No, not setting high or any expectations at all.
Merely small stuff that I’d like my kids to have / equipped with / to be skilled at.
- Some form of martial arts
To me, I think this is quite an important “skill” to have. Not only is it a form of exercise, it can also be some kinda self defense for fending off (to an extent) bad guys. It builds confidence, and also kinda sexy on girls
- Know how to swim
Again, a form of regular exercise. I think humans should know how to swim too. This may be a surprise to “sporting nations” like Australia, but believe me, there are families and folks here who don’t know how to swim. - Bike riding
As a matter of personal preference, to me whether or not this is a regular sport is not important. What is important is at least knowing how to cycle… - Can cook
There will be some point in any adult life where one will have to cook for themselves- I know I had to, while attending uni and living with flatmates etc, where we may have to take turns in cooking. At least know how to cook some pasta and fry a decent wok of rice! (Not necessarily having both these at the same meal though) - Doing the dishes
While this is related more on one’s upbringing and contributing to around the house, this is also a skill that one needs to have. Sometimes there are old ladies that guys need to impress when visiting them (or their daughters!) - Some level of street smart
I don’t mean Jason Bourne type of street smart, but enough sense to watch out for things like: Avoid walking into secluded areas, know when someone is trying to scam you, walking to the car with the car keys in hand sharp end pointing out, locking the car doors after getting in, making sure the house is secure at all times, etc.
What life-skills can’t you live without?
10 responses so far ↓
1 lynn // Aug 12, 2008 at 8:51 AM
making pasta is not cooking. it’s more like stirring. ahaks.
i think being street smart is very important in all aspects of life. be it working (having just the right technical qualifications does not mean you have to skills to do a job right), socialising or even just minding your own business.
back to your question — one particular skill i wish i have is to have patience and tolerance.
2 Ann // Aug 12, 2008 at 9:16 AM
I presume it will be the same for both your kids? No ballet or music lessons for Caitlin?
Cook….umm….reckon a decent fried rice is kinda hard to do!! After all each grain of rice cannot stick to each other and it must be loose, and best to use overnight rice etc. etc.!
And yes….agree with the swimming!!! I wouldnt have learnt if not for the fact I nearly drowned once!
Anns last blog post..Farewells and celebrations and gifts
3 Daddee // Aug 12, 2008 at 10:03 AM
@ Hi Lynn:
Too right. I forgot about social skills. My 3 yr old still needs a lot of “coaching” about manners in acknowledging people (or as with us Chinese, greeting the elders by their titles upon meeting).
And cooking pasta is more than just buying Latina sauces! Cos they are expensive here!
@ Ann:
My mum once taught me that you can (also) first crack an egg into the (overnight) rice (presumably still in the rice-cooker pot), stir it around and thoroughly first, THEN only dump the lot into the wok and fry; I think on low heat (else the egg would cook too quickly). The fried rice comes out all nice and yellow, with very little trace of fried egg but still tastes of it.
And yes, it works!
4 lia // Aug 12, 2008 at 4:58 PM
I’ve got the Js to help me in the kitchen a bit more, something more age appropriate (not just within my own tolerance level hehe)
and all three have started taekwondo lessons
And swim lessons.. cos well, it would be kinda embarassing for them NOT to learn how to swim esp with our family history HAHAHAHA
lias last blog post..A new family tradition? Happy Birthday to the Js!
5 hissychick // Aug 13, 2008 at 7:51 AM
just a quickie….
i want my kids to be able to sleep well. sigh.
oh yeah and have empathy for others, reasonable social skills and save the planet and zzzzzzzzzzzz……
hissychicks last blog post..Spew central
6 Daddee // Aug 13, 2008 at 1:57 PM
@ Lia:
Family history? Definitely something I don’t know about!
@ Hissychick:
You are right. Like that National Geography voice over (by Patrick Stewart I believe) said: “It’s not like we can go shopping anywhere else..” (Once earth’s resources are used up).
7 Moomykin // Aug 13, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Oh, I agree these are the 6 most important things for them to know how to survive on their own… plus some level of housekeeping so that they can live in a clean place when they do go live on their own at one point or another.
>> Lia, you should tell a bit more of your “family history” eh? I’m sure you’ll make some of our friends sit up real straight on their chairs. “You’re who?!!!” hahaha… Luv ya, hon.
8 Daddee // Aug 13, 2008 at 3:12 PM
So I switched on the TV to show Caitlin the swimmers in action at the Beijing games; not the usual Playhouse Disney, just so to see what reaction I’d get from Caitlin.
Initially she didn’t want the channel, mainly cos it wasn’t her usual.
Then,
“Look! They are swimming! Just like Daddee!”
No sweetie, Daddee can swim, but nothing like these guys!
But I’ll live with that for the moment!
9 Moomykin // Aug 13, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Yes, the Daddee is always super to the kids.
10 Raising girls and daughters :: Part 2 | Daddee Yah! // Sep 3, 2008 at 2:08 PM
[...] are those who do like this age), but I would have to be on this similar alert too; as part of the street smarts that I would like my kids to be. addthis_url = [...]
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