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

[TheBrumstead]

I sorta wish my mom had done a better job

I was mostly raised by my grandma (mom worked nights), but she did most of the cleaning when I was at school or outside playing. I only had to make my bed and help dry the dishes. I had a crash course in laundry before I went away to college. Now, I hate doing dishes, hate housework, hate laundry. I'm a SAHM and no one else is going to do it...

My son is 2 years and 2 months. He helps wipe the tables, takes his plate to the sink, picks up his toys, helps feed the dog and puts his clothes in the hamper amongst other things.

eta: I want these things to be second nature for him, not feel like a "chore" like they were and are for me.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Just wanted to share this with everyone. I saw this on Craigslist and it almost brought a tear to my eye. If he lived close to me, I would give him a job AND pick him up and drop him off from work. What a great kid!

looking for work
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Date: 2011-07-14, 4:28PM CDT
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]
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my name is xxxxx im 15 years old im looking for a farmer who needs some help around the farm i dont drive but i can try to have a way there you can text me heres my number xxx-xxx-xxxx thanks for your time hope i can help someone

•Location:
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests



PostingID: 2494502286​

 

[eenie114]

Quote:

*Cheers*

Now, I'm a capitalization and punctuation Nazi, but I'll shut up for once. Sounds like an awesome kid!

 

[Amethyste]

Honestly...i don't think a child is ever too young to at least get the basic of chores and haousehold tasks.

I know from personal experience that this is true. My mom has a chronic seizure disorder. She had brain surgery to "cure" it many years back, and is fine now...but as a child I had to be the grownup.

My dad worked 2 jobs to take care of medical bills and etc, and that left me and my brother to take over at the house. My mom would have major grand mal seizures several times a week... most of the time they were controllable, but often sadly they were not, and we would have to call 911.

So, when I was 6 years old, my grandmother came to live with us for a while to help with my little 2 year old brother and myself when my mother was put into hospital again. I learned how to cook, clean, take care of the animals we had, make beds, vacuum and so on. She and my grandad stayed around to help out as they could, but they both passed on before I was 10. I basically took over the house at that time.

Made sure myself, my mom, my brother and dad had clean clothes to wear....made sure we had lunches made, dinner cooked, homework done, and so on. My mom would try to help as she could, but many times she was unable to do so due to being in hospital or sleeping off a seizure.

I did the entire Thanksgiving dinner for our family <the four of us> at age 10!!! My dad helped me get the turkey in and out of the the oven, but pretty much it was all me

My mom tried so hard...but she just couldn't do it. She seized out in the kitchen before we even got truly started.

So yes...kids can learn at a young age and I think its a great thing to learn!! I ended up working with kids for a long time, and it always shocked me at how little they were expected to do. The way I see it is if you are old enough to have the physical skills, you should be helping out. Little ones can help make sandwiches and fold clothes and help dust... bigger ones can help dry dishes and separate clothes AND start the wash as well. Older ones can do more...vacuuming, making dinner and so on. No reason for kids to not know basic skills imho. Make it fun, make it a game, let them know they are helping...and it is a charm.

And, in case anyone is curious, the surgery was a limited success.... my mom has not had a seizure since the surgery back in 1992. However, she has tunnel vision, bad balance, and bits of memory loss, mostly of her years before the surgery. She also has short term memory issues... she often forgets things, and her personality is much MUCH different than before. She isn't the same person I grew up with....but still my mom. For instance, my mother growing up would NEVER allow us to swear or anything remotely close to it. Now she has a mouth like a sailor... I am always surprised what comes out of there at times...its like the "off" switch is broken. And she doesn't seem to have the ability to think before she speaks....it's always an adventure when we go somewhere in public...we never know what she will say. It's really like being with a kid...they don't mean to be rude or hurtful ...it just comes out that way.

Not really sure if the gains were worth the losses tho, but its been almost 20 years now, and we have learned to live with it. I still make the dinners tho when I am home...she forgot how to cook and my dad tries lol

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
What a touching and heart warming story. You should be proud to have a family who loves you so much and I know that you love them through reading your words. I could feel the love in your story. Sounds like you turned out to be a very smart, independent and VERY caring person. So many life experiences. I'm glad that that surgery was a success, even though it was limited. Your mom, dad and family are still here and that is a blessing.

Thank you for sharing your story.

 

[melissa41927]

i know this is about children, but we recently had my 28 year old cousin move in with us. he was a drug addict and homeless for a few months before. when he moved in i was unemployed, and i taught him all about caring for my birds. well about a month afterwards i finally got a job after 5 years of looking. so he just stepped into the role of babysitter of my kids and caretaker of my animals. i am married, but my husband is in college and studying most of the time. i am proud of my cousin and the 360 that he has taken. i think that learning to be part of a mostly normal non-dysfunctional family has helped to turn him around. my kids have chores and he makes sure that they get done. my 8 year old does dishes mostly by herself, and she helps with taking care of the animals. my 5 year old picks up toys and trash that some how accumulates in the living room and bedroom, and collects eggs.

 

[4Hchickenproject]

I believe they begin learning the moment they enter this world... even before. They learn by watching and imitating, and receiving guidance. My 11-yr-old son always washes his own clothes. Not because I make him, but because he wants them done his way, when he wants them done. All the kids have laundry chores and help, but about a year ago he decided to just do his own. My 8-yr-old daughter just completed a cooking class, and her instructor was very impressed because she already knew much of what they were to learn, and she wound up being a helper most of the time. So many more examples. Sure, they try me. They occasionally want to get out of doing their chores. But hey, so do I! But they learn, that stuff still has to be done, like or not, it's just a fact of life. You eat and dirty dishes, you get to help clean. You wear and dirty your clothes, you get to help wash. You relax in the living room, you help dust and sweep. Life.

They're never too young to learn, and they're never to old to learn.

Keep up the good work!