I have got two teenage sons aged 13 and 15. Today I have realised, in a flash of fear and parental self-loathing, that they cannot do the following things. Or if they can, I've never seen them prove it.
- Make themselves a cooked meal. Of any sort. Except porridge.
- Change their bedding.
- Wake themselves up in the morning.
- Wash a car.
- Hoover a house.
- Clean a toilet/shower/sink/bath.
- Put themselves to bed at night.
- Put a wash on.
- Empty the washing machine. Hang clothes on line/put in tumble dryer.
10. Pack for a holiday.
11. Remember to brush their teeth/brush their hair/PUT ON CLEAN BL**DY CLOTHES.
OH MY GOD. I AM A TERRIBLE PARENT. Can everybody else's teenage sons do these things? If you look at Facebook it seems like everyone else's teenage sons are always beautifully dressed with lovely haircuts and shiny teeth and are constantly going out for lunch with their mums/posting photos of their whole family having fun, once they've finished doing the dishes, tidying their rooms, washing the car, helping their Dad with the DIY and arranging their own work experience at five different hospitals which will ensure they have a successful future career in brain surgery.
Anyone got any tips for how to make sure my boys can do these things by the time they leave home? Or anyone want to share generally about all the things their teenagers can't do to make me feel better???