True story: A young couple got married, and after the honeymoon the guy discovered his new wife didn’t know how to boil an egg. Yes, he should have known this about her. But as a former Boy Scout, he got to work to help her learn to cook. Also, the young woman’s mom was a gourmet cook. Amazing.
Another true story. A young teenager helped his dad farm a plot of land rented to grow crops. But his dad died of a heart attack, and he had to take over the work to support the family. His dad’s friends taught the boy how to use every tool in the barn. With his robust work ethic, he excelled in class and on the football team. He later became president of an oil and gas exploration company. But…he was so busy he didn’t teach his own three sons any of his practical skills.
As the oldest of eight children, I learned quite a few household skills. But my dad didn’t even own a toolbox, so as an adult I had to teach myself how to use tools.
You know how challenging ordinary life can be. When kids leave home, they’ll need to survive and thrive on their own: fixing things, preparing food, taking care of hygiene, managing money, auto maintenance, nurturing healthy relationships, etc. Kids who learn life skills while they’re growing up have a big advantage as adults.
It’s so much easier to be a parent when children are helping at home. And kids who know how to do things have higher self-esteem. Some of my favorite articles:
Life Skills for High Schoolers
10 Life Skills Your Teen Needs before Leaving Home
My own collection of favorite blog posts:
