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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect a 12 year old to be capable of making me a cup of tea?!

128 replies

minikimmi · 04/03/2012 17:24

So, my 12 yr old neice was here to visit her newborn cousin. Her dad came with her but had to pop out for an hour so I was left with niece, my newborn, and my 3 other DCs all under 6. Lots of offers from niece to feed baby, change baby etc but when I asked her if she could pop the kettle on and make me a cuppa she said she 'wasn't allowed to touch the kettle'. What the actual f**k? I'm biting my tongue here trying not to ask why on Earth not?? I haven't heard any tales of her scalding herself in the past or anything. AIBU? Am I going to have to wait at least another 7 or 8 years before any of mine can make me a bloody cuppa? Please restore my faith in the youth of today!

OP posts:
sonicrainboom · 04/03/2012 17:26

Well that's odd. Children should be able to cook simple dishes at that age, yes?

ddubsgirl · 04/03/2012 17:26

all mine can make tea & coffee and have done for along time, they are 15,12 twins 10

troisgarcons · 04/03/2012 17:28

That would be her parents 'fault' not hers. She is merely obeying parental instructions.

Tho' I lift an eyebrow @ a 8yo unable to make a cup of tea, let alone a 12 yo.

SmethwickBelle · 04/03/2012 17:28

Hostess badge in the brownies involved making tea yonks ago didn't it?, not that the Brownies of the 1980s is a benchmark of anything necessarily.

Depends on the child I suppose! Maybe she's a bit clumsy and her parents just err on the side of caution.

troisgarcons · 04/03/2012 17:28

How does she cope in food tech classes I wonder. Unless they havent progressed from salad yet ... Grin

laptopdancer · 04/03/2012 17:29

Im in two mids about this as I cat see why a 12 year old would be making tea. Meals maybe but tea? Why? (except maybe for mothers day )

laptopdancer · 04/03/2012 17:29

mids? minds

motherinferior · 04/03/2012 17:30

It's not her fault. I wasn't allowed to make tea till I was 12. I am 48.

(My children are both able to make tea.)

sonicrainboom · 04/03/2012 17:30

Yes it would be her adult family members fault. Strange though.
I think it's v important to teach your children how to cook (especially the boys)

ballroomblitz · 04/03/2012 17:30

I wasn't allowed to make tea/coffee at 12. Clumsy child, shakey hands that I still have and pulled a kettle over myself at a younger age. Was allowed to bake, use grill etc but just not touch hot kettles.

AwkwardMary · 04/03/2012 17:31

Trois Lift away....they don't all have the neccassary strength or balance at 8 to deal with kettles full of boiling water. My DD is too short at almost 8.

shewhowines · 04/03/2012 17:31

Depends on the child. My eldest was doing it from about 9 but my youngest at 10 struggles to lift the full kettle and I wouldn't be at all confident letting her.

motherinferior · 04/03/2012 17:31

It's not a permanent issue, though. I couldn't cook a damn thing till I was about 18, I think. At which point I learned to cook - mainly out of books - a wide variety of delicious foodstuffs, and have remained an excellent cook.

laptopdancer · 04/03/2012 17:31

Do your 12 year olds drink tea? Thats quite an eye opener for me.

troisgarcons · 04/03/2012 17:32

I cat see why a 12 year old would be making tea.

Mine have been useful for making coffee on a called for basis since they were 10 or so - this is what children are for ..... coffee, cheese on toast, the odd sandwich at a weekend ...... >puzzled look< .... what are yours for?

AwkwardMary · 04/03/2012 17:32

My DD is like you Ballroom she seems to have weak wrists or something...she is only just starting to write neatly. I certainly wouldn't let her make coffee yet.

hpsaucy · 04/03/2012 17:32

my DD has done this since she was 10, she can also cook scrambled eggs, bacon etc and also can make spagetti bologenese and risotto, she is 11

BeckyBrandonNeeBloomwood · 04/03/2012 17:35

IMO very odd. But I would casually bring the subject up with her parents for no other reason than I am curious nosey when I was 12 I was drinking tea/coffee at least 2 cups a day so obviously was allowed/capable of making it myself!

niknakpaddywhack · 04/03/2012 17:35

Each to their own I suppose, as I don't let my ds (nearly 12) make a cup of tea. One of my best friends was scalded very badly - needed skin grafts etc making a cuppa when she was 11.

Both my ds's have cooked with me, and now on their own, from an early age, so I'm not wrapping them in cottonwool, or a helicopter parent, I just feel that it only takes a second for boiling water to be spilt. Not worth it for a
cup of tea IMO.

There are PLENTY of other jobs they can do!

troisgarcons · 04/03/2012 17:36

Do your 12 year olds drink tea? Thats quite an eye opener for me.

One did, the others are quite capable of boiling milk and making hot chocolate properly.

have to say, all mine can whip up spag bol, shepherds pie, bacon, sausage sandwich, cheese on toast, scrambled eggs....... and I was really bad last week - I left my 15yo with a houseful of 11yos and let him do a roast dinner to serve up (I prepped it - he only had to dish).

Chandon · 04/03/2012 17:36

My 9 year old makes tea, but is very careful by nature.

My bonkers and wild 7 year old who still cannot drink a glas of squash without knocking it over will not be allowed near teh kettle until he is...ehm 16!

Original poster
minikimmi · 04/03/2012 17:37

I cat see why a 12 year old would be making tea
eh?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2012 17:37

DS1 (12) makes tea and coffee. DS2 (9) not yet.

motherinferior · 04/03/2012 17:37

I do agree child labour assistance with simple foodstuffs does rather make parenthood worth while Grin

bejeezus · 04/03/2012 17:38

My 6yo makes cups of tea and hot chocolate
She knows nor to over fill the kettle so its not too heavy