My husband and I are in the homestretch to becoming "empty-nesters" and as sad as I know it will make me, I'm also excited.

No, not excited because both of our sons will be out of the house, but because both young men (I guess I can't call them BOYS anymore) will be out experiencing the world.

Parents of graduates hope that their child's high-school has prepared them for life outside of mom and dad's home. But if you need a check-list to look over before you send them out the door into adulthood, a former dean from a California university has this to offer.

According to Julie Lythcott-Haims, an author and former dean at Stanford University, there are eight basic skills that every 18-year old, high-school graduate should have to help them navigate life. Some of these eight skills aren't always encouraged in high-school, but when your child moves into the world of "adulthood", these skills are actually invaluable.

Here are more details on these 8 Skills Everyone Should Have by Age 18, and as great as the picture above looks - here is the REAL picture! (Just wait son, you are gonna miss me when you are gone!)

Annoyed Graduate
Tammy KIKN
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    1

    An 18-year old must be able to talk to a stranger.

    This is one that schools will probably frown upon. But in the real-world, not all strangers are bad. Your 18-year old must realize that "strangers" now include faculty and staff at college, a landlord, a boss and coworkers and others they may encounter in their everyday life.

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    An 18-year old must be able to find their way around.

    If your 18-year old chooses to move away, they must be able to navigate their new location. Parents have more times than not, been their child's chauffeur or have accompanied them to just about everywhere they go. It's time they learn how to deal with transportation options, plans and snafus.

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    An 18-year old must be able to manage a workload, along with a daily schedule.

    Moms and dads, you are not going to be there reminding your young adult that they have to be to work by noon or that they might have a paper due by Friday for an English Literature class.

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    An 18-year old must be able to run a household.

    If your high-school student was busy with extra-curricular activities, there is a good chance you didn't ask for a whole lot of EXTRA help around the home. But when they live on their own, they are going to have to know how to take care of themselves and where they live.

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    An 18-year old must be able to handle interpersonal problems.

    Your 18-year old probably already knows that you are just a "phone call away" if they need to talk. But this is also an important time when they start to learn how to cope and resolve problems without "mom's help".

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    An 18-year old must be able to cope with ups and downs.

    Between new friends, balancing college studies, a job, bosses and everyone else your 18-year old will come in contact with, they should know that not everything will go their way, but things always find a way of working out.

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    An 18-year old must be able to manage money.

    This may have been taught in a Personal Finance class in high school, but as a reminder, all 18-year olds should know the value of a dollar, be able to spend their money responsibly and develop a sense of accountability with an employer.

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    An 18-year old must be able to take risks.

    As a parent, we don't want to see our child fail. Because of that, we often plan everything for them and many times push them in a direction that points away from risk taking and possible failure. But by taking risks - and yes, possibly making mistakes and failing - your 18-year old is also developing that everyday "grit" and "resilience" they need when things go wrong.

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