New Jersey is full service only also, which made some really silly looking grown ups asking the kids who worked under me how to pump gas back in the day when I was the manager of a convience store.
When I was a student at Oral Roberts, one of my teachers found out that most of the class didn't know how to change a tire. He took class time to take us out and show us. (There were about 20, with only two or three guys.) He said he wouldn't want his daughters stuck out on the road without that knowledge, and he didn't want his students stuck, either!!! Rachael managed to get a flat the other day. We had the car at home, and Carl taught her how to deal with it. He made Faythe help, even though she's "only" 15.
I never realized the importance of teaching my ds these things more clearly than when we had a conversation the other day that started off with him saying, "That's a girl job":shock: Seriously? So I asked him what was he planning on doing someday when his wife was sick or having a baby, or whatever and he had to do the housekeeping. His answer? "Bring her to your house! Then you can take care of her or the kids and then you can do all her work." I told him that it may someday be up to him to help his wife and he insisted that unless she wanted to be homeless, he had to be at work.:lol: I still have him run the dishwasher,fold his own clothes, and cook two of his own meals a day. He's only 8, but I'm not wasting any more time!
I remember that time, too. At least around where I lived. We have all sorts of ideas of how things will go when the oldest DS is of age. However.... I think that we'll wing it when the time comes. I can't foresee his maturity level, or our need for a third driver.
Well my DH is currently standing ironing his shirts and our DSs shirts. Then he is going to do the dishwasher loading and put it on. He also threw in a load of washing earlier, bathed the kids.....me; I am sorting out paper work and dealing with an unruly daughter who won't go to bed as she fell asleep in the car earlier and is now not sleepy for a while longer...so we're reading stories....I'm on my knees and so she is on at 15 minute notice....lol
DH says there are no such things as girl jobs....we do wood working with the girls and they do engine, and diy and household maintenace with them too. They do the gardening, with the exception of mowing as we have a very large heavy petrol and a few years ago our neighbours had a very nasty accident with one of their kids friends, a clothes peg and a lawn mower....so for that they have to be indoors....othewise, they all do everything with whom ever is doing it at the time. In fact, Daddy made a most fantastic cake - better than her Mummy's one the week before.
Haven't read all the responses, but....YES!!! I think it is very important. Well, sewing, I can't do! LOL I'll let my mom handle that. Anyway, YES, YES, YES. My 9 year old son has chores. And there is no job in this house that is a boy job vs. girl job. There is a lot of work to be done to make a house run effectively, and it is the responsibility of every person in this house to make that happen. Gender does not matter. He loves to cook and bake with me. I do make ALL of my kids responsible for their breakfast and lunch. And I make sure that they have plenty of options available to them. They do a great job. Even my 6 year old can make her own lunch most days. She cheats on breakfast though and has a yogurt drink! LOL
Yep absolutely! Not because it's a part of our curriculum but because mommy won't always be there to do everything for them. They can wash clothes, sew, iron and cook. They actually enjoy the cooking a lot. Often they cook dinner for the family instead of me always having to do it.
Yes, we teach the boys what we call "life skills" that they need to learn and know. They are learning how to do laundry, cooking and baking, cleaning, etc. When the boys are older, they will be learning how to sew, upkeep car maintenance (checking fluilds, air pressure, etc.) and learning how to change a tire. Both my husband and I think it is important for our children these life skills.
Wow didn't have time read all the posts. But yes my son learns it all. Why? Well theres no guarantees in life he will find a wife. And he may not find one as capable as he may need. And also it is handy to have a husband who knows how to take up the all the jobs in case you are out of sorts or just need a break. I also as a side note include our dd in all as well. I want her to learn all the things that I was never allowed because I was a girl. I make sure she is included in working in the garage and etc if she wants. No one should be left behind just because of their gender.
Marty, Two of mine, now ages 19 and 21, had their learners permit for a couple years before acquiring an offical license. That ment their driving always had to be with a licensed driver (me) in the car, and I had to be patient and concious to always let them drive when I could. This gave them lessons in driving that I could coach them through....torrential downpours, getting through Washington DC at rushhour, construction detours, how NOT to overcorrect if you go off the road, etc. I did feel that from permit to license was too much of a rush job. Since our state doesn't require insurance until they receive a drivers license, it was a win win situation. Both boys received their drivers license when they proved their respect to driving and had a full time job to pay for insurance. The insurance rates are very high for the first three years (gradual decline year by year) as long as there are no accidents. I have two more who are to be scheduled to take the driver's education course this year. The older will be 16. I chose to hold him back a year on this due to some maturity issues. They too will probably follow the same course as their older brothers.
Rachael turned 17 earlier this month. She's driving; she got her full license this spring. In Ohio, you can get your learner's permit at 15 and a half. Faythe is already telling me she'll be able to get hers in November. We've flat out told her that is NOT going to happen!!! I wanted to add that I was at a wedding shower once for a young gal at church. Someone gave her a small toolkit filled with "essential" tools. A very unique gift, but something I would like both of my girls to have!
I don't think there's much that I would think should be gender exclusive. I'm out in the country and even with the most traditional families there's still a lot of mixing of "traditional" gender roles. In fact, being a country gal has left me very skeptical about the whole idea of traditional gender roles in marriage and convinced they were born in 1950's suburbs. Out here marriages are more partnerships and there's a lot of overlap. There has to be to do some of what these people do in the run of a day.
well I never took the time to read what ever one wrote. But, I don't have sons and I taught my girls all the things boy should know, like how to change oil on car, how to change tire on car and so on. What is the different? there is none. Its great to teach them everything they need to know.
Now see a lot of men I know don't know how to do anything except "man" stuff. Now my boys are learning slowly but they are learning.
This is very much how our family functions. Whoever is there to handle a job at the time does it. The interesting thing in our home is that Dh does much better managing the home and I do all the building, fencing, livestock, gardening, etc. But it isn't like we have swapped gender roles. He does the vehicle maintenance and I cook for the most part. Either of us can jump in on any job, and often do. Our kids (ds15 and dd12) also have learned to do any job anyone would need to know how to do to make our home work. Ds learned to cook a long time ago and often cooks the meal when I'm not around. Dd is just learning to cook and ds has taught her quite a bit of what she knows. As far as using these life skills for school, I plan on making a list of what I would consider a complete course (home ec., mechanics, animal science, etc.) and see to it the kids have learned enough to count for credit in any number of ways.
Thanks Squarepeg! That is exactly our thoughts too. Dh and I have come to the decision that ds can get his driver's license AFTER he has graduated from high school. I know that sounds mean to some but I know to too many young drivers who couldn't handle adverse weather driving conditions, were way to immature to be behind the wheel or not physically/mentally able to operate a 2000lb piece of machinery. Mixing male hormones, immaturity and the freedom of wheels isn't always a good combination in our opinion. Glad to see I'm not the only one.
We do not have any sons but Ems does everything a boy can do; assuming it is age appropriate and she is strong enough. Handsome does everything that I do around the house. I tend to do most of the cleaning but that is because I do not work out of the home. Still, when something needs to be done and whoever is around, then they are the ones to complete the task. When Handsome is off of work, he does most of the cooking and dishes. He loves cooking.
