If you have a 14-yr-old boy, do you ...

[roisin]

a) Run their bath?
b) Prepare their breakfast?
c) Wake them in the morning?
d) Pack for them for holiday?

Do they ever or regularly ..
e) Make you a cup of coffee/tea
f) Cook a family meal?

a) No
b) No
c) Yes
d) Yes

e) No - never
f) No - never

No
No
Yes
Yes, but only after they have given me kit
No, never
No

at 16 the answers are
NO
No
No
No
Yes
Yes (after a fashion

Does that help?

I have a 13 yo boy.

a - no
b - sometimes
c - yes
d - hell yes, or there'd be an ipod, books, a laptop, a ds lite, one pair of trousers and some hair gel and nothing else in there.

e - regularly
f - sometimes

no
no
yes
yes
no no

actually, he is 13 bt that counts the same doesnt it?

Does it get worse when they get older? I was shocked this eve talking to a mate with a 14-yr old.

My boys are 8 and 10 and for us:
a) Run their bath? Yes
b) Prepare their breakfast? No - never
c) Wake them in the morning? No
d) Pack for them for holiday? No

Do they ever or regularly ..
e) Make you a cup of coffee/tea Yes, often
f) Cook a family meal? not yet but nearly (i.e. with help/support)

No, I don't think they'll suddenly stop doing all those things if they do them now - except the waking up. Good luck with that one

DS1 is 13.

a. no
b. no, although DH does occasionally.
c. rarely
d. modify if necessary.

e. yes.
f. prepares snacks regularly. Can cook a pizza from scratch. Will attempt other stuff.

Mine do loads around the house - are capable of doing most household chores (sort laundry, load/unload dishwasher, washing machine, tumble drier, hoover floors, sweep stairs/floors, mop floors, hang washing out, etc. etc.) and I am shocked how little some teenage boys do.

Will my boys regress? DS1 is becoming more stroppy/resistant, but has to do at least one 'job' per day by routine.

I always vowed they would be able to iron their own shirts before they started high school, but that's only 8 months off and ds1 is still rubbish with an iron and a hankie or tea towel, I haven't dared let him loose with a shirt yet!

a) no
b) no
c) no
d) yes

e) yes
f) yes

He's a good lad mostly

DS1 asked to be shown how to iron a shirt just after he started secondary, and he's continued ever since.

Can't say they're always immaculate...especially when under a jumper, but he's perfectly capable.

All three (younger two 11 and 9) can iron karate gis, and that's no mean feat.

Ds isn't far off 14...

a) Run their bath? No
b) Prepare their breakfast? No
c) Wake them in the morning? Yes
d) Pack for them for holiday? No, but I'm usually consulted.

Do they ever or regularly ..
e) Make you a cup of coffee/tea Yes
f) Cook a family meal? V. Occasionally, nothing difficult.

He can also iron a shirt - (not brilliantly) and will do his ccf shirt (school shirts aren't ironed in this house) unless I'm feeling kind.

11yrold

a) Run their bath? NO WAY
b) Prepare their breakfast? NO he gets his then makes up rolls for pack lunch.
c) Wake them in the morning? NO he has an alarm and is always dressed and eaten before I get up.
d) Pack for them for holiday? YES he would only take the clothes he was wearing and PJs. I actually write a list and he goes and gets the stuff. I then mix up all the clothes and pack.

Do they ever or regularly ..
e) Make you a cup of coffee/tea YES occasionaly when asked.
f) Cook a family meal? DO super noddles count, he still needs practice yet, but will help me.

haven't let DS loose with an iron yet .

Will have to get him practicing ont he bus though as he will have to get service bus to school after the summer.

no to all - when my db was 14 anyway.

I have a 7 year old.

He does b and c.

He and my 11 year olds have brought dh and I breakfast in bed....no hotdrinks though, it was bananas on toast, with orange juice!

a) no
b) no
c) yes
d) no
e) occasionally
f) no

My boys are 16 & 19.

I think they do regress a bit but not so that you have to do theses things for them - they tend to just not bother.

You'll have a no baths/shower period and no breakfast period (because you can't get them out of their pit) and despite the fact that they can deftly wield the hoover they won't use it (not in their own rooms anyway).

I think the capability is important the fact that they can do it is great - whether they'll continue to actually perform is another matter......

a) Run their bath? NO
b) Prepare their breakfast? Sometimes
c) Wake them in the morning? YES
d) Pack for them for holiday? NO

Do they ever or regularly ..
e) Make you a cup of coffee/tea YES
f) Cook a family meal? NO -(but will do next year!!)

a) no - they have showers
b) only if it's ReadyBrek because they can't do it without making it lumpy - otherwise they get their own (this is an almost 14yo, 12yo and 9 yo)
c) yes or they'd sleep for England
d) yes or it would be my fault if something is missing

e) yes
f) yes

I wake them up.

They make tea and cook for themselves. They will do bits of a meal, eg peel potatoes (in fact, I never peel potatoes now).

a. No
b. Not really- well I put the cereal on the table but not in the bowl!
c.Yes- essential
d. Yes or nothing would be taken

e.No
f.Helps sometimes.

yes yes yes yes never never No wonder I am asking for help in the teenage section too looking at this written down he is a useless bugger

a) Run their bath? No
b) Prepare their breakfast?No
c) Wake them in the morning? No
d) Pack for them for holiday? No

Do they ever or regularly ..
e) Make you a cup of coffee/tea Yes
f) Cook a family meal? Yes