Should you teach your children to do laundry or chores? Young adults do not know how to do their own laundry (not saying every young adult BUT far too many). I do not know whether to laugh or cry? I rank doing one's laundry, as one of the easiest, independent skill, one can have. From The Wall Street Journal: "Some parents tell me they've focused so intensely on fostering academic, athletic or other achievements in their children that they don't have time for household basics; one retailing executive, for example, told me that her teen was too busy doing community service and keeping an honors GPA to clean a toilet bowl or wash clothes."
How can a child be too "busy" to learn valuable skills they will need in their adult life. In my opinion, one should already know how to sustain most of the basic needs at a young age before they hit their teenage years. Thus, freeing them to have more "time" to do extra curricular activities like sports, community service etc. We all know I am a BIG advocate of giving back but where do you draw the line? If you are not giving back to your family first how can they have the necessary talents and skills to help others?
What about other chores? Mclachlan (my 6-year-old) likes to vacuum his room for instance. Should I encourage him to do something else rather then spend some of his time cleaning? I know this may sound silly to some but really where do we draw the line here? My generation has been marked as lazy and absent parents. I would like to know what the future holds for my kiddo as he grows up in this generation.
I know I am not the normal parent around these parts. Let's face it, I am 30, I enjoy cooking, gardening, my chickens and saving money. I also have a strict diet for Mac, schedule and a hands on approach. So I may not be the best person to ask about these issues but I believe children should be taught at a young age!
I know my mother's generation was brought up so much differently then I was. I am sure they see my generation and truly believe we are lazy and have lost our way. I hope my son will grow up with not only skills to make it on his own but memories of doing these things with me. The best way I know how to show him chores is by making it fun rather then a chore. Because, let's face it who likes doing chores? Maybe someday when I get older he will come and do my laundry for me, since I've spent years doing his? Here's to hoping
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