I mean, what’s something you can do that people are like, “really? You know how to do that?”
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I’m a father living in Japan, so any competent display of childcare is still met with shock and confusion.
What sort of things would be considered unusual childcare wise?
Roller skating. I’m super unathletic, but skating (including teaching to others) was listed in the profile of a girl who contacted me on a dating site, so after chatting for a bit I suggested that as our first date. She was super patient with me, I had never put on skates before that day, and was in my 30s.
We’re married now, and I now also teach skating where she does on weekends, sometimes to people who have never tried it before.
I have an uncanny ability to read super faded receipts, and old people’s hand writing.
I’m pretty old & geeky so people are often surprised I can do a great cartwheel. One trick pony when it comes to acrobatics, it’s just the cartwheel.
I can click my tongue really, really loud. Like a baseball hitting a bat hard. Aside from making people jump, I have yet to find any practical use for this talent.
As I found out recently, drawing.
I took some classes in high school and only recently got back into it, and I’d consider myself…averageish? I know where I need improvements and I see the quirks and wonks, so to speak.
The people in my adult life who have seen my sketchbook make (positive) comments, which surprised me. Still, it’s nice.
Drawing has always been super impressive to me. I pretty much gave it up in high school, but my husband is an incredible artist and I just always appreciate seeing what other people do. It seems like it’s hella zen when you get into it. Awesome skill :)
Driving a manual transmission vehicle.
This is funny, I drive manual in the US where even most pickup trucks now have automatic transmission, and the two groups who have been impressed (I am a middle aged lady) are valets and mechanic shops.
I do think that for my 21 year old daughter it’s an unusual skill and one she values. None of my other kids can drive my car, I had to teach that one because I let her use the car to go to college, I bike to work now since it’s much closer than the school.
My ex can drive the big trucks with like 16 gears. And both he & my husband can shift motorcycles with ease, I struggle. I guess it would get easier with practice.
Yeah, I learned from my dad - who is a professional driver.
It came in handy in the Army.
Landscaping
My very first job at the age of 15 was working at a Nursery/ Garden Center. I also would work on the landscaping crews and even did some design work.
When my wife and I bought our house she said she always dreamed of having a big flower garden, but said she didn’t know how to do it properly.
Well… I do. Even my Mother-In-Law, who is an experienced gardener, learned a few things from me. Although, I have to admit, she really does know a lot and I learned a lot from her as well.
Our flower beds are beautiful throughout the growing season with a huge variety of plants.
I’m a massive nerd, no one is surprised by my ability to debug a printer or install an operating system.
They’re generally surprised by my people skills and carpentry skills though!
Lockpicking
I can drill 6" into my nose, among other sideshow talents.
Don’t feel obligated to elaborate, but I’d love it if you would! That sounds super intriguing
It’s an act called human blockhead, but I do it with a Milwaukee power drill. I used to be a lot more active as a sideshow performer so I can do a lot of weird stuff. I also invented two fire eating moves.
I surprise ppl with my drawing skills, and they always say my place is nice and cosy. Everyone who comes over for the first time gets weirdly surprised. I am not sure if that is a skill tho xD
I’m a crossing guard at school. My amazing trick is to balance the lollipop on my nose.
I also know some Shakespearean sonnets and the first page of finnegans wake by heart, but that’s usually more expected.
The most wow reaction i had from my sons’ friends was when i swore better than them. But then again, i once went on a two week tour to schools teaching the kids how to swear, so …, no big deal.
i once went on a two week tour to schools teaching the kids how to swear
I feel like this needs elaboration.
Long story short: taught kids about swearing as s substitute teacher, got the principal (my mother) in trouble, wrote a manuscript about swearing, interviewed a linguist about religion for the humanist (atheist) magazine, she invited me to join her book project on swearing, the book was published, the «kulturelle skolesekken» (bringing culture to schools) invited me to tour the northernmost, most swearing part of Norway to talk about swearing.
https://www.nettavisen.no/teacher-taugth-swearwords-in-religion-class/s/12-95-151785
I am always amazed by my inability to fall on ice. I can lose my balance, but always catch myself at the last second.
People are surprised that I can jodel a bit. My geeky high-schools self worked hard to build this skill.
