Do you think educating our children to be self-sufficient?

L

Lady Morgaine

New member
is "dumping your responsibilities as a parent" (not my quote) on your children?
Do you think by twelve, having educated your child well enough to be able to cook, bake, be alone for what-ever period of time, babysit, walk to school/bus stop on their own is irresponsible (not saying expect the kid to make a 4 course meal as well as dessert while caring for all his/her younger siblings while you are out on the town)?
I didn't think so either, some shmo in another question I posted was disgruntled that any child should be doing such things and that is where the quote came from. Ridiculous.
 
I see both points of this argument. I have known parents who expect their kids to do everything around the house while they sit on their fat, lazy bums. On the other hand, by age 12 we as parents should have taught our kids to take care of themselves.
 
Of course it's not "dumping your responsibilities" if you educate a child to become self-sufficient. Isn't that the whole point of parenting? We want them to be able to fend for themselves by the time they turn 18 or 21 or 25. Everything we do, such as teaching them to cook a meal, helping them manage their time and money, modeling good values and behavior, or planning their future, is supposed to contribute in some way toward that goal. It starts the day they are born and continues until they leave home (at least).
 
Part of our responsibility as a parent is to prepare our children to be self-sufficient and capable.

I answered your previous question, and would add a couple of things to the list -

Make their own appointments for the dentist and doctor - get them to look up the number and make the call.

My daughter is able to go to the grocery store, with the list she made, and select the foods we need - that involves deciding which meat to buy (lean ground beef or extra-lean?).

She knows how to sort laundry (I usually wash it) she dries it and folds it.

Clean the bathrooms at home, and vacuum the floors - my 12 year old helps out quite a bit, I don't expect her to clean the whole house, but she has been taught how to do it.

A well instructed 12 year old can be a useful person to have around!
 
No I call that good parenting, people need to cut the f*ing cord, if you don't teach children these things they will be useless as adults!!! It is not dumping your responsibilities it is being a responsible parent!!!
 
I guess that depends on just how far the parents take it. At 12 I did my own laundry, helped with many of the chores, and helped cook. Most of that was my own initiative though, I have always been super independent. I dont think it was dumping because I was never asked to do anything that my mom didnt also do herself.

I think it gets into dumping when the parents refuse to do the same chores they expect their children to do, or when their children are a full time babysitter for their younger siblings.
 
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