NEW ADULTS (WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW)
Reading several articles recently I was amazed how little some new adults know. I wondered, “Why?”
Turns out their parents never took the time to teach them how to be adults. “Why?” The number one job of parents is to train children for success. That means preparing them for the harder things in life. One of the hardest things every child has to do is become an adult. For the first time there is no one there to tell them what to do…and they should be prepared for that. How do they get prepared? Is High School going to teach them? No. Are their friends going to teach them? Definitely not. Is it merely innate? Absolutely not. A parent … that’s their job (and they have about 17 years to do it). If new adults don’t know how to adult…it could be their parents’ fault. Of course, it is always possible to “lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” (I once had a co-worker like that.)
There are lots of things your kids or grand kids should know before they set up shop as new adults…
What, for instance?
1. Tying their own shoes. Adults should be able to tie 4 kinds of knots, one for securing things in a moving van (a knot which will not loosen until you want it loose), shoelaces, bows on gifts, and one to secure a bundle of … things (like sticks at a campsite, maybe…a knot that even you can’t loosen easily).
2. Taking out the trash. Preferably BEFORE it smells like rotting vegetables and maggots are crawling all over the kitchen.
3. Washing dishes by hand. (Not every apartment has a dishwasher). Drying them and putting them away, too.
4. Doing laundry at a public facility. (There are rules and etiquette). Plus, reds don’t go in with anything else. Learning to use those dryers ain’t easy … too hot, not hot enough.
5. Cooking with an electric stove (if you have a gas range), or a gas range (if you have electric).
6. 25 “go to” recipes so you can avoid eating pizza 4 nights a week.
7. How to shower (and shave) without being told.
8. When to change the sheets and how.
9. How to use a credit card, and how to make sure you can pay for what you buy.
10. Which reminds me, making sure your bills are paid on time every month and making that a priority before doing “something fun.”
11. How to shop for your new budget. (Hint: You can’t afford the steaks your parents buy.)
12. How not to get drunk in public. (Hint: A one beer limit not only prevents being stupid it also saves lots of money.)
13. Ways to save money…you may not be able to afford hair highlights, gorgeous nails, and all the current clothing trends.
14. Learn to share space, you need a housemate who PAYS half the rent and utilities for half the closet and bedroom space.
15. Car maintenance. How often to get oil changes and rotate the tires, etc.
16. Financial training. Teach kids that they don’t need to carry a credit card balance in order to build credit. That stupidity will bankrupt you.
17. Developing good habits. Like putting important items away in the same place every time. Keys in your purse, or in a special drawer. Wallet, same. (Documents, like anything with personal info or bank numbers, should not be strewn around your apartment.)
18. Teach them that their body is not someone else’s toy. “Your body, your choice.”
19. Understanding the importance of choosing friends wisely. A dumb “friend” will get you into trouble.
20. Simple repairs. Even if you are renting an apartment owning (and knowing how to use) a screwdriver or two is good. (I’ve gone into hundreds of rentals where the cupboard doors are hanging off the hinges because the tenants don’t know how to use a screwdriver to tighten them.) Teach them that a small piece of a wooden toothpick can be used to make loose screws hold better…
21. Sewing on buttons and mending small tears. (Big savings).
22. How to shine your shoes (instead of buying new every 3 months).
23. Teach them to wait before getting a cat or dog. It sounds like fun…until you find out there’s a lot more to do besides feeding the critter. (Hint: It is also much more expensive than you think).
24. Eating to maintain weight and health. Many young adults don’t realize that high calorie foods can put on pounds FAST. Just because you can buy it…doesn’t mean you should.
25. Speaking of diets, there are few foods which are non-processed. Flour is processed food. If you are eating a pork chop, that isn’t how it looks in the wild either. Milk is processed. They even filter or chlorinate water. Don’t make the mistake of telling people you don’t eat processed foods…almost all is. What you may mean: “I don’t eat foods that are heavily processed.” (Personal pet peeve.)
26. Science: The sun doesn’t “come up” in the morning. The location where you live on earth turns toward it. It’s a good idea to properly understand some actual science.
27. How to dress for the weather.
28. Preparing for emergencies.
29. Learn to read a physical map. Be able to use a compass. Know where you are. Realize that the internet and phone service are not guaranteed to work everywhere you go. (When our teens were learning to drive we required them to find a route on a map and drive using the map for directions. We also quizzed them regularly about “which way is south from here?”)
I know I’ve missed a ton. What would you add?
Copyright 2024 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]
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Maybe I needed to include a test of basic adulting competence: Not only CAN they do these things, but WILL they?