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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

… to think there's something wrong with me? :(

175 replies

Dieu · 12/09/2016 19:30

No piss taking please, as I feel genuinely, irrationally upset at this moment!
My 10 year old daughter just asked if I would plait her hair. My heart sunk, as I am completely rubbish at doing hair. I tried and failed, so we looked up THE most simple hair braiding youtube tutorial. I still couldn't get it, or what my hands were supposed to do. Teenage daughter (girls are wasted on me, with my poor hairdressing skills!) came into the room, and did her hair in two seconds flat. I also couldn't get my head around it when she showed me. Than it struck me that I have failed 8 driving tests (the theory was aced first time). Could it be linked? Academically I am bright; I have a first class degree and can speak several languages. However, my practical/manual/co-ordination skills completely suck! I actually felt embarrassed just there in front of my daughters, and pretty fucking ineffectual. Is anyone else like this? Can't help but feel that I'd be diagnosed with something, if still in childhood (I should add that I possess good writing skills, etc). Of course it could be that I'm over thinking this, being too hard on myself, and that I just happen to be shite at practical driving tests and hair!

OP posts:

AndYourBirdCanSing · 12/09/2016 21:32

This is me. Can't drive, can't French plait. Can't even bloody swim. I also wouldn't be able to knit of put furniture together.

I joke about it but it pisses me off

Shakey15000 · 12/09/2016 21:33

I'm so glad I'm not alone with my ironing board debacle

Can I go one further? I have mentioned this before on MN but never found anyone else who "feels" the same. It's a bit and difficult to articulate but..here goes...

I can never quite believe that things need doing again when I've done them once. Examples- when DS was a toddler I'd cobble together cook stuff to put in pots to freeze. Then when the drawer was empty I'd be genuinely puzzled that they'd gone. And in my head I'd be saying "But....but I did that!"??? Ditto when the laundry basket is full again/grass needs cutting/all manner of mundane things which I KNOW are a repeat job but there's always that short puzzlement.

I'm on my own aren't I????

Groaningmyrtle · 12/09/2016 21:33

I have zero ability to follow even simple verbal instructions. I always have to ask follow up questions, in spite of my first class degree..

I cannot assimilate details, too much information and my mind goes completely blank. I have to keep asking directions as I can only remember the first bit....

I also have zero practical skills and took a year to hem an apron at primary school. I must be quite stubborn though as I have kind of taught myself to cook, with my dh and DC as Guinea pigs. The roast beef dinner I cooked for my pil was a particular low point; it wasn't cooked enough when all veggies ready, so I had to sneakily microwave it. They've never come for lunch since. But my chicken and chorizo with lentils is a triumph.

I look in amazement at anyone who comes to do jobs in our house at their ability to build cupboards, mend washing machines, change locks etc. I worry they think I'm taking the piss but I'm genuinely extremely impressed.

Weirdly, I have quite good sporting skills, and can play tennis pretty well.

Wauden · 12/09/2016 21:36

On the other hand, I:
Am good at plaiting (!);
Am good at visual inventiveness;
Have good sense of rhythm;

Am variably academic but can struggle with concepts (unless I actually experience them and then I understand);
Have poor sense of direction;
Am poor at some kinds of mathematics;
Loved geometry and am good at visualising 3D;
Understand philosophies but only if I have thought of them out myself first before reading about them (and if I read about it I would have to re-read, which is really annoying);
Struggle with choreography and have to keep trying; and
Cannot make pastries or cupcakes (they end up a mess).

Acopyofacopy · 12/09/2016 21:38

Hello my people! I feel sorry for my dd who has very long hair and all I can manage is a simple braid or pony tail.
I'm a pro ok with flatpacks and following instructions, but I have zero sense of direction or 3D awareness. I like sewing, but I regularly balls things up when I have to put separate pieces together.

Patheticfallacy · 12/09/2016 21:42

I've found my people!! Failed my cycling profiency test, failed four driving tests before finally passing, have no spatial awareness, don't like maths, can't draw, rubbish at hair, bad at cooking and poorly organised.

Patheticfallacy · 12/09/2016 21:42

Oh and cannot do any diy

Damselindestress · 12/09/2016 21:43

I have Dyspraxia and that's the sort of thing I struggle with. Still haven't learned to ride a bike

HappyAxolotl · 12/09/2016 21:49

I can't throw or catch, can't knit, can't paint or draw, was in seniors before I could tie a bow and can't style hair. I used to be useless at maths and have awful handwriting but my parents spent years teaching me maths and writing at home. I had about 100 driving lessons before it even began to click into place. Yes, not knowing left from right really didn't help with that. And I struggle with faces, especially seeing someone out of context. My short-term memory is barely there, if I don't write everything down it is gone. But my real struggle is crossing roads because I can't work out how fast traffic is approaching.

However I'm not clumsy or dropsy and can usually work out how things fit together and pull apart easily. I can dance and have decent balance. I've got a great sense of direction and can read maps easily. Plus I'm right handed but am often asked if I'm left handed because it seems I do a lot of things that way around.

MrsDeVere · 12/09/2016 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JustDanceAddict · 12/09/2016 21:52

I passed my driving test 4th time, can't plait for toffee (even had a lesson), took me ages to 'get' reversing and I have no coordination skills!! I can't do maths either - have a real mental block with numbers. I have thought that I might be discalculaic, but whatever it is I manage to be a useful member of society, am bringing up kids & hold down a job so don't think about it too much. I also have never held a pencil properly!!

MariaCameFromNashville · 12/09/2016 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Purplebluebird · 12/09/2016 21:53

I know I'm quite intelligent (did a mensa test once, surprised myself :D ) but clumsy as anything. I crash in door frames more often than I'd like to admit... I can plait though!

JustDanceAddict · 12/09/2016 21:54

Oh and I can bake but can't ice or decorate!!

Geraniumred · 12/09/2016 21:55

I still sometimes have to check the freckle on my right hand to be able to tell left from right.

froggybedlegs · 12/09/2016 21:55

I still have to stare at my hands to get left and right...... Very embarrassing!!
And can't process directions at all.
I think Manu people have little dyslexia or dyspraxia tendencies.
Have you tried doing one of the online tests? There are several. Not official obviously but they make interesting reading.

AnotherPrickInTheWall · 12/09/2016 21:55

I think we have to accept that we can't be geniuses in every field. My eyes glaze over at anything techy yet my BF does the same when I take her to artsy events.

funfunapple · 12/09/2016 22:01

I Have no spatial awareness, I still spill drinks by missing my mouth, despite years of lessons I can't hit a tennis ball over the net. I have to drive a small car so that I don't scrape it against another car. I can't dance as I have no co-ordination, i have no sense of direction and think I've never been to places I've been to several times. I lose cars in carpark as I can't picture where it is. I can't do aerobic classes as I can't do the steps. I'm totally shit at maths, I can't remember any number sequences, I drop things I think I'm holding and I walk Into wallsand I'm sure I'm dyspraxic. My family see me as a standing joke and tell me a bad workman blames his tools.

MrsDeVere · 12/09/2016 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JustDanceAddict · 12/09/2016 22:03

I drive a small car too - polo/micra sized otherwise I'm scraping all over the shop as have no spatial awareness.

insan1tyscartching · 12/09/2016 22:04

I had L and R written on my hands for my driving tests and I couldn't recognise any of the test routes in spite of practising for weeks on end before each test. So instructor would say when you drive on this route be aware that there is a blind corner/unmarked crossroads, I'd do the same road later in the lesson and not even recognise it as one I'd ever seen before so it was like I was always driving an unknown route.

MrsDeVere · 12/09/2016 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RepentAtLeisure · 12/09/2016 22:08

I can't tie my shoelaces. Not properly anyway. I never got it. A kind Girls Brigade leader showed me how to make two loops and twist them over each other, but I can't do it the 'right' way.

Geraniumred · 12/09/2016 22:16

MrsDeVere - I get bored easily too - I'll do all the ironing and then not put it away for days. In my head it's finished with. Once I've learnt something new at work and used it a few times, I'll want something new to learn. I used to read whilst drying my hair. The results were never that good.

swissy56 · 12/09/2016 22:17

Did any of you have a lazy eye when a child left untreated? I did and have no 3d vision so I constantly bump into door frames and drop glasses etc maybe get this checked out.

I also don't know what time it is when the clocks go forward or back I still can't work it out! Is that dyslexia?

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