(I have no advice for parents of boys. I am not a boy.)
All you Dads out there? Take some advice from a former little girl:
1. Teach your daughters how to drive a standard transmission. So when her boyfriend is drunk and unable to drive her home, she can dump him in the back of his souped-up ride and get herself home in one piece. Then she can leave drunk boyfriend in the car in the driveway to sleep it off...to get awoken by you in the morning.
2. Teach your daughter how to change the oil in her car. So when she is on her own (or with a man who doesn't know how) she can save herself a lot of money by rolling up her sleeves and rolling under the car to do it herself. Also let her watch and ask questions when you are working on your car.
*I impressed the Hell out of an ex-boyfriend and his cronies when I replaced the boyfriend's alternator. Six guys standing around a car, clueless...then I borrowed tools from a neighbor and just did it myself.*
3. Teach your daughter how to use tools. And give her your old ones. A woman's toolbox should not only hold mascara.
4. Teach your daughter how to field dress a deer. That might just come in handy someday. Really.
5. Teach your daughter how to change the fuses in the circuit box.
6. Teach your daughter how to mow the grass, preferably on a huge old tractor. She will be able to handle this alone and not have to count on a service or any one else. And she will enjoy the tan she receives.
7. Teach your daughter that while her pretty looks may open some doors, they won't keep her in the door. Remind her that she has a brain and that she knows how to use it.
8. Teach your daughter to respect herself, so that others will respect her too.
9. Teach your daughter about your parents and your wife's parents. This is where your daughter came from and she will cherish the stories throughout her life.
10. Teach your daughter that she is more precious to you than your own life. Having your support and your love can pave the road for her and keep her head above water when things are tough.
11. Teach your daughter to kick back every once in a while and enjoy what they have wrought.
Anyone have any lessons they learned from their Dad's to share here?
10 comments:
I was going to comment on the Yuck Factor but this post got my attention.
I like this. As a matter of fact, I might share this with someone special.
Especially #10 and #11.
Hugs,
Mary
My Dad taught me:
How to bait a hook, take off a fish, clean it and fry it.
How to take the fish heads, add cut up potatoes and put them in the hole by the roots when transplanting a tree to give it a nutrient boost. But hope the raccoons don't get a whiff of the fish heads or they'll dig up all the transplanted trees to eat the fish heads.
How to balance a checkbook down to the last penney.
How to do basic wiring so you can install a ceiling fan yourself.
That the love and protection of others over self applies to family and to countrymen.
Ditto on the tools. Johnny now has my Dad's tools.
Love this post--and your early commenters. I will come back to read more.
My dad taught me that
--I could do or be anything I wanted.
--that successful relationships consist of a 51%/49% rule. . .you think you give 51% while thinking your partner gives 49% (and they think the exact same).
--that even when we disagree on just about everything, we can still love each other.
OMG what a great post, Susan! I am in a job now where I am THANKFUL for all that both my parents taught me. I have to help maintain the old telephone building. When handles fall off the doors, I have to put them back on. When the boiler alarm is blaring, I have to go take care of it without being afraid. And etc. etc.
Okay, so I would add:
Changing a tire and anything else associated with a car, like you mention.
Fishing and all the associated ickiness afterwards, as Lynne mentioned.
That math, science and engineering are for girls, too.
Tools are a big must.
How to take care of everything in maintaining a home, inside and outside.
Painting/staining a house or fence or anything.
Tell stories of the family - very, very important.
Make sure to take them to visit *all* family members.
That it is important to be able to support yourself.
Oh, I could go on.
Be grateful for having a loving father. My father was and still is into himself too much to make time for his kids(my family is not close). My dad taught me how to fish, hunt and shoot guns, for which I am grateful.
I got fivew girls and only one boy. The oldest girl is 53. And the youngest is 35. They are pretty much independent.
Voices from the past > http://bing-it.blogspot.com/
Well, mine wasn't around long enough to teach much, so I'm winging it with my kids and figuring it out as we go. Got some good advice here, though -- thanks!
Great post! My dad taught me many helpful things about basic home repair. But the most important thing he taught me was that I never had to listen to a man yell at me...ever.
When I was a young nurse, a surgeon started yelling at me (not because I was at fault, but because I was handy). I looked him in the eye and said, "My father didn't yell at me and he told me I never had to listen to any other man yell at me. Now if you will calm down, I'll try to help you." That afternoon I received a dozen roses with an apology card.
Yay! My dad taught me that I could fix, build, or learn almost anything I wanted to--I just had to sit down and do it. He's the reason I love woodworking; I still have the table we made together (my first project).
Before I went off to college, my dad (your brother) told me," Don't do anything stupid." :)
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