SKILLS AN 18-YEAR-OLD SHOULD HAVE

(January, 2021) According to Julie Lythcot-Haims, a former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford University and the author of “How to Raise an Adult,” here are The 8 Life Skills All 18-Year-Olds Should Have:
1. An 18-year-old must be able to talk to strangers – faculty, deans, advisers, landlords, store clerks, human resource managers, coworkers, bank tellers, health care providers, bus drivers, mechanics – in the real world.
2. An 18-year-old must be able to find his way around a campus, the town in which her summer internship is located, or the city where he is working or studying abroad. If you drive your kid around all the time, you’re not helping them learn this skill.
3. An 18-year-old must be able to manage his assignments, workload, and deadlines. Stop reminding kids when their homework is due.
4. An 18-year-old must be able to contribute to the running of a household. They need to help around the house.
5. An 18-year-old must be able to handle interpersonal problems. It’s OK if their feelings are hurt.
6. An 18-year-old must be able to cope with ups and downs of courses and workloads, college-level work, competition, tough teachers, bosses, and others.
7. An 18-year-old must be able to earn and manage money.
8. An 18-year-old must be able to take risks. They need to learn to fail.
* Hey – I’ve got one of these skills!
* And the typical 18-year-old response: “Nag, nag, nag!!!”
* I don’t see anything here about “waking up before noon.”
* How about “Leave some ice cream for the rest of the family.”
* “Be able to talk to strangers.” You mean, without texting?
* If you’re an 18-year-old studying abroad, Daddy’s probably already handling a lot of these for you.
* PHONE TOPIC: Did you find yourself out on your own without a necessary life skill? How did you manage?