Your son should understand...
* Drive a car well, ie. a stick shift;
* Know how to handle any gun, and be comfortable with its operation;
* Understand basic macro- and microeconomics;
* Know the difference between a popular democracy and a representative republic;
* Be able to cook a basic meal (meat, rice/potatoes, vegetables) from scratch;
* Speak at least one foreign language
* Understand how to read a map, and be comfortable with basic orienteering;
* Have two years’ experience in a trade (any trade, eg. carpenter, electrician, welder, auto mechanic, plumber);
* Play a musical instrument, and have a basic understanding of music;
* Understand basic self-defense/unarmed combat techniques;
* Have excellent manners, and know all aspects of social etiquette;
* Travel to a foreign country (Mexico and Canada don’t count, in the U.S. circumstance);
* Be extremely knowledgeable about history (for the reasons given by Coop [shown at the link] );
* Have read at least twenty books in the Western Canon;
* Be able to use a computer, especially spreadsheet, word processing and basic database programs;
* Be able to write a cogent, grammatically-correct essay of no less than 1,000 words in length
* Been a member of a social group or club (4H, Boy Scouts, Young Republicans, whatever) for at least two years
Your daughter should understand...
The basic rules of fashion (and the difference between fad and fashion, never giving in completely to the former)
Be comfortable in the body she was born with
How to properly groom herself and apply/wear make-up appropriate for the setting/circumstances
Sew (sufficient to hem, reapply a button, make curtains) including a knowledge of fabrics and fashion terms
How to iron beyond getting the creases out (knowing how to properly iron a dress shirt including a non-permanent press version, set creases in slacks, and handle pleating)
The rules of etiquette in both business and personal settings for a variety of cultures, including:
* How to set a table
* How to make introductions
* How to make seating arrangements at a table
* Proper conduct at formal events, such as weddings, funerals, etc.
* Rules of reciprocation
Recognize gossip, know how to avoid it, and people who do it
Be an ear/shoulder without being a martyr or know-it-all
Bathe and clothe a baby
Feed a baby
Be physically fit sufficient to birth a baby and endure a 2-year-old
Understand the basics of child psychology and child rearing, sufficient to properly coach a child to explore, read, and discover
* Basic arithmetic
* Basic science
* Properly address and handle a tantrum
Write letters
Be gracious without being condescending
Understand our system of government sufficient to keep vigilance of it and properly exercise her right to vote
Be able to defend herself, her husband, and her children with a gun
Read at least 20 books from the Western Canon and understand them
Recognize at least 100 paintings/art treasures and what is good/bad about them
Play at least one musical instrument, and understand the basics of music
Recite poetry or sing without being self-conscious
Speak a foreign language sufficient to travel in that country
Play bridge to win, and win gracefully
Drive defensively
Understand how a car works, sufficient to attend to its required maintenance
Be able to use basic household tools to perform basic household repairs
Know how to hang a picture and WHERE to hang it
Understand the basics of design as it applies to household decor, architecture, garden and landscape planning/maintenance
Manage a household:
* Hire, direct, and train household staff
* Menu/meal planning (including organizing and planning parties and events)
* Budgeting and forecasting
* Maintain records (including important documents, expenses/checking and savings accounts, etc.)
Cook/Kitchen management, including:
* Make bread
* Understand dietary considerations (health, customs, and religions)
* Select, keep and store ingredients properly and safely
* Understand the proper use and selection of herbs and spices
* Bake a pie, including fruit, cream, and meringue
* Make sauces, including rue-based, vegetable-based, and creams
* How to test for doneness in meats, breads, and cakes
* How to choose equipment and serving pieces
* Be capable of making an entire Thanksgiving dinner on her own (on time and everything hot/cold as appropriate)
How to say “no”
How and when to say “yes”
Be supportive of her husband without deameaning herself
Recognize and end relationships that are destructive
Dance etiquette
Walk gracefully in high heels (or know not to wear them!)
Tell a joke
Bathe a dog
Kim appears to be a bit harder on his daughters than he is on his sons. However, this is good preparation for life, as life has always been harder on women than on men.
By Kim's standards, we've failed our children on a number of counts, but overall, they're turning into wonderful young adults, in spite of our failures.
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