The Memory of Chores

My first “housekeeping” memory was standing on a wooden chair by the stove stirring a pot while my grandmother taught me to cook. I was doing helps around the house from early on. Of course as most children do I complained one day about not wanting to do my share of the chores and my mom just sat me down. She explained to me that even though I was young now one day I would have my own home and what she was teaching me was important so that I would know what to do then when she wouldn’t be there to do it for me any more. I don’t remember my age at the time, early teens I’m guessing but I remember that talk making a real impact on me. I remember thinking about what she said while I was working. I think to often parents cave in to fast today. “Oh don’t make them clean up their room, let them be young” and so on type thinking but in the long run I think it hurts them more than any help. Even now some of my friends come to me not knowing how to do things. That’s fine, no one knows everything. I’m happy to share but I do wonder what their childhood was like compared to mine. I say to parents, hold your ground, pick your battles, and remember that life you are molding will be on its own one day. What will they do then?