How to book plane flight
Checking in 24 hr ahead, printing out ticket or on phone app
Packing rules, the 3-1-1 rule
Getting through TSA
What to do if flight cancelled, missed flight or seat given away because flight over booked
@Mwfan1921 Oregon had a bunch of bad cases of meningococcal meningitis right before I started having kids. The entire time they were growing up, anytime they seemed ill I’d make them touch their chin to their chest - stiff neck test. If they had a rash, then pressing the rash was another test (with a glass pressed to the skin, the rash doesn’t change color with meningitis.)
We had the boys make dentist, dr and optometrist appointments when they were in high school. Their pediatrician preferred to meet with them without mom by about middle school so I wasn’t worried about advocating for their health.
Both boys can cook scratch meals. They only cooked me one meal when they lived here but they were perfectly capable of cooking. Oldest just got an instant pot and seems to enjoy that. Youngest tends to roast a bunch of veggies and chicken on Sunday and eat that for lunches all week. They know how to shop for groceries.
Fairly random item we forgot about- don’t start a car in a garage with the door closed. Not an issue at our house- my car is the one that uses the garage and it’s tight enough that the front passenger has to go outside and wait until I pull out. Their shared car parked outside in a different driveway. The youngest borrowed my brother’s suv and started it up in his garage (I was waiting outside for him so I could lock up the gate behind him). Several minutes later, I pounded on the garage door until he opened the door. It really had never occurred to me to pass that nugget of wisdom along.
There will always be things we forget to teach our kids. The most important thing is to make sure they feel comfy enough to call or text and ask your advice!
My kids knew a lot of things long before they left for college, like the airplane rules and how to change planes and to ASK someone if they were confused. They’ve made reservations.
Most things listed above were a phone call when needed. Can I sign a check in pencil? NO. How do I make a doctor’s appointment (mostly because of insurance) and is it covered by insurance? How to do I cook that chicken in the square pan? Can you call the finance office and see where my check is?
I do recommend teaching them the difference between and ER and an Urgent care. $1600 later, my daughter now knows she should go to Urgent care first.
Some of the things listed above my kids had to teach ME! How to use Uber (and what was Uber), how to transfer money on venmo, etc.
This is really useful.
I’ll add . . .
No aspirin for illness with fever until you’re 19. How to tell which meds have aspirin in them. (You want to scare yourself? Google Reye Syndrome.)
Cough suppressant vs expectorant and when to use what.
What to take with you to urgent care and/or the ER.
(My kid has a really bad cold today, so health leaps to mind.)
What qualifies as an emergency for which your parents will cover the Uber bill.
How often to wash the sheets.
How to advocate for yourself.
What to do if you’re in a car accident.
What to do if you’re driving and stopped by the police.
How to balance a checkbook.
Never be afraid to call home — we will always give you help and advice.
Self-advocacy is a big one, as is making own plane reservations and travel arrangements.
Being able to cook a few dishes, wash laundry, and how to handle various social situations (including knowing “The Gift is Fear”).
Be responsible with your resources.
You can always call home, regardless of the hour.
You can always come home, no matter your age.
You’ll always be my kid, and I will always be your biggest cheerleader.
Whenever we traveled, I had DS navigate the airport or connections on his own. Made both of us more comfortable when he had to fly alone for revisits, etc. Ditto for public transportation in cities we visited.
Laundry, how to cook a simple meal…
Mostly that we are always a phone call or text away.
First, I am thankful for this thread - you are bringing up many things I never even considered. I am now making a list.
However, reading this list is also making me anxious! I fear I’m going to spend his first semester of college lying awake in bed every night !
@Leigh22
I hear you. I now understand more of my parents’ “bravery” when they put me on a transatlantic plane for the first time many many years ago. The kids will be alright, I hope!
Speaking of shopping for groceries… not so much funny haha story but funny, why the heck don’t you know this.
So, some of you know right before Winter Break I was in a really bad car wreck. Everyone was fine, but the car was totaled & I was definitely sore for a few days. B/c of being sore, I had my S19 take me to get groceries so I could just point & tell him to fetch.
Very VERY eye opening experience for S19!! I just hadn’t realized that he hadn’t been in a grocery store since he was in pre-school. He had no idea how a store was organized and where to find things. And the cost! He had no clue. He said he now understands why I get so bent out of shape when he eats an entire package of cookies in one go.
@beerme what is the 3-1-1 rule?
After being at the post office this week and seeing the employee have to tell a college aged customer how to write out her check for her passport, we are reviewing check writing (barely used anymore, even by me).
Wow! Great responses from everyone here! Thanks for helping put together a great list.
I had to laugh at the one about teaching them how to use Uber. My D19 taught me how to use Uber.
Probably the most important thing is to teach them common sense.
Showing my son (just turned 17) this weekend how to change a tire, add some anti-freeze, and other miscellaneous car care items. Its a little late (he’s been driving for 9 months), but better late than never.
They need to know how to turn off the water supply behind the toilet so that when they encounter an overflowing, clogged commode, they don’t stand there shrieking like a young woman my daughter had the misfortune of sharing an apartment with. Also, my DS (who I consider far from mister clean and tidy) tells me that most of the kids he encountered in college had far lower standards for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms than he does (shudder). He said that most of them had literally never had to clean a toilet in their lives and had no idea where to start. Yuck!
Or so they don’t stand there staring as the tin foil explodes into flames in the microwave oven. Yep. That’s my boy.
Great list so far, guys.
D19’s school requires meningitis vaccinations to complete enrollment. But I’ll make sure she knows the symptoms anyway.
So far, mostly so good! She learnt how to do laundry at camp, she’s been managing her money plus job for a while, she won’t take a car with, she’s been left largely to her own devices in high school re: managing time, homework etc so not worried about that; she’s unlikely to be attending any black tie events but has glam gran nearby school to help if she does; she’s been making her own appointments for a while, has flown often enough to understand all the packing rules (and has global entry/TSA pre, yay)… so many of the things on the list are covered, or close enough. She also has a copy of “The Naked Roommate” to take with her.
…she has never cleaned a toilet though, so maybe we’ll start there !!
3-1-1 Rule
https://www.tsa.gov/videos/travel-tips-3-1-1-liquids-rule
https://www.fodors.com/news/311-tips-4779
things I did before my youngest went off to college:
-How to use an ATM
-How to write a check
-How to reorder their medications
How to buy good quality beef for the dish you are cooking…
The utility knife of beef is a whole tri tip…budget friendly.
Cut in medallions, for stew, chop for chili meat, grind for hamburger, slice off the grain for wokking…sound like Bubba from Forest Gump…