I would add knowing how to grow food, or basic botany. I’m homeschooling my 11&8 yo boys and we have a similar list. My goal was that by they are 12, they know how to grow basic vegetables, raise a chick/turkey to maturity, slaughter it, and cook an entire meal (including side dishes) using that bird. My 11yo is nearly there (still needs help slaughtering), but they helped me cull our rabbits and I feel pretty confident they know how to do all of the above with it.
I’m a retired RN who left Chicago almost 6 yrs ago and I’ve learned all of these things myself, so they are benefiting watching me learn from mistakes. I’m also taking a deep dive into anatomy (it helps when we cull various animals) and will be teaching them the basics of starting an IV, using tourniquets, and dressing wounds. I’m also teaching them how to use basic woodworking tools (I’m teaching my husband as well ☺️). When I started this homeschooling journey I looked to fill the many holes I had in my public school education. I feel the practical education is getting much worse! What a shame. This is a good list..oh, and a can opener. You’d be surprised how many kids don’t know how to use one.
Mar 6, 2023·edited Mar 6, 2023Liked by Guttermouth
Solid list, comrade. The fact that many adults don't know most of these items is an indictment of our failing public education system. Homeschooling is the future - here is a curriculum that maps into your post: https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/how-to-homeschool-your-kids
I married an Eagle Scout. I can honestly say, he’s always prepared and has changed tires for women stranded on roadways. Keeps an emergency kit in the car and home. Knows and demonstrates gun safety. Can make home repairs. Young ladies, these men are rare indeed now. My dad had these skills and I was lucky enough to find a man that I knew could step up to the plate as needed.
Before I even finish reading, I must confess I am envious of your team of tapirs. All I have is one albino aardvark cousin. Here I thought I was fancy,my first armadillo being " of no color" .
Once upon a time I worked as a temp in a place that ostensibly helped youth. In one of the staff meetings, I was asked to "contribute". I suspect that was an early example of "everyone gets a say, even the temp". I suggested the youth be taught manners, because that would help them get more help from adults within and outside of the organization. My suggestion was met with unanimous pity and mild derision. Silly me, these youth had much bigger problems than MANNERS. It was treated like a funny archaic naive idea. I wish I'd been sharp enough to be rude on the spot and make them realize how much they expected manners in their own lives. It took me a long time to understand the condescension in the system.
A fun book for children, if you can find it: The Muppet Guide to Magnificent Manners (c) 1984
Excellent list! I was talking with Grant Smith about this sort of thing, kind of a "This is what basic human propriety demands, and how to do that" project. Maybe we should talk a bit about that together.
About 5 years ago I had a flat tire at my apartment complex. I knew we were all in trouble when ( I didn’t have the strength to loosen the lug nut) & a 20 something guy told me he could call triple A for me.
Delivering a baby is several orders of magnitude easier than saving a life using CPR and an AED. How do I know? Other than my own children's births, which were in hospital, I have participated in the birth of 1 other child in an out of hospital setting. The amount of actual work on my part was minimal, mom did the hard part and out popped a baby. After literally 30 seconds of work on my part, suctioning the mouth and nose and clamping the cord, I handed the baby back to mom and it took less than a minute for junior to latch onto a breast and have his first meal. High stress sure, but no sweat. I have a 100% batting average. One delivery, 1 healthy baby and mother.
On the other hand, I have participated in CPR and AED use well over 100 times outside of the hospital from the age of 12 days to 97 years, and several times in hospital. It is hard work, it is brutal both to the person who is leaving this mortal plane as well as those trying to prevent it from happening. Broken ribs are a common side effect to the patient and is a sign that the CPR is being done strenuously enough to be effective. It is hard work breaking ribs with your own 2 hands and body weight. Popping and crunching noises aside it is a serious cardio workout for the person doing the CPR. Alas, all that effort and I still have a 0.000% batting average. That is right, I never had a save, they all died. And they just didn't die, they never regained spontaneous circulation. They may have been alive when I met them, most were not, but they all ended up dead permanently in spite of all my efforts. Saving lives is hard, it is a whole lot easier to lose them than get them back.
As for the rest of the list I can check them off without exception.
But one I would like to see you add because it seems to be seriously lacking today.
Know how to work.
Work hard.
Work so hard that when you go home at the end of the day you are tired and sore.
Dig a grave by hand because all of us are going to croak one day and we should all have at least put in the effort to create our own eternal resting place. Seems a lot of people can't even say they have done that today.
Kill your own dinner at least once in your life.
Extra Credit given for raising that dinner from birth to death and processing it yourself.
Mar 6, 2023·edited Mar 6, 2023Liked by Guttermouth
Good list, Guttermouth. The way you started out, I thought you were going to pull a "Scott Adams " and advise that we remove ourselves from any assemblage of Gen Zs...
To your list, I would add basic knowledge of world history. I am constantly amazed at how ignorant people--even highly educated people--are of history. Studying the past gives us insights into how/why nations act in the present age. This ignorance is being manipulated now by bad actors intent on destroying the West. Why defend racist, sexist, homophobic colonizers? WE(F) can do better!!!
I'm in my 50s, CERT trained, and have no experience or knowledge with drug overdoses and Narcan. I'd think responding to a diabetic issue is more likely.
This is one of the all-time best, most useful substack articles I've ever read. Thank you, Gutter!
I have to say, though, my bucket list just expanded -- both personally and as a (grand)parental unit.
Oh, and one small addition I'd like to propose (if nobody else has done so already) is Know how to safely shut off your natural gas and / or propane supply, as applicable.
Once again, I have read your post nodding my head with you all the way thru! I'll be forwarding this one to both my sons who are raising girls. I had lunch with a friend over the weekend and we talked about how we raised (my case)/are raising (hers) our children in the same way we grew up - no cell phones, no/limited video game time, GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY, etc - and how they will be much more rounded people for it. Now to read the comments for anything missing from your very comprehensive list.
I would add knowing how to grow food, or basic botany. I’m homeschooling my 11&8 yo boys and we have a similar list. My goal was that by they are 12, they know how to grow basic vegetables, raise a chick/turkey to maturity, slaughter it, and cook an entire meal (including side dishes) using that bird. My 11yo is nearly there (still needs help slaughtering), but they helped me cull our rabbits and I feel pretty confident they know how to do all of the above with it.
I’m a retired RN who left Chicago almost 6 yrs ago and I’ve learned all of these things myself, so they are benefiting watching me learn from mistakes. I’m also taking a deep dive into anatomy (it helps when we cull various animals) and will be teaching them the basics of starting an IV, using tourniquets, and dressing wounds. I’m also teaching them how to use basic woodworking tools (I’m teaching my husband as well ☺️). When I started this homeschooling journey I looked to fill the many holes I had in my public school education. I feel the practical education is getting much worse! What a shame. This is a good list..oh, and a can opener. You’d be surprised how many kids don’t know how to use one.
Solid list, comrade. The fact that many adults don't know most of these items is an indictment of our failing public education system. Homeschooling is the future - here is a curriculum that maps into your post: https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/how-to-homeschool-your-kids
What about nutrition? Understanding the basics.
Bonus points for knowing that the Food Pyramid is one of the most grotesque forms of propaganda ever foisted upon a generation.
I married an Eagle Scout. I can honestly say, he’s always prepared and has changed tires for women stranded on roadways. Keeps an emergency kit in the car and home. Knows and demonstrates gun safety. Can make home repairs. Young ladies, these men are rare indeed now. My dad had these skills and I was lucky enough to find a man that I knew could step up to the plate as needed.
Before I even finish reading, I must confess I am envious of your team of tapirs. All I have is one albino aardvark cousin. Here I thought I was fancy,my first armadillo being " of no color" .
Once upon a time I worked as a temp in a place that ostensibly helped youth. In one of the staff meetings, I was asked to "contribute". I suspect that was an early example of "everyone gets a say, even the temp". I suggested the youth be taught manners, because that would help them get more help from adults within and outside of the organization. My suggestion was met with unanimous pity and mild derision. Silly me, these youth had much bigger problems than MANNERS. It was treated like a funny archaic naive idea. I wish I'd been sharp enough to be rude on the spot and make them realize how much they expected manners in their own lives. It took me a long time to understand the condescension in the system.
A fun book for children, if you can find it: The Muppet Guide to Magnificent Manners (c) 1984
Excellent list! I was talking with Grant Smith about this sort of thing, kind of a "This is what basic human propriety demands, and how to do that" project. Maybe we should talk a bit about that together.
About 5 years ago I had a flat tire at my apartment complex. I knew we were all in trouble when ( I didn’t have the strength to loosen the lug nut) & a 20 something guy told me he could call triple A for me.
Delivering a baby is several orders of magnitude easier than saving a life using CPR and an AED. How do I know? Other than my own children's births, which were in hospital, I have participated in the birth of 1 other child in an out of hospital setting. The amount of actual work on my part was minimal, mom did the hard part and out popped a baby. After literally 30 seconds of work on my part, suctioning the mouth and nose and clamping the cord, I handed the baby back to mom and it took less than a minute for junior to latch onto a breast and have his first meal. High stress sure, but no sweat. I have a 100% batting average. One delivery, 1 healthy baby and mother.
On the other hand, I have participated in CPR and AED use well over 100 times outside of the hospital from the age of 12 days to 97 years, and several times in hospital. It is hard work, it is brutal both to the person who is leaving this mortal plane as well as those trying to prevent it from happening. Broken ribs are a common side effect to the patient and is a sign that the CPR is being done strenuously enough to be effective. It is hard work breaking ribs with your own 2 hands and body weight. Popping and crunching noises aside it is a serious cardio workout for the person doing the CPR. Alas, all that effort and I still have a 0.000% batting average. That is right, I never had a save, they all died. And they just didn't die, they never regained spontaneous circulation. They may have been alive when I met them, most were not, but they all ended up dead permanently in spite of all my efforts. Saving lives is hard, it is a whole lot easier to lose them than get them back.
As for the rest of the list I can check them off without exception.
But one I would like to see you add because it seems to be seriously lacking today.
Know how to work.
Work hard.
Work so hard that when you go home at the end of the day you are tired and sore.
Dig a grave by hand because all of us are going to croak one day and we should all have at least put in the effort to create our own eternal resting place. Seems a lot of people can't even say they have done that today.
Kill your own dinner at least once in your life.
Extra Credit given for raising that dinner from birth to death and processing it yourself.
But think of the STORIES if you delivered babies., after you died, as a ghost!
Good list, Guttermouth. The way you started out, I thought you were going to pull a "Scott Adams " and advise that we remove ourselves from any assemblage of Gen Zs...
To your list, I would add basic knowledge of world history. I am constantly amazed at how ignorant people--even highly educated people--are of history. Studying the past gives us insights into how/why nations act in the present age. This ignorance is being manipulated now by bad actors intent on destroying the West. Why defend racist, sexist, homophobic colonizers? WE(F) can do better!!!
I'm in my 50s, CERT trained, and have no experience or knowledge with drug overdoses and Narcan. I'd think responding to a diabetic issue is more likely.
This is one of the all-time best, most useful substack articles I've ever read. Thank you, Gutter!
I have to say, though, my bucket list just expanded -- both personally and as a (grand)parental unit.
Oh, and one small addition I'd like to propose (if nobody else has done so already) is Know how to safely shut off your natural gas and / or propane supply, as applicable.
Excellent. I’m 76 yo. Sent this widely particularly 4 adult children with 10 grandchildren.
Once again, I have read your post nodding my head with you all the way thru! I'll be forwarding this one to both my sons who are raising girls. I had lunch with a friend over the weekend and we talked about how we raised (my case)/are raising (hers) our children in the same way we grew up - no cell phones, no/limited video game time, GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY, etc - and how they will be much more rounded people for it. Now to read the comments for anything missing from your very comprehensive list.
Nice list.
One suggestion: have at least one favorite book not published in your lifetime.