Melman
06-16-2006, 06:47 PM
This is going to be an extreme long-shot because I don't have a lot of concrete details to provide. Since some of you seem to have ESP tendencies, I figured I'd give it a shot.
The extremely vague version: A few years ago, someone gave me a copy of a magazine article that contained a rather long list of "life skills" that a kid should be able to do by a particular time.
The details as I remember them: I can't remember what age the article used, but I think it was by the time your child is teenage or a senior in high school or entering college or some milestone like that. It definitely was not aiming at what young children could do.
The life skills were along the lines of balancing a checkbook (or knowing how to write a check?), knowing particular things around the house (washing clothes, how to cook some particular items in the kitchen...I *THINK* it gave an example of "beyond cooking a Pop-tart" :), cleaning a bathroom, possibly even along the lines of normal common sense categories regarding a car - filling up the car, knowing about getting oil changes, changing a tire, etc.
I think the magazine could have been something like Good Housekeeping or Ladies Home Journal. It could have been from a parenting magazine, but I really don't think so.
I know when I read it, my son could do nearly everything on this list. If my memory is anything close to accurate, I think he was around his senior year in high school. He graduated in 2001 so the article is likely about 5 years old or so.
I have several friends who have kids in high school and/or early college. I've mentioned it to them, and they'd love to see how they're doing with their "parenting" skills (you know the parenting skills where you hope to raise your kids to be able to survive doing normal tasks without your help so they're able to live on their own?? :D)
I've searched the internet from time to time but haven't had any luck. The lack of any specific details has really put a damper on that effort. I'm really hoping that one of you actually remembers this and can help narrow down the timeframe, magazine, etc. and hopefully help point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance to all the expert searchers!!! Good luck!
The extremely vague version: A few years ago, someone gave me a copy of a magazine article that contained a rather long list of "life skills" that a kid should be able to do by a particular time.
The details as I remember them: I can't remember what age the article used, but I think it was by the time your child is teenage or a senior in high school or entering college or some milestone like that. It definitely was not aiming at what young children could do.
The life skills were along the lines of balancing a checkbook (or knowing how to write a check?), knowing particular things around the house (washing clothes, how to cook some particular items in the kitchen...I *THINK* it gave an example of "beyond cooking a Pop-tart" :), cleaning a bathroom, possibly even along the lines of normal common sense categories regarding a car - filling up the car, knowing about getting oil changes, changing a tire, etc.
I think the magazine could have been something like Good Housekeeping or Ladies Home Journal. It could have been from a parenting magazine, but I really don't think so.
I know when I read it, my son could do nearly everything on this list. If my memory is anything close to accurate, I think he was around his senior year in high school. He graduated in 2001 so the article is likely about 5 years old or so.
I have several friends who have kids in high school and/or early college. I've mentioned it to them, and they'd love to see how they're doing with their "parenting" skills (you know the parenting skills where you hope to raise your kids to be able to survive doing normal tasks without your help so they're able to live on their own?? :D)
I've searched the internet from time to time but haven't had any luck. The lack of any specific details has really put a damper on that effort. I'm really hoping that one of you actually remembers this and can help narrow down the timeframe, magazine, etc. and hopefully help point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance to all the expert searchers!!! Good luck!