Quote:
Originally Posted by timun
I don't think you can generalize this as a "city kids" vs. "country kids" thing. I'm a city slicker, and I honestly can't remember how old I was when I started doing laundry, washing dishes (by hand in the kitchen sink, with a wash cloth and sponge...), vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing the bath tub, mowing the lawn, taking the garbage out, etc.: I can't remember a time when I didn't have to do these chores.
Hell, I honestly couldn't tell you what age I started making my own lunch for school, but it was sure as #### well before age 10.
I think it's more likely a wealth thing. I went to school with kids whose parents were far, far wealthier than mine, and they either had mothers who stayed at home, or live-in nannies. Those kids were far more likely to not learn how to do chores. (But to be fair, even then, I think for the most part those kids still did learn to do that stuff; just maybe didn't have to do it as often as I did.) |
You're right and I am wrong. I shouldn't have generalized in stating the kids growing up in cities start chores later than kids growing up in the country, although the type of chores and need may differ somewhat. I agree wealth and probably different cultures can play a part in if and when kids do chores.
The subject is important though, as studies have found that people who did more chores at a younger age often had more professional success and happiness in life. Getting back to the subject of the thread, the child's effort may, in a way, relieve some of the exhaustion experienced by women.
In answer to one of the queries above, we hire a housecleaner once a week at a cost of $100. for three hours of work. One of the main areas of concern is the abundance of dog hairs coming from our yellow lab.