I also think they may have stopped teaching envelope writing in school, as well as formatting of a letter. My student workers almost always have to have it explained to them. To me, the funniest is when they address large envelopes in portrait, rather than landscape. And/or when they put the return address where the stamp goes.

Of course, I think I have told you before the problems they have distinguishing manila envelopes from manila folders!

And, one of them didn't know who DAVID BOWIE was!!!!

I have several times had to teach college students how to use a copy machine. Sometimes they pick it up instantly, but other times they seem totally boggled by the whole thing.

Of course, my parents hiring the smoking hot wrestler classmate of mine who mowed in his gymshorts and sneakers was at least as much cause for cheering as not having to do it myself.

What is it about lawn care guys, mine are always hot. (And I usually hire them over the phone or net.) I am paying current guy way too much, but am too lazy/non-confrontational to fire him.

I was super lazy and super messy as a kid, but I still picked up cleaning, cooking, laundry, mending, taking out the trash. I am still not the greatest at anything, but it's more a point of avoiding them than not knowing how to do them.

I wish I were handy, though. I've had a dripping faucet for about 8 months, and I bought the replacement (the cartridges are too corroded to remove and the faucet is too), but I find I am too chicken to do it myself, and too cheap to hire a plumber just for that.

Where I work, the professors also seem boggled by the copy machine!

I've had several attorneys over the years similarly boggled -- but I suspect at least some of them were putting on a show so I'd come an copy one damn page for them.

Yeah, it's way easier to seem boggled by the copy machine than to actually figure it out.

I'm not sure why, but I am so amused by the brouhaha over the new Secretary of the Treasury's signature. [link]

I also think they may have stopped teaching envelope writing in school, as well as formatting of a letter. My student workers almost always have to have it explained to them. To me, the funniest is when they address large envelopes in portrait, rather than landscape. And/or when they put the return address where the stamp goes.

But have they never received or sent mail? EVER? In 18 years? I never learned how to address and stamp an envelope in school, because we GOT MAIL AT OUR HOUSE, and also because my mom was a hard-ass about making sure we sent thank-you notes.

I understand how to clean, but not when, and I find it frustrating that you have to keep doing it.

Haha, yeah. I did eventually load abridged versions of the Flylady's Flight Plan emails into Astrid, so now my phone reminds me when to clean what, and it's on about a 5-week loop so nothing gets too grody.

Aeryn is a wizard at wiping up spills, but having been through this once before I do not expect it to last. Dylan sets and clears the table. We don't have a dishwasher so he doesn't help with dishes yet. I expect both kids to put toys away when they're done with them, and if it doesn't happen we have a Ransom Box. They've both helped load the washing machine, but folding clothes I think requires more advanced fine motor skills than either of them has yet.

Stephanie, here's a pretty useful list of age-appropriate chores for kids: [link]

I grew up on a farm from 73-80, and farm kids are doing chores from a YOUNG age. First thing I learned to cook was stovetop popcorn in a pan. Because my dad loves popcorn. I was 5. And I STILL make killer old-school popcorn!

M is responsible for feeding and watering pets when he's here, picking up toys, straightening his room, putting away clean dishes, Swiffering the living room and dining room, and we've started on laundry. He also cooks one meala week with adult supervision.

What is it about lawn care guys, mine are always hot. (And I usually hire them over the phone or net.)

The guy I've been seeing owns a landscaping company. He is in smacking (i was going for amazing, but i like the phone's choice) shape and it comes from so much physical labor outside, i think. He actually cant eat enough to keep weight on. Anyway, he gets his face and shoulders rubbed and touched by all the little old ladies in their 70s and 80s that he works for.