to think after spending my last fiver to buy cards they should write them

[moolady1977]

grrrrrr i spent my last fiver on 3 cards for my dc to give their dad my dh for fathers aibu to think they should at least write in the bog eyed bloody things they are 14,12 and 9 not babies it should take seconds ,,, im not doing it i refuse and if he dares says that i havent got him a card im gonna rip the bloody things up and chuck them at him grrrrr

Of course children should be able to cook and iron when they are able! Yes, they will have years to learn them - but whatever possible reason could there be for not teaching them early and instilling a habit of helping around the house rather than sitting back and watching someone else do it?

Brownies (from age 7) had to be able to do these things to get various badges so obviously a NT teen should have no issues at all. Why would they? We are talking about basic skills.

Many young children enjoying helping with small chores - one particularly sweet little visitor used to beg to do the dusting for me!

My 12 year old does the laundry (washing and drying) when he gets in from school, can cook simple meals and does the dishes; both him and my 9 yr old do loads of other chores and keep their rooms up to scratch, including changing bedding.
They both made their dad a card and then went to the shop to get him socks and chocs, and decided to buy him a card too - all out of their piggy bank money (from birthday, Xmas, pocket money etc).

At 14, 12 & 9 yours are far too molly coddled imo - no wonder they're waiting for you to do it for them!

Stop being the housemaid and start making them responsible for themselves - toughen up!

CheshireDing If you leave it until last year of high school before expecting your children to help around the house then you will have left it much too late. By then your child will have an expectation of what you will do for them and will have no motivation to do anything at all for themselves.

Children need to be involved in, and contributing to, their family and this means doing chores as well doing fun things. It teaches a good work ethic and teamwork as well as an ability to fend for themselves when they leave home. It is invaluable.

Seriously? People expect 14 year olds to be regularly cooking and ironing!?.

Er, yes ... it's totally normal for the majority of families.