The first 18 years, they go by in a blink. And the fruits of our labor are that our children become adults who possess the tools to thrive -- or at least survive -- without us. Here are 18 life skills that an 18-year-old needs (or will at least hopefully acquire before they turn 21)!
1. The ability to talk to strangers.
No, not the weird people on the street kind of strangers, but the strangers who work in the bank, staff the college financial aid office, repair things that have broken.
2. The ability to complain effectively.
There is a way to let your disgruntled feelings be known so that the wrong will be corrected. It's important to know how to complain in a way that gets results -- not just lets you vent.
3. Self-control. Tantrums are for kids.
4. Enough skills to find paid employment, even if it's just part-time.
Do they know how to start? How to build a resume? How to fill out a job application and write a cover letter? Can they handle a job interview?
5. Know how to dress for a job once they get it.
While it may have been fine to show up in flip-flops and torn jeans to a babysitting job, it is probably not fine to wear that when they are interning in a law firm for the summer.
6. Know how an ATM, debit and credit cards work.
Debit cards are not magical things that will spew money from a machine at will. Someone has to deposit that money in the account first. And charging purchases to a credit card requires having the means to pay for the items at a later date.
7. Know how to apologize and mean it.
Probably not like this.
8. Know how to order in a restaurant.
Fancy restaurants can be intimidating places for one reason: We let them be. Teens need to know that it's perfectly fine to ask questions about the menu even if they can't pronounce the French words. They should feel empowered to order food prepared the way you like it, not the way the kitchen generally makes it, and not with an apology for imposing the burden of "dressing on the side" on the chef.
9. Be able to send that order back if it's wrong.
Nobody will be mad at you. And if they are, it's their problem not yours. You are entitled to get what you paid for.
10. The ability to handle public transit.
Reliance on GPS is fine for a car or walking directions, but the knowledge of how to use public transportation is invaluable.
11. Know how to find out something fast online.
Snapchat and Tumblr are not going to help when the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Learning search terms isn't just a skill relegated to school papers. It's probably the most important digital skill to possess today.
12. Know the value of money.
The only way this is learned is by having to pay for things yourself, which means having a job. Movie popcorn that costs as much as the admission ticket will quickly become a thing of the past when you are earning $9 an hour.
13. Take the responsibility for completing tasks.
Mom and Dad won't always be there to remind them of things. And a boss or a professor may wish them well, but they aren't invested in a student's success the same way that student's parents are. This one is on you.
14. Know how to manage time.
Most 18-year-olds have a lot going on in their lives. To get it all done requires strong time management skills and sometimes, tough choices: Study for finals or watch the basketball game on TV? Do laundry or hang out with friends?
15. Know that they hold the key to their own ceiling.
16. Know how to run a household.
Shopping for food, preparing meals, paying bills, cleaning up the house and filling up the gas tank are all skills that mark the advent of adulthood.
17. Be able to fail without falling apart.
If you never fail, you aren't taking risks. So learn how to fail with grace and how to move on.
18. Don't be afraid to take risks.
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