every parent teaches their child. What did you learn that most kids are not taught?
In my case, since I was a little girl my Dad taught me how to sharpen knives with a whetstone and honing oil. He was obsessed with knives being sharp and would work on his often. He had the usual pen knives and hunting and fishing knives, but he also did some cooking so he made sure the kitchen knives were also always sharp. I too am slightly obsessed with keeping my knives sharp, thanks to him.
In my case, since I was a little girl my Dad taught me how to sharpen knives with a whetstone and honing oil. He was obsessed with knives being sharp and would work on his often. He had the usual pen knives and hunting and fishing knives, but he also did some cooking so he made sure the kitchen knives were also always sharp. I too am slightly obsessed with keeping my knives sharp, thanks to him.
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Great topic.
From my mom; how to properly iron a man's dress shirt and pillow cases. I still iron my pillow cases today. Nothing nicer than crisp, but smooth pillow cases.
From my dad; how to change a bicycle tire. He showed me how to remove the inner tube and patch the punctures. Then, how to put it all back together again.
Also, how to repair a broken window; from measuring the replacement glass to using the tiny window points and finally a nice looking proper glazing.
There are 1001+ things they taught me, these are just what popped into my memory tonight.0 -
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I used to ask my mom if we were rich... we clearly were not. She would always say "We are rich in love" so I was taught...
You can be broke and still rich in love.0 -
How to cut up a chicken. None of my friends know how.
Gun safety.
Never touch dads archery stuff.
How to sharpen knives.
basics on gutting and quartering game.0 -
How to tie a necktie. I'm a girl, but my Mom always tied my Dad's ties and she told me one day I'd tie my husband's ties. This might be a Southern thing??0
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From my mom: embroidery, general hostess/entertaining skills...anything from a formal dinner or baby/bridal shower to making a simple BBQ or birthday meal seem lovely and special (even on a tight budget), small talk and customer service skills (again making people feel special in ordinary or less-than-ideal circumstances). Also she taught me how to organize & carry out a great garage sale by the time I was six years old (every step from pricing, organizing, and writing the newspaper ad, to bagging items & making change at the sale).
From my dad: to live within or beneath my means, be careful with credit, and to be a contractor in all areas of life...by this I mean, if you don't know about cars, go to an automotive professional...if you need something done, seek out the best person for the job at the best price. I also learned a lot of stereotypically "female" things from my dad such as how to cook eggs, do laundry, or clean a bathroom. My mom was a huge perfectionist so she wouldn't allow me to do any of that as a kid and I lived with my dad as a teen and he showed me.0 -
My mom and grandma taught me how to crochet.0
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I was taught how to work on cars so if I ever got standed alone I may be able to figure out the problem.0
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i grew up in a rural town in central WA state as a kid, and my dad taught me how to barrel race. when i was a little girl i wanted to grow up and be a barrel racer. of course, i also wanted to be an artist, author, and veterinarian :happy:0
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How to write a letter of complaint.0
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Soaking an infected wound in hot salty water. I still do this! Works like a charm.0
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My mom was an art teacher so she taught me how to draw. She also taught me how to tell when eggs have gone bad. My parents taught me how to budget, how to figure out insurance, and pay my taxes. My dad taught me how to write a resume and how to figure out how to hire an employee.0
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how to pull a proper pint of guinness0
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A nearly lost art in today's society... how to raise, kill, and butcher your own meat for the table, and how to dress out and skin game. I've been doing this since I was five years old, when my father taught me the best methods of killing and dressing out ducks, chickens, geese, rabbits and squirrels ( the latter from hunting).. Healthy, free range meat with no hormones or chemical feed additives!! Plus I take a lot of pride in knowing how to do it. Last week I helped a friend with a small self-sustaining farm kill and dress out 9 turkeys....I can't believe she raised them for meat and for sale but didn't know how to butcher! So I had the chance to pass my skills along.0
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respect
look at today's youth!0 -
Weaving
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How to make the perfect Manhattan. They still tell me I make them better than any bartender, but I sometimes believe that this is just to get me to make them at their house.0
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From my grandmother I learned how to do a full formal table setting something I've thus far only used once in Spanish class. There were also attempts made at sewing and other handicrafts none of which I have any talent for.0
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dad: how to properly lift heavy weights, he was a bodybuilder before he had kids. how to change the oil in my car and change a flat tire.
mom: how to make guest feel welcome in your home, to give back to those in need. how to walk in high heels(this isn't ever used but when I was able to wear them it came in handy) and how to sit like a lady and pick things up like one too. oh and how important it can be to not walk out of the house looking like a hot mess.0 -
respect
look at today's youth!
Hear, hear!:drinker: And darn right I teach my own kids how to give and earn respect, too!
Also, my parents taught me how to drive stick (seriously, does NO one learn this nowadays?), clean and filet fish--and how to catch them too, and changing my car's oil by myself. Lots of self-reliant, money saving, common sense skills.0 -
Well this is more an oddball quirk.... My dad firmly believes that scrambled eggs is a pudding, so as children we had dinner, then scrambled eggs on toast for pudding (no added sugar, just with milk and sometimes parsley and tomatoes). I have yet to find someone with the same quirk
As an adult, I eat scrambled eggs at breakfast 0 -
My mother was an artist, sculptor, painter. I learned the proper proportions of the human figure. I learned the color wheel.
I learned to polish silver. I now have inherited that silver.
My father was only with us when I was very young. I learned to love to fly because he had a small plane and would take us up with him. I was never afraid.0 -
My mum: to always be able to finance myself. To embroider, knit and crochet.
My dad: how to change a plug,. Be good at card games.0 -
Learned how to shred a coconut (with a seated shredder) and how to chop it in half while holding it in my hand with a machete.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
my DAD (yes, him) taught my how to braid and do cute loops and things with hair. i also once wrote in a thanksgiving card that i was happy my dad taught me how to cross the street. he's a civil engineer for the department of traffic. he taught me A LOT about bike safety also.
my mom taught me how to play cribbage at an early age and i played in a lot of tournaments. she also taught me how to play sports like baseball and golf.0 -
My folks taught me this too!A nearly lost art in today's society... how to raise, kill, and butcher your own meat for the table,
They also taught me:
to safely recognize and use wild plants for food & medicine
preserving techniques for meats, fruits, vegetables & herbs
to save seeds & grow my own food
My mother taught me to sew & knit.
My father taught me to draw & paint.
All of these skills I use regularly & have had many opportunities to teach others. Thanks Mom & Dad!0 -
My folks taught me this too!A nearly lost art in today's society... how to raise, kill, and butcher your own meat for the table,
They also taught me:
to safely recognize and use wild plants for food & medicine
preserving techniques for meats, fruits, vegetables & herbs
to save seeds & grow my own food
My mother taught me to sew & knit.
My father taught me to draw & paint.
All of these skills I use regularly & have had many opportunities to teach others. Thanks Mom & Dad!
Your dad sounds like my dad. Wonderful!!!0 -
My grandparents taught me more than anything.
1. Basic automotive - change the oil, air filter, sparkplugs, check all the fluids, properly use jumper cables, change a tire (on a dually, no less)
2. Basic plumbing
3. How to garden
4. How to cook - not from a can or a box, either. Homemade from scratch. I still love to cook and bake. Everything from cutting up a whole chicken to baking cakes from scratch
They taught me not to waste anything - everything has a use and purpose.0 -
shoot
pistol safety
riding and shooting
how to snap a circle
set a trap
how to be situationally aware.
mom taught me how to cook but more on baking, how to sew and teach myself how to do things.
Mostly they taught me to use my brain. they taught me honor and respect for people and things.
how to pay my dues
how to work hard
that moderation in life is important.
how to not be an *kitten*.
my parents are kind of awesome actually.0 -
My dad taught me how to weld! And the basics of car body work and metalflake paint. The funny thing is I never got my drivers license but I know more about cars than most women my age.
My mom taught me how to fish and garden.0
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