‘Adult’ stuff you just can’t do

[EmilyDeservedBetter]

I’ve managed to reach the grand old age of 30 and still, no matter how much I try I cannot:

• keep white towels white! All my other white linen and clothes etc. stay white but the towels also seem to look so scruffy after a few washes. Therefore we are only allowed dark towels in this house.

• sew. I’ve tried and tried. Had dm sit me down to show me, followed YouTube videos, tried online reading. Nope - if I had to save my own life attaching a button to a piece of clothing I would be done for.

• command with my voice. Growing up dm used to be able to stop me in my tracks with a firm ‘no’ this is not a talent she has passed on. I can’t even get the bloody in laws dog to leave a room so no chance with my DC when they grow up

What ‘adult’ things can you just not do?

I am such a shit cook, I am an alright baker but my cooking extends to basic meals that are mostly veggie. In my 20s I ate a lot of takeaways or ready meals because I couldn't cook.

I can't really do anything DIY, or pump up car tyres.

Sew, but that's because I've followed Kristin Scott Thomas' advice in "The English Patient" -
"A woman should never learn to sew and if she can, she shouldn't admit to it"

Cling film haters - get it from M&S. It is ready perforated and you just tear it off in one piece. Life changing.

I've got a few of these: the making important phone calls, admin and small talk.

I'm a terrible procrastinator and the longer I leave things, the more anxious I become, which is daft really as it only hurts myself!

Dealing with any tradespeople. I'm woeful. I panic when they ask me where the stopcock is, or some other question I don't know the answer to. I never ask for a quote over the phone, so in theory I guess they could charge me £50 billion for changing a tap washer. I hate it so much, I never get three quotes for anything, like you're supposed to. If I find someone I get on with, I'll use them forever, even if they're a bit more expensive. It's no offence to tradespeople, they're usually very nice. I think it's because my parents always thought they were being swindled, and it was always a BIG DEAL.

Oh and I can't bake. I follow the instructions but my cakes always turn out too dry and too flat. My son just taught himself and his are amazing 🤷🏽‍♀️.

I wish I'd learnt things growing up. I wasn't allowed to do anything growing up and it's made me a bit useless!

I’m not a fan of tea or coffee either. I have a real sweet tooth which doesn’t help. Also not a fan of wine. I don’t even like the smell, it just smells sour/like vinegar.
There are other things I can’t do/find difficult but they are explained (mostly) by me having ASD and inattentive ADHD. I’m going to start medication for ADHD soon so we’ll see how that turns out.

I can’t do up my bra behind my back.

I can't wire a plug but TBH these days you don't need to be able to. I have never needed to.

Can't work out or understand percentages

Can't swim. Huge disappointment.

Sparklingbrook I remember my Dad patiently trying to teach me how to wire a plug the week before I moved out. I was 19 and 8 months pregnant, I just kept crying!

Not of fan of having to make official calls for household stuff, though work has now ttained me up on making phone calls to clients and i hate it but it has given me more confidence in that area

Oh and no matter how hard I try, I just can't say specific, it's always Pacific

I am 66 and an experienced, good cook. However, until 3 months ago I couldn't reliably boil a dippy egg; either it was underdone and snotty or hard boiled. Finally I have learned after all these years and due to a tip from a person half my age.

Can't fold a fitted sheet, (can anyone)
Don't know what most of the buttons on my remote are for
Can't programme my heating, my daughter has to do it.
Never been any good at knitting, theoretically yes I can knit but can't maintain the same tension for two rows in a ,well, a row.

Can't fold a fitted sheet.
Can't do updos (other then a bun).
Can't apply eyeliner.

@cantfindname what’s the tip? Asking for a friend

Go for a wee in the night after watching anything even moderately scary on TV.

notso, that's sort of sweet really. He must have thought you needed to know.
My Dad showed me how to change a tyre. I could change a tyre if I really had to but I would ring the AA now.

Stop eating. I always thought when I grew up I'd be more mature and able to control my eating. Its not happened cos I can afford better food now and cos I'm a grown up I can eat what I want when I want!!!

Hairstyles. I can't do those. My hair is either tied back or loose. Some days I actually manage to brush it and not look like I've been dragged through hedge.

@MindyStClair

I can't fold fitted sheets by myself, but I can with DH. It always puts me in mind of that scene in Kenneth Branagh's film of Much Ado About Nothing.
Similarly, when I'm deadheading flowers on the terrace, I channel Marie-Antoinette poncing about on her model farm at Versaille in her faux country maid outfits, even though I'm probably wearing jeggings from Asda.

Budget. Just spend or avoid spending and hope for the best.

Not think sarcastic thoughts when people witter on at work.

Have a fitness hobby of any kind.

I also hate letters from the bank or wherever.

Putting your bra on to the front and spinning it round IS the correct way surely!!

Spread real butter on toast. Username is a slight

@buttertoasty me too! Tiger bread is victim of choice

I really struggle to make a bed, I can’t fold neatly (neither can DH so most of our stuff is hung up) and I can’t iron because the iron scares me.

Put eyeliner on. I just avoid it now. Actually, no good atany eye make up.

Make a sandwich. Bread gets ripped to shreds. I am however quite competent at cooking.

Open tins with a tin opener. I thought it was to do with being left handed, but got a left handed tin opener and that was no better. Also tried three battery powered ones, but they broke. I'm destined to not open non ring pull tins.