Here's the big difference between me and my sister, in fact the big difference between me and many of my girlfriends who are mothers;
I have always found it important that my children learn to do things on their own from a very early age.
As soon as they were old enough I allowed them to dress themselves, bath themselves (with supervision I'm not stupid) feed themselves, care for their things, the 11 year old is allowed with my spervision to cook some simple things like Mac n Cheese or scrambled eggs and the 9 year old can heat up simple things in the microwave with me in the kitchen.
This has resulted in some very messy situations but I'd rather have a messy house than a child who needs to rely on me for every tiny thing.
My sister doesn't allow her boys to do anything.
She picks out their clothes, prepares every snack, every meal, she puts their clothes away and makes sure their homework is organized.
My sister's house is very neat and organized, her kids always look perfect, she never loses her keys or an English book.
I was babysitting my 10 year old nephew at my sister's house. I called all the kids into the kitchen and told them what was for breakfast donuts, waffles, cereal, nothing complicated nothing that needed anything beyond a toaster. And then because I FORGOT that my nephew can not make his own breakfast I went upstairs to get dresses.
I was gone not more than 5 minutes when I went back to check on them.
They had set my sister's BRAND NEW microwave on fire by putting in two large metal commuter mugs into the microwave. I freaked. I was stupid enough to leave the room. Everyone was OK and the microwave was cleaned and I tested it. They HADN'T set it on fire, the mugs sparked and sent soot flying all over the microwave so I think was all good.
I left my sister a voicemail and told her only after I decided that swearing my daughters and nephew to secrecy was not an option.
When I call her today she is SO going to rip me a new one and I'm sure my mother will also.
I have always found it important that my children learn to do things on their own from a very early age.
As soon as they were old enough I allowed them to dress themselves, bath themselves (with supervision I'm not stupid) feed themselves, care for their things, the 11 year old is allowed with my spervision to cook some simple things like Mac n Cheese or scrambled eggs and the 9 year old can heat up simple things in the microwave with me in the kitchen.
This has resulted in some very messy situations but I'd rather have a messy house than a child who needs to rely on me for every tiny thing.
My sister doesn't allow her boys to do anything.
She picks out their clothes, prepares every snack, every meal, she puts their clothes away and makes sure their homework is organized.
My sister's house is very neat and organized, her kids always look perfect, she never loses her keys or an English book.
I was babysitting my 10 year old nephew at my sister's house. I called all the kids into the kitchen and told them what was for breakfast donuts, waffles, cereal, nothing complicated nothing that needed anything beyond a toaster. And then because I FORGOT that my nephew can not make his own breakfast I went upstairs to get dresses.
I was gone not more than 5 minutes when I went back to check on them.
They had set my sister's BRAND NEW microwave on fire by putting in two large metal commuter mugs into the microwave. I freaked. I was stupid enough to leave the room. Everyone was OK and the microwave was cleaned and I tested it. They HADN'T set it on fire, the mugs sparked and sent soot flying all over the microwave so I think was all good.
I left my sister a voicemail and told her only after I decided that swearing my daughters and nephew to secrecy was not an option.
When I call her today she is SO going to rip me a new one and I'm sure my mother will also.
VIEW 8 of 8 COMMENTS
madviking:
Didn't learn crap about cooking until I went off to college. My mother who grew up on a farm only fed us canned veggies as an easy side dish and I GREW UP HATING THEM!!! Teach your kids to cook and do as many adult tasks as early as you can or risk them being incompetent adults. Just keep telling yourself they will be making your decisions when you're senile so train them well now.
ki1:
wow. just remind the sister you were doing the babysitting. and thought her kids would know how to get their own brekfast. i'm with you on this one. dumbass sisters kids. and dont take any shit from mom or her over it, they will be overreacting.