Growing up, I was expected to help a lot around the house. I’m talking cleaning the front room every week, (& not being allowed out or get my pocket money until I had done so) & making tea every night for the family from age 13. Plus many ad-hoc requests such as cleaning the kitchen by myself as my mums friends we’re coming over!
During school holidays, I had to get up before my mum left for work & ensure the list of tasks she had written for me was completed before she got homes
I also walked & fed the dog regularly. Plus ironed my school uniform every week.
At the time this all felt like a great injustice & I regularly argued with my mum about it. I had 3 sisters & we were all expected to do similar amounts.
When I became a parent, I made sure I didn’t treat my children the same way.
I do however, expect them to keep their bedrooms tidy & wash up each night. They are 10 & 13. They get a bit more pocket money if they do this.
The bone of contention however, is cooking.
I asked them to help me this evening. The plan was gammon & chicken pie made from scratch.
Both kids refused to help.
When I was finally dishing out the food, a ridiculous argument over bread sticks tipped me over the edge.
However, apparently I am being unreasonable & my expectations of what they should be doing is too close to my mums of me (it’s really not). No-one should expect children of this age to help make tea.
I see it as not only helping me, but a life lesson. They need to know how to cook, surely.
Just to be clear, it is DH who is saying I’m being unreasonable. He does help me sometimes. This is not about him, but about the children helping (or not).
So, Aibu in wanting the kids to help me make tea once in a while?