Putting on Your Socks and Giving A Firm Handshake

I started reading Coach John Wooden's book entitled Life Lessons On and Off the Court. Throughout the book, Coach Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach who led the team to 10 NCAA Championships, talks about how he taught his college players how to put on their socks and shoes.  I tried to imagine this...a college coach instructing a group of men who were all over 6 feet tall how to smooth out their socks in order to prevent blisters and then how to double tie their shoes so that they would stay tied throughout their game.  Coach Wooden explains that this was a fundamental step in preparing for the game--to have the athletes' "equipment" ready and to prevent injury while playing. 

This basic lesson reminded me of how as a parent, I have observed how it is easy to assume that our children will know some fundamental skills in life, yet unless we intentionally pause to teach them, they may not ever learn some of these basic skills. With my own two sons, I have taught them how to give firm handshakes and to make direct eye contact when meeting people. I truly believe that this is a basic skill that contributes greatly to the first impression that you give when initially meeting someone. Many have commented about my sons' firm handshakes and have been impressed with their direct eye contact and introductory skills. Now I guess I need to teach them how to put on their socks and shoes too...