Life skills

[TheChosenTwo]

Thought I’d pressed create on my previous one I did but it’s disappeared…
Taking dd in a minute to go and buy a light bulb, she said she didn’t know how to get it out so I showed her. She also said she wouldn’t know how to put a new one in. So she’s going to drive me to the shops (getting some practise in before her test!) and Get a new one and put it in.
She’s off to uni this year. What other things might be useful for her to know?!
She can sew on a button and make basic clothes alterations, cook a basic meal and some more elaborate puddings, can hoover and clean a bathroom, does her own washing and drying etc…
Change a fuse? Do fuses need changing anymore? I’ve never changed one and don’t remember dh doing it since we lived at this house (14 years! Maybe he just does it without me knowing…)
Anyway, I was just wondering what might be useful to show her before she goes!

Ds2 rand me to ask where to put the washing powder as he couldn’t find the drawer or anywhere to put it.

Also how to do weekly shopping - ds2 drastically underestimated how long it takes to do the shopping, dry clothes, how much detergent is etc.

So even though he’s quite savvy there were some unexpected things I never even thought to mention.

It sounds as though she already has some useful skills. I would suggest how to get good value for her food budget. For example a least a rough meal plan for a week, using cheaper supermarkets if possible, avoiding top up shops in convenience stores and trying own brands rather than branded items.

Good thread & good skills

I’d add personal safety:

• self defence
• getting home safely
• preventing identity theft/fraud

How to cross a very busy road safely
How to call a taxi
How to self soothe if you feel sad
Rehearse responses to being offered drugs, feeling uncomfortable in company
How to be a good house guest
How to keep fit and eat well
How to keep warm

How to deal with home sickness/hangover/illness etc.

Ds2 range me a few mths ago as his toe had gone purple. He also sent me a photo entitled ‘help’. It looked to me as though it was broken, so talked him through finding the nearest minor injuries unit (and how to get there), make sure your phone if charged cos you could be there a while - also take a drink, snacks, stuff for revising as good time to do it etc.

He had broken it (no idea how, but quite easily done) and was there 7 hrs.

Honestly, the things I had to advise on in his 1st year. He’d only been there a week when his friend dropped his laptop. He assured me that he could sort it himself. After 6 weeks of arsing about and not being able to do his work etc I found all the insurance details and ‘made’ him contact them. It was sorted by the Ins in 72hrs.

Expect the unexpected.

Yes finding out her nearest A&E and how to get there is a good idea. As is budgeting.

She might need to relax about the use by dates a bit!

I could’ve done with some lessons on the benefits system, though that might be a bit of a depressing talk for someone just off to uni so best put off.
For example I had no idea that if you hated a job or were being bullied in a way hard to prove (or sexually harassed in a way easy to prove through messages, but couldn’t do anything if you wanted to get another job in the same small town) , that you couldn’t just hand your notice in and go on benefits to pay rent until you got another! You have to either get sacked or go on the sick and you are more likely to have a chance of having your rent paid to tide you over. Moral of the story is: choose a job very wisely and carefully, don’t listen to the advice of people who say you should just grab anything that comes along because it’s easier to go from a job to another job.

From my current first year DS - how to change a hoover bag and set up new payees on his bank account and pay for uni stuff.

How to get a broken cork out of a bottle of wine.
How to remove wax that has spilled on the carpet.

Those are two from my uni days. But, in general:

Basic car maintenance - tyre pressure, checking oil, changing tyres etc.
How to cook 3-5 basic nutritious meals.
How to budget.
How to stand up for yourself (at work, in a peer group etc).

And a modern one:

How to watch how to videos on YouTube that demonstrate all of the above.

My son, who is 32, only realised last year that you had to change the hoover bag! I went round to clean his flat when he moved out. Wondered why the hoover wasn't picking up, it was fit to burst! On further investigation it turns out he'd had the hoover for 5 years...,....
Where did I go wrong?!

Oh yes! Putting oil in the car. In my younger days I tried to pour oil in through where the dipstick goes. Doh

Definitely how to speak to people for business reasons - opening a bank account, dealing with land loard / agents (looking at 2nd yr housing comes very early in 1st yr away at university)......things like writing down the name of the person you spoke to, the date and what they said.

Knowing that we all make mistakes (including banks etc) and that most things can be resolved if you try and sort them out asap, and politely. This also applies to dealing with issues to do with the course, etc.
Ignoring ANY issue never helps.

Checking e-mails is very important as that is how most universities communicate with students

Knowing that - for example some clothes can't be tumble dried, and to know how to decide which ones is better than knowing which of her particular clothes can't, for example.

Understanding how alcohol has different impact if you haven't eaten. Understanding different drinks have different % strengths. Understanding mixing drinks has a big impact. Understanding how much it helps if you down water between drinks (or even after). Knowing what to do when someone has had too much to drink.

Knowing about you tube videos such as "Dad, How do I....." is actually much more helpful than learning one specific skill, such as changing a fuse.