My son is 18 and headed off to college in the fall. I thought I'd done well. He does his own laundry, can write a professional email, make a doctor's appointment, pick up a prescription, unclog a toilet, meal plan and strategically use coupons. Hell, he did his own taxes this year and mailed them with an actual stamp he purchased. Then, it happened. He was at work with a dead cell phone and needed to make a call. He tried to use the office landline and simply could not figure it out.

I had failed to teach him to dial "9" for an outside line.

Anonymous wrote:I am a 36 yr old professional and never learned how to iron. I use a steamer when necessary. Or the dryer.

+1. I don't even know what a steamer is, unless you mean that thing I've seen used on wedding dresses just before the brides put them on. I just use the dryer.
DH made me iron my linen pants a few weeks ago. He had to show me how to turn the iron on. In my defense, he did buy some fancy-schmancy iron. I know how to turn on a regular iron that you just plug in.

I'm inattentive ADD to a T. Thank god for prescribed amphetamines or I'd never be able to stay gainfully employed. Problem is I often run out because by the time I remember to make an appointment to get my refill scrip, I'm already too low to last until I can get an appointment.

Not my kids but my SIL told me the other day that her 16 year old went away with a friend’s family for the weekend and was handed a frozen waffle to toast and had to ask his friend how to use a toaster. She realized she just assumed he could use one or easily figure it out but he’d just avoided eating anything toasted unless she made it for him.

Anonymous wrote:I had a roommate in college who didn't know how to use a mop or a toilet plunger, was unaware that you couldn't remove hot pans from the oven with your bare hands, started a fire by trying to reheat already-cooked popcorn in a saucepan, and rinsed her clothes in water all year because she poured her detergent into some random hole completely unrelated to the washing machine, thinking it was a detergent dispenser, and didn't notice until all the built-up powder finally overflowed and she saw me putting my own detergent directly into the tub. How she lived to 21, I have no clue. I am committed to not letting my kids be my old roommate.

My freshman year roommate happily returned from the store with a can of spaghettios and then looked at it with confusion and asked me how to open it. I handed her my can-opener and she looked at it blankly and asked how to work it. (She also called her mom the first time it rained and asked if she had packed her a raincoat and if so what drawer did she unpack it in.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Balance a checkbook.

I'm not even sure my kid knows what a checkbook is even for!

That's a useless skill anyway.

I had a roommate in college who didn't know how to use a mop or a toilet plunger, was unaware that you couldn't remove hot pans from the oven with your bare hands, started a fire by trying to reheat already-cooked popcorn in a saucepan, and rinsed her clothes in water all year because she poured her detergent into some random hole completely unrelated to the washing machine, thinking it was a detergent dispenser, and didn't notice until all the built-up powder finally overflowed and she saw me putting my own detergent directly into the tub. How she lived to 21, I have no clue. I am committed to not letting my kids be my old roommate.

This is a fabulous thread and I am now inspired to put my 8YO DD thru a mini life skills camp this summer. On those weeks I told her she “didn’t have to go to summer camp” lol
She cannot read fractions that aren’t fully stacked... so while she is able to follow a simple recipe, she will read “1 1/2 tsp” as 11.5 tsp every. Single. Time. Those are not yummy cookies...
Basic cleaning of the bathroom
Basic sweeping and dusting
Identifying, approaching, and asking questions from adults appropriately. Ie identify the librarian, ask them politely and loudly enough to be heard where the XYZ is, and then ending the conversation (thank you, etc). She is not shy but is frequently paralyzed by any situation with a stranger in it.

Anonymous wrote:This is perfect timing! DS has good basic skills, great with emails and on phone. This morning he said I wrote a driver's ed check incorrectly, referring to xx/100. He asked if it should be xx/650. I had to explain that this indicated no cents...100 pennies is? xx means? xx/100 means? To make easier, I told him he could write 00/100

BTW...he's in AP business classes. Otherwise, all is well.

My best friend (born in the 80s) writes checks that say "00/xx" instead of the other way around and it drives me CRAZY

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Balance a checkbook.

I'm not even sure my kid knows what a checkbook is even for!

+1! My DS14 just opened his first checking account with Cap One - it's all online and no checks - it's called a teen account! They actually advertise it this way. He had to have it for his first summer job b/c they do automated payroll into bank accounts. Bank account had to be in your name. He did learn how to sign a check from his other job and deposit via the APP though. Mom's never done that! I'll also confess that I've never balanced a checkbook - ever. I just know round about how much I have in there.

What paid job did he get at 14? I’m hopeful for my son.

Different poster, but mine worked in an ice cream shop / snack bar at 14.

Anonymous wrote:Basic sewing. Neither one of my kids could sew a button back on a shirt or a pair of pants.

Ironing. They have never ironed their clothes because the vast majority of their clothes are wash and wear. When the (rare) need arises to have their clothes ironed, we're usually in a rush so I take care of it for them. I know I need to teach them. Maybe this summer.

Making a fire in the fireplace.

Using a carpet steam cleaner.

Painting a room.

I also can't do most of these things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Balance a checkbook.

I'm not even sure my kid knows what a checkbook is even for!

+1! My DS14 just opened his first checking account with Cap One - it's all online and no checks - it's called a teen account! They actually advertise it this way. He had to have it for his first summer job b/c they do automated payroll into bank accounts. Bank account had to be in your name. He did learn how to sign a check from his other job and deposit via the APP though. Mom's never done that! I'll also confess that I've never balanced a checkbook - ever. I just know round about how much I have in there.

What paid job did he get at 14? I’m hopeful for my son.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither of my kids (18 and 16) are particularly good at telling time on an analog clock. They can sort of do it if they have to, but they mostly don't.

Same here! We have had the same analog clock in our living room their entire lives. If their phone isn’t nearby, they will ask me what time it is before looking at that clock. I make them look at the clock anyway. They say it just takes too long compared to looking at their phone. I try to tell them that it shouldn’t take longer, and they should be able to read the clock just as fast. They aren’t buying it!

Apparently it’s a whole thing with their generation. They are even replacing analog with digital in rooms where ACT is taken because the kids can’t read the clock to figure out how much time they have left.

I don't buy it either! I can read an analog clock but it definitely isn't as fast as digital.

I put about 10 analog clocks around our house for this exact reason. One clock, gasp, has Roman numerals. I'm even thinking of taping over the microwave clock. The kids still ask me what time it is. I never tell them as they are literally surrounded by clocks. It infuriates them that they actually have to look at an analog. I laugh and then ask them repeatedly where my socks/shoes/coat/swimsuit/googles/backpack are. They are definitely going to need therapy when they grow up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither of my kids (18 and 16) are particularly good at telling time on an analog clock. They can sort of do it if they have to, but they mostly don't.

Same here! We have had the same analog clock in our living room their entire lives. If their phone isn’t nearby, they will ask me what time it is before looking at that clock. I make them look at the clock anyway. They say it just takes too long compared to looking at their phone. I try to tell them that it shouldn’t take longer, and they should be able to read the clock just as fast. They aren’t buying it!

Apparently it’s a whole thing with their generation. They are even replacing analog with digital in rooms where ACT is taken because the kids can’t read the clock to figure out how much time they have left.

I don't buy it either! I can read an analog clock but it definitely isn't as fast as digital.

Anonymous wrote:I found out that my 15 yo daughter used google maps (wearing her earbuds, listening to the directions on her phone) to get to 7-11. The store is literally 2 right turns from our house...honestly I was kind of horrified since we have driven by it every single day since 2006!

Tee-hee, that was totally me at 15. Only I didn't have google maps back then so I had to annoy my family asking how to get places a few blocks away all of the time.

Anonymous wrote:Neither of my kids (18 and 16) are particularly good at telling time on an analog clock. They can sort of do it if they have to, but they mostly don't.

Same here! We have had the same analog clock in our living room their entire lives. If their phone isn’t nearby, they will ask me what time it is before looking at that clock. I make them look at the clock anyway. They say it just takes too long compared to looking at their phone. I try to tell them that it shouldn’t take longer, and they should be able to read the clock just as fast. They aren’t buying it!

Apparently it’s a whole thing with their generation. They are even replacing analog with digital in rooms where ACT is taken because the kids can’t read the clock to figure out how much time they have left.