to feel I've failed as a wife?

[WinterChillita]

I needed to get DS in bed this evening and was running late with DD's tea so I asked DH to get some going. He asked me how to cook pasta...

I do realize, btw, that the "blame his mother" was a casual jokey comment in the first instance. I just can't believe someone would defend it in a serious way!

This thread reminds me of a family I once knew- the mum went away on a course for a week and the dad (who was a lovely chap but utterly useless) fed the children biscuits for a week.

biscuits.

For a week.

It is a joke... But my mothervwas a bone fide Barnard Matthews fan. Stick it in the oven and let it cook. Not really poking fun at MILs teach your children to cook and how to add up a shop as they go round. It's a life skill I'm deadly serious has been lost.

My Mum is a pretty appalling cook. My Sister can't cook for toffee and thinks that heating up pasta and sauce or a tin of soup or potato waffles is cooking (I call her queen of the ready meals, drives her mad). I was the same when I got married/left home (happened at the same time, I was a child bride ). So I bought a cook book and taught myself. Simples! Now I am always praised for my baking and pastry and have won prizes for both.

So get on it and teach yourself. My DH cooks too. I am teaching DS1 to cook too. DS2 is only a baby, but his time will come. I expect them to bring home grateful girlfriends.

Ah, memories.

When I left home, all I could do was toast, oven chips, and Blue Dragon quick-cook noodles (the kind where you drop a block into boiling water, and wait).

So, I read the instructions on the back of packets, and began learning how to cook.

I've even baked successful chocolate cakes since then!

I do actually agree with you that parents should put in the time to equip children with this basic skill.

Me and my sister used to cook buns with my mum when we were small, under 10 (my sister's speciality was coconut pyramids, mine was rock cakes).

I was lucky enough to go to a progressive shcool in the mid 70s when both girls and boys were taught about nutrition and how to cook in amazingly well-equpipped kitchens. I left home at 18 and didn't marry until 33, so I had ample opportunity to learn to look after myself anyway. Anyone can learn how to cook, it's easy.

when i moved in with my dp i cooked for one week to prove i could do it, but wouldnt. he lost 3stone in 4months because i wouldnt help him with anything fried, and he blew up the microwave. so it was healthy food only (salad) 5years on he loves showing off his cooking skills and i cook once a month, just to prove a point
just have to figure out how to get around the washing up and im set for life

Suggest you tell him to read the bloody instructions, then leave him too it as you change the oil filter on the car.

My df had to ask my dm how to use his washing machine

My mother never taught me to cook. I learnt through reading packets, recipes, internet, a bit of trial and error...

Not that difficult really. I am now not a great cook but am a reasonably competent one.

Agree with Quattro. I too believe that some mmen deliberately try to be incompetent in the hope their partners will take over.

the whole reason i am making sure both my kids can cook and run a house.

Auntiepicklebottom is right here. Just read any number of threads on here...I cannot afford to do X this month...how do I cook dinner for four economically type threads. These are basics, could be taught at home, should be reinforced at school.

DH looked something equally silly up on the internet recently, I can't remember what it was but I was gobsmacked that he had no idea.

my ds is 11 and we do come dine with me, so through supervision and help he is learning to cook. Everything he is learning is dinners i would make at home and its a good way to get them involved

Actually my OH was the one that taught me how to cook . I never got taught before I left home and never thought much about it before meeting OH - heating things up in the oven seemed to be working well for me .