The irresponsible teenager has become the caricature of modern adolescence. He can’t find his school books to do his homework; he regularly runs out of clean underwear; he has to borrow money from Dad to go to the mall; and his “cooking” consists of knowing how to operate a microwave oven. The young lady of similar age often does not fare much better. It seems the days are gone that girls learned homemaking skills, much less money management and life organization. At the end of their teen years, young men and women are chronologically ready to be launched into the real world where Mom is not around to cook, launder, and clean and where Dad is not available to whip out his wallet to lend twenty dollars. But are they equipped to handle it?

               I wasn’t. In fact, part of my frustration in parenting is that I wasn’t raised to be a wife and mother. My generation was groomed for careers and accomplishments in the world, so when some of us landed at home with kids, we were clueless about parenting and domestic skills. Children, however, are resilient and allow us to practice on them. And as we learn, we find ourselves reevaluating what is important for our children’s lives. Can we give them what we seem to have missed?

               We desire so much for our children. We want the best education and the most enriching life. Of course, it would be lovely as well if they had stable, loving marriages and produced well-behaved grandchildren. Too often the process of enriching children’s lives translates into lots of sports or art activities and classes galore. These are important, but are they really preparing your son or daughter for the everyday challenges of adulthood? Will your children be equipped to care for themselves and others, along with doing whatever else God has in store for them?

Life Skills For Kids: Equipping Your Child For The Real World

by Christine M. Field

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. ~ 3 John 4