This is off the beaten path of political discourse, but this may hit a nerve. As a 37 year old who married a divorced man with two girls 18 and 12, I've come to realize in the short few years of "step-motherhood" the trials, tribulations, and frightening enough, lack of knowledge pertaining to basic things. I may be an etiquette, education snob in the end, but I must protest. The frustrating part is, as a "Step-Mom", my educational guidance is severely restricted, basically, sit back, stay silent, observe the mayhem, and walk away.
Follow me... Top 10
Okay, simple and straight forward, things that I have noticed that our youth can't quantify or comprehend.
1. Basic table setting and manners:
- Know how to properly set a table: Forks on left over napkin, knives and spoons on right. Concept: Place knives and spoons on left and work inward with silverware. Glass on right. Remove napkin and place on lap. No go! No concept of "napkins on lap"? Wow.
2. Telling time:
- Yes, digital is the age, but when you say 20 til 4 or quarter after 1, they look at you like your from outer space. Since when, do schools not teach them basic time methods using the quarter, half method? My 12 yr. old step-daughter cannot grasp this concept.
3. Phones:
- Concept, phones can also be used for talking with one another, vs. texting.
4. Cooking:
- Does anyone reach out and teach kids how to cook anymore, or we in the age of microwave and pre-cooked meals. The 18 year old was terrified of flipping an egg. Come on now. She actually has interest, and I taught her how to bake potatoes. Wow!
5. History:
- When was the Civil War? I dunno! Did you know there was segregation? What is segregation? Why did we invade Iraq? Oil? Why was Nixon impeached? Who's Nixon? Where's Paris? France. Where's France? Huh?
6. Music:
- The Beatles. I can say no more, other than when they only listen to Top 20 on the satellite radio, if you say "Love Me Do", they say "Huh, who's who, what?" But, hey, they took 3 weeks of violin lessons, right?
7. Politics:
- Okay, simple. Question: "Obama, is he republican or democrat?" Where I come from it's, "Well, either way, he's bad"!
8. Literature:
- Okay, I'll read "Hunger Games" and "Twilight", but if you even think about asking me to read anything else, forget it. How great is Tolkien's trilogy? Why is that not amusing enough? Okay, so you got romance, death, and vampires. Can't compete, right?
9. Social Skills:
- "How are you?" - "Fine". "How's Grandpa?" - "Fine". Although, he's suffering from cancer? "Who's playing at the arena next week?" - "blah, blah,blah, I have to get tickets and can you pay?"
10. Responsibility:
- "I think that I need a MAC laptop for Christmas." Okay, so we have the chore list on the refrigerator from last year. Vacuuming, tidying up the room, clear the table, set the table (that's if they can master #1). So the dishwasher gets loaded, in a very creative way. All silverware is creatively placed, and the last phrase is, "Do we have a vacuum? I can't figure this out!"
Okay, just a vent, but maybe fun for folks. I'm sure there are people here who can relate and are suffering from a challenging time of teaching basic things, or not being able to, in my case. Adieu.