“You know, like nunchucku skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills… Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.” - Napoleon Dynamite
In yesterday’s post I mentioned my “life skills list”, an ongoing and ever changing compilation of the skills that every adult needs. It’s my goal in life to ensure that my kids (and cats) reach adulthood knowing how to do these things. Judging by a few of the emails I’ve received there’s some interest in seeing just what my current list looks like, so by request here’s the current top 20.
Every adult should know how to:
- Swim.
- Do their own taxes.
- Bake a cake.
- Change a diaper.
- Change a tire.
- Catch and throw a baseball.
- Sew a button.
- Write a thank you note.
- Ride a bike.
- Cook eggs at least two different ways.
- Invest their money.
- Start a fire.
- Play an instrument.
- Drive a stick shift.
- Make bread.
- Do laundry.
- Paddle a canoe.
- Assemble an Ikea book case.
- Cook a roast.
- Download pictures from a camera.
What else should be added to the list?
Photo by adamscarroll.
You might also enjoy:
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Change their oil.
Pitch a tent.
Send and receive email.
Use a fire extinguisher.
Plunge a toilet.
Speak a second language.
Use chopsticks.
Tie a necktie.
Tell a good joke/story
Read a 24 hour clock
Read a map
Give directions (clear ones)
Travel on their own (airports, gates, times, flights)
Learn how to say No
Set up a VCR/Microwave/Alarm Clock/TV/DVD
I’m sure there are more. Great list!
Plunge a toilet. (it bears saying again)
Wash dishes without a dishwasher
Say you are sorry
Incredible. I think what your adult skills list has on it says a lot about you as a person. I inherently like these people.
Number 13.! The only ‘instrument’ (musical) that I can play is what used to be called a phonograph/gramaphone, or nowadays a CD or DVD player? In fact I once built the amplifier and case and and speaker cabinet, all assembled from used parts, for my own ‘Record Player’! OK that dates me in the age 70+ generation!
But more important and missing completely from the list is “Ability to understand interest rates, to obtain credit, i.e. get into debt (If absolutely necessary)”. And MOST IMPORTANTLY how much it costs (in after tax income) to pay off that debt. Surely part of our present world wide troubles is widespread misunderstanding about credit
Terry, oddly enough “Building your own gramaphone didn’t make my list.
Excellent point about basic financial information- this is sadly lacking in many adults.