When is a child too young to learn (SHARE YOUR STORY)

[eenie114]

Boot camp?

Sounds like everyday life to me! Eps. the VCR thing.... I taught my little brother to use a computer mouse when he was about three because he wanted to play Sesame Street games. Well, I did NOT want to play them FOR him while he watched. So he learned how. Same thing with.... Geeze, darn near everything. This will sound harsh but it's every man for himself (within reason, not the best phrase. Best I could come up with). We're too busy with our own stuff to wait on them hand and foot! My 8 YO brother is fully in charge of caring for our feeder pigs, and looks forward to a generous share of the profit.

Miss Lumpy has been learning to sew in exchange for new handmade clothes for Barbies. (She's five.) I'm learning right along with her.

When these kids graduate college, it'll be YOU they thank in a speech.

 

[Beekissed]

There is nothing more gratifying than to hear an adult son thank you for "making" him learn how to clean, cook, do laundry, iron clothes, change the oil, change a tire, etc. The first time I heard it, I just smiled a Chessy Cat smile and basked in the warmth of a private, silent little "I told ya so".

 

[kuntrygirl]

It's so nice to read the stories that you all have posted about teaching your children.

NYRIR, your kid's friends should wish they had chores like your kids. It will pay off in the end.

NorthTexaschick, I agre with you. I think it makes the kids feel responsible and on the pathway to being an adult.

Ema, you are right, the kids that come through my house are VERY happy to come and sad to leave. They always look forward to the next adventure that I take them on. And for me, it's really kinda fun to think of things for them to learn. It keeps my mind busy as well.

debiraymond, I'm right there with you as far as learning how to cook a meal. I'm also always in the kitchen when the kids are in their as well. The first meal that they learned was how to scramble an egg. Good think I get fresh eggs from the chickens because we went through A LOT of eggs on that day.

Dar, gotta love those lessons learned. They'll think twice next time to make sure they don't leave anything. You sound like my dad when I was a kid.

I wish that you could come to my job and have a training with some of these mothers and how they STILL baby their kids at age 26!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Circe, way to go. I like the idea of the 2 year old taking out the cans for recycling.

Roccomanchickens, I could tell you so many stories from parents that talk about the things they still do for their kids. I am just floored. But I don't say anything because it's none of my business. I try to keep my trap shut.

And then to top it all off, they come to work complaining what the kid did and I just think to myself, "You should have taught them better".

PotterWatch, sounds like your kids have a job that I even wouldn't want to do. Processing those meat chickens is a tough job to do. Hats off to them and to you!!!!

zippitydooda - Thank you for your post. It sounds like you were VERY busy growing up. That's so wonderful that you were in the extra-curricular activities, including horse shows and 4H. I loved 4H and still do. Even though you didn't know how to do those things, you have learned and for that, I know that has made you a stronger person.

eenie114, that is cool teaching your little brother to use the computer mouse. I agree with you every man for himself. I'm jealous of Miss Lumpy. I can't even sew and SHE can. WOW !!!!! I wanna learn how to sew soooooo bad. I can't find any adult sewing classes in my town.

Beekissed, that is so sweet to hear about your adult son. In the end, it all pays off.

Thanks for posting your stories everyone. It's so refreshing to hear.

to all of you.

 

[KristyHall]

 

[Dar]

Gee I hope thats a good thing that I sound like your dad

My oldest son who is grown up now thanks me for not babying him. He finds it so frustrating that what we perceive as a simple task like doing a load of laundry takes his girlfriend for ever to go because she was not allowed to learn as a child. When she is sorting laundry look out if there is a shirt with multi colours or some black and white on it... that will stump her for 20 minutes trying to figure out where it goes. I have had had to talk her through sorting laundry a few times. She will call and ask her mom and mommy will come and do it for her. She understands how her parents doing for her has hindered her in real life.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Yes, that is a great thing comparing your ways of teaching to my dad. He often referred to things as "A lesson learned", the same as you do.

I'm so very proud and honored to have had my dad show me so many things in life. My mom died when I was only 10 but by that time, she had taught me how to "run" a household - cook, clean, wash clothes, garden, etc. My dad took over and taught me even more. He showed me how to change a flat tire, change oil in a car, etc. Believe it or not, he taught me how to drive a 5-speed (stick shift) in 5 minutes when I was 17 years old.

There was a car that I wanted to buy (used MY own money for the down payment, made MY own payment and insurance) and it was a 5 speed. I didn't know how to drive it, so my dad showed me how to drive the car on A LONG 3 mile road. He got in the driver seat and gave instructions and drove it down that long road. Once he got down to the end of the road, he got out and told me to get in and drive. I was like, "But Dad, I don't know how to drive yet". He said, "If you want this car, then you will learn how to drive it TODAY". So, I had to learn how to drive a stick shift car in literally 5 minutes. I won't say that is the best way to show a 17 year old how to drive a stick shift but I surely learned and I'm thankful.

Kinda like what eenie114 said, every man for himself.

Well, I'm glad that your son's girlfriend is realizing how "not" knowing how to do these things has hindered her in life.

 

[teach1rusl]

At times I've been guilty of doing too much for my son. He was an only child, and from ages 3 - 13 it was just he and I, so I guess guilt and just having him to focus on/care for got the best of me. However, he was taught how to do the basics, and I haven't done his laundry since he was 12 (he's 18 now). He learned how to do "basic" cooking around 13 or 14 (scrambled eggs, cookies from a mix, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc.). I worry more about his car skills, as I never taught him how to do basic things like change a tire, check oil, tire pressure, etc.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Nothing to feel guilty about at all. You haven't done his laundry since he was 12 and I would have to say that you get an A+ for that. You are right in line with many of us here on the thread. You taught him and you did a great job at that.

As far as the car stuff, I think he will learn that on his own. Guys have the brain and mind to figure out all of that mechanical stuff. I think he will be OK. No need to worry about him in that department.

 

[Chickens_in_a_nutshell]

Quote:
You are right, a baby begins learning the minute they're born. I talk to my baby brother and he may or may not understand the meaning of my words but he is learning how to talk. Children are sponges.

 

[Dar]

Quote:
Yes, that is a great thing comparing your ways of teaching to my dad. He often referred to things as "A lesson learned", the same as you do.

I'm so very proud and honored to have had my dad show me so many things in life. My mom died when I was only 10 but by that time, she had taught me how to "run" a household - cook, clean, wash clothes, garden, etc. My dad took over and taught me even more. He showed me how to change a flat tire, change oil in a car, etc. Believe it or not, he taught me how to drive a 5-speed (stick shift) in 5 minutes when I was 17 years old.

There was a car that I wanted to buy (used MY own money for the down payment, made MY own payment and insurance) and it was a 5 speed. I didn't know how to drive it, so my dad showed me how to drive the car on A LONG 3 mile road. He got in the driver seat and gave instructions and drove it down that long road. Once he got down to the end of the road, he got out and told me to get in and drive. I was like, "But Dad, I don't know how to drive yet". He said, "If you want this car, then you will learn how to drive it TODAY". So, I had to learn how to drive a stick shift car in literally 5 minutes. I won't say that is the best way to show a 17 year old how to drive a stick shift but I surely learned and I'm thankful.

Kinda like what eenie114 said, every man for himself.

Well, I'm glad that your son's girlfriend is realizing how "not" knowing how to do these things has hindered her in life.

hahahaha are our dads related?.. I was bugging to learn how to drive, I had just got my learners permit.. I was constantly bugging... one day my dad and I were on our way back from the farmers market and he stopped in the middle of this HUGE hill turned the truck off and put on the e-brake. the truck was a 1972 GMC Jimmy that had just had the shifter converted from the tree to the floor. 5 speed. he got out of the drivers seat and walked around to the passenger seat and told me to scoot over. If I wanted to learn how to drive then this was my time

it took me almost an hour just to start the truck and keep it running and another hour to get it up the rest of the way up the hill. I got so mad I was in tears and dad says I left the tired bald cause after about the 100th time jack rabbiting I floored it and left the tires on the road when I skidded out of there.. I drove the rest of the way home no problems.