Community Chat

[RedTop]

My brothers and I grew up helping our grandparents on a huge farm. Name any farm chore, and we either did it, or we were there watching and could tell you how it's done. There was a time when I could have told you in specific detail all the grease points on a 1954 Farmall Super C tractor, and used the grease gun to actually do it as well. While my girls didn't have the farm experience, they were taught many valuable things during time spent with older relatives. They learned to string beans, shell peas, shuck corn, hull walnuts, dig potatoes, and stack wood, as well as how to work the draft, and fuel a woodstove. They were responsible for feeding and watering our outside dogs, walking the dogs, and sweeping, or shoveling our sidewalk. My girls quickly learned all about laundry, as with our iron well water, all the whites and light colored clothing had to be taken to the laundrymat. When my daughters were in high school, they expressed their desire to hunt in the same woods around our house, as their ancestors, and they were taught this skill by their dad, and uncles. I could not imagine raising clueless and unprepared children.

[Hooty]

Well, we were definitely not rich, but my mother was very domineering and when I finally moved away from home and I had to learn how to wash clothes ........... my mother would not let me nor my sister go near "her" washing machine! I also taught myself how to cook, she wouldn't let me in the kitchen, because she said I would make a mess!

[AstridDrey]

I agree that sometimes it is not "coddling" children but more of a control issue with the parent. My mother did not want any of us messing up her kitchen, and there is no way she would let me use the washing machine, or the iron! She did give me a quick clothes washing lesson before I went to college. I never really learned to iron properly. My sister is the same way with her kids. She does it all. If her kids load the dishwasher, she takes the dishes out and re-loads it her way. So of course, they don't load it very often.

[lulu2]

I was not coddled but my first experience with a washer and dryer was in college. You needed quarters and a(n included measuring) cup of soap. I knew nothing about sorting colors until it was too late.

I learned to cook in home ec.

[Marienkaefer2]

On 1/2/2015 valeriecherish said:

I agree that sometimes it is not "coddling" children but more of a control issue with the parent. My mother did not want any of us messing up her kitchen, and there is no way she would let me use the washing machine, or the iron! She did give me a quick clothes washing lesson before I went to college. I never really learned to iron properly. My sister is the same way with her kids. She does it all. If her kids load the dishwasher, she takes the dishes out and re-loads it her way. So of course, they don't load it very often.

This was kind of the situation in my house. I did have chores..specifically ironing, making my bed, keeping my room clean. Setting the table, drying the dishes. My mom never really "taught" me to cook or do laundry. But somehow I was fine when I was out on my own. I knew about going to the laundromat, separating the whites from the colors, etc. I guess I watched my mom enough in the kitchen that I knew how to do simple things. Then I got myself a cookbook and went to town! I remember making chicken picatta and turkey tettrazini!

[tishkins]

The next generation is in for a rude awakening. They are only interested in what's new in electronics. When I was young my mother made sure my sister and I knew how to take care of ourselves and a home. I can remember hanging the clothes out the window on the line. We had to take them out of the washer and put on the line in size order. Smaller items first and so on and where the sheets dipped a little hung small items. Every Friday we alternated , one week I cleaned the bathroom,next my sister. We didn't have a dishwasher, and coming from an Italian family there were plenty of dishes after dinner(don't even mention the pots). And , the holidays OMG stuff stuff stuff. We had to learn how to set a table,iron(first father's handkerchiefs,then cloth napkins my mother had a collection before we started to use paper napkins,plillow cases and eventually we progressed to our fathers shirts. I have 3 children and taught them all the basics(2girls 1 boy). I could go on for ever but not enough space. I think it very important for parents to teach their children certain things in life especially manners.

[capecdcat1]

When my son was born 15 1/2 years ago,I told my husband and still tell him to this day "we will not raise a USELESS male!""Our son vacuums,does his own laundry and makes his bed every day.He also stacks wood,helps with yard work and is currently assisting in building our new shed.Nothing worse than a man who cannot do a bit of everything and shame on parents that do not teach their kids.They are doing them a great disservice!

[chickenbutt]

On 1/4/2015 capecdcat1 said: When my son was born 15 1/2 years ago,I told my husband and still tell him to this day "we will not raise a USELESS male!""Our son vacuums,does his own laundry and makes his bed every day.He also stacks wood,helps with yard work and is currently assisting in building our new shed.Nothing worse than a man who cannot do a bit of everything and shame on parents that do not teach their kids.They are doing them a great disservice!

Good for you! I've known a few of those 'useless males' and not only does that kind of upbringing make them useless, it turns them into people who use others and have a very one-way viewpoint over all.

Raising them to know how to do things for themselves and valuing the ability to do for themselves makes them much better all-around people in relationships with others.