Frustrating, isn’t it? When your parents tell you how to do things. I mean, you’re an adult, not a child. You don’t need them to tell you what to do, or how to do it.
After all, they’re a different generation and a lot has changed since they were in the prime of their lives. They didn’t grow up with the internet. Things moved at a different pace when they were young. What could they possibly know that you don’t?
Well, it turns out, there are a couple of things they’re better at than we are – Just because they’re from a different generation.
Here’s 6 skills your parents have that you don’t:
1. Patience.
Our parents required patience for many things, because the world moved more slowly. They had to wait for letters to bring news from loved ones, they had to wait to move up in the company they worked for, and they had to wait until they saved up to buy a car.
Fast food wasn’t as prevalent, so they didn’t have a fast food mentality. They knew that good things came to those who waited.
Consequently, patience is one of the skills your parents have learned during their lifetime.
2. Gratitude.
Our parents did not expect to have the perfect home, or the perfect job, or the perfect lifestyle. At least, not in the beginning.
They expected to work hard to achieve those things, and strove to make the best of what they had in the meantime.
Rather than growing up in an environment of plenty, they grew up knowing they had to work hard for things. Knowing they had to make do.
Consequently, they were grateful for the job they had, grateful for the home they lived in, and grateful for the life they lived.
3. Respect.
Our parents grew up knowing they had to demonstrate respect for other people.
They didn’t wait for the other person to earn that respect. They just knew everyone deserved to be treated well.
Today, we have to work hard to earn the respect of others, and it can be an ongoing cycle. Each new manager, supervisor, or CEO requires us to prove ourselves all over again.
If we all just treated each other with respect automatically, we’d save a lot of time and effort trying to prove our worth.
4. Optimism.
Let’s face it, our parents went through some pretty tough times. They experienced things we haven’t seen, and hopefully will never see.
Things like the Civil Rights Movement, rations, and Vietnam.
These were times of incredible change and hardship, and yet our parents remained optimistic. They knew life would get better.
5. Social grace.
Just as our parents grew up knowing to respect others, they also knew social grace.
Social grace are the skills used to interact politely in society. They include fashion, deportment, etiquette and manners. They’re like life’s little instruction manual.
Men learned how to woo a woman, and women learned how to respond.
Our parents knew they had to display manners, and behave appropriately. Social grace was valued by society, and the consequences of not displaying it would mean being cast out.
So they practice and polished the skill of social grace.
6. Resourcefulness.
Our parents had to learn to be resourceful. They had to learn how to make chocolate cake without eggs during wartime, and make do with what what available (there was far less choice, even a decade ago).
This encouraged resourcefulness.
If the toaster broke, they fixed it. If they needed a new outfit, they made one. If they were hungry, they cooked a meal – from scratch.
If they didn’t know how, they asked someone who did, and they learned.
That’s being resourceful. And it’s a skill we’re losing because we don’t use it so much. But we should.
If we were resourceful, we’d work out how to fix that difficult situation at work. If we were resourceful, we’d tell our kids unique stories, rather than putting them in front of the television. If we were resourceful we’d make up fabulous games, rather than relying on the latest app.
So there you have it, six skills your parents have that you don’t. You might not think they’re important, but they are.
A society that is less optimistic, less respectful and less patient is less enjoyable for all of us. So make an effort to brush up on these skills.
You’ll stand out from the crowd as someone with strong values.
And you’ll be able to grow old gracefully, just as your parents are.
Featured photo credit: StevePB via pixabay.com
