jugofwildflowers-I find that some Mothers like to think that their young sons are completely dependant on them-and this can last well into adulthood.
My DH is now very well trained, but his younger brother who lives at home still is hopeless. He is 25 and phones if she's late home to ask where his dinner is! She does everything for him. His washing, makes doctor appointments for him, goes with him to the dentist. She packs his lunch for work and even buys him 'special' biscuits that no one else is allowed to have. They have a very unhealthy co-dependant relationship. When I say she should back off, she says "he's my baby-anyway can you imagine him managing on his own?! He wouldn't cope!"
My 10yr DS makes his own packed lunch, strips his own bed, makes his own breakfast and snacks. He hoovers and polishes his room and even takes the bin out occasionally! He makes tea on a Saturday morning in return for pancakes. We are going to start teaching him to cook this summer. I want him to cook one simple meal a week when he starts secondary school.
My 7yr DD knows how to put a load of washing on, hangs out wet washing, makes bed, hoovers etc
My 3yr makes her bed, puts dirty washing in basket, tidies up toys. Even my 17 m DS puts rubbish in the bin and throws plastic beakers in the sink!
What's even funnier is when I tell her how good the kids are, she says things like "my boys were like that when they were little". I very much doubt it!