When this mom disclosed that she involves her 7-year-old son in cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry, she faced ridicule from some who insinuated that she was trying to make him more effeminate.
Parents adopt diverse approaches in raising their children, including the lessons they impart from an early age.
This natural variation is evident in parenting styles. While some parents opt for a hands-on approach, allowing their children to learn from trial and error, others may choose a more stringent and structured method.
However, it appears opinions on this matter vary. A few years ago, a woman named Nikkole Paulun, 22, shared online how she assigns responsibilities to her son. According to reports, she learned this lesson through her own experiences and gladly involves her 7-year-old son Lyle in tasks such as cooking and cleaning.
She shared:
I instill in my son the skills of cooking and household chores. Why? Because these tasks aren’t exclusive to women. One day, he might be a single man, living independently, equipped to handle laundry and not reliant on takeout every night. One day, he might wish to impress a significant other with a meal crafted by his own hands. When he has a family of his own, he’ll need to share responsibilities at home.
Living in a generation that often laments the lack of practical life skills taught in school, I take it upon myself to ensure my son learns these essentials.
Teaching my son these abilities is about more than just preparing him for life outside the home; it’s about fostering his role as a productive member of society. It’s about striking a balance, letting him enjoy his childhood while imparting invaluable life lessons.
My son won’t be too “manly” to cook or do chores; he’ll be the kind of man who can switch from changing a tire to checking on his pot roast. He’ll know how to sort laundry and mow the lawn. Parents, remember, a man who resists cooking or chores was once a boy who wasn’t taught any differently.