Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for February 02, 2010

That won’t help. You’ll have to fork over some cold hard cash.

Yeah, time to marry Phil for built in love and child care.

Don’t you marry for built in love? ;-)

It’s not like she has an infant or toddler. Holly and Alix are certainly old enough for cooking and cleaning.

The kids cooked last week, Lightenup; the results were, um, interesting.

Use the “where;s my blouse” option… the answer is “did you wash it?” and other variations…

it does work, the girls are old enought .

I think Joan could use a baby-sitter, if Holly still needs work.

Who knows maybe Val can get some valuable information to motivate her daughters in helping more? Like you like clean clothes, eat, etc no I cannot afford to buy a lot of clothes and too expensive to eat out. Grandma has missed out on so much but she is having whole lot more fun.

When I was married (‘59 for a total of 16 years) my husband never did much of anything around the house. He’d sprinkle the lawn on a nice day (sitting) and with nagging might take out the trash. Fortunately we had boys first - so I got them to take out garbage mow and rake the lawn. I did my groceries on bicycle for the 6 of us (making multiple trips), cooked and cleaned. You’d better believe I taught them to do their own laundry and cook some simple dinners as well as clean their rooms and make their own breakfast and lunches. I helped with their homework, though and taught them good study habits. When the oldest 2 boys were old enough for Cubs, there was no den available, so I became den mother for my 2 and 7 more. I taught the required stuff plus useful skills - even simple wiring of a lamp, candy making balancing while walking on a narrow board/rail…etc. They are all reasonable successful- the eldest 2 having graduated from college with honors, now have PHDs (engineering and finance). That’s enough bragging.

Nice braggin vldazzle!…so you divorced that dude after 16 years?

Way to go vldazzle! I am lucky, and my husband is a stay at home dad. He works hard though, cooks, cleans, does laundry, dishes, carts me and the kid around, takes care of our 3 dogs. Since I’m the breadwinner, we don’t have much money, but I do get lots of help. Wouldn’t trade it for anything! :)

I’m one that gave up a job it paid way lower 27 years ago then my husband and daycare was high back then. I did a lot of the work and husband he worked hard and a lot of over time. Now he is retired I am pt can’t get full time and he does a lot around the house and cooks too:) We have two I made them do laundry and tried to get them to cook and they showed no interest. They can’t get jobs either.

Not to brag, but my wife got a prize. My Mother wanted me to be a bachelor so she taught me everything. Since my wife and I got married, I’ve helped around the house from 2am feedings and diapers to laundry and dusting and running of the the vacuum. It doesn’t hurt after all marriage is a 50-50 proposition the good with the bad.

The question is, why didn’t Grandma teach the girls to be self-sufficient? They ought to be a help to Mom at their age.

I agree that grandma Evie should have taught the gals! My maternal gma was a great cook (and person) who inspired me, but she had just 3 daughters. I’m not sure about my aunts, but my mom was the worst cook EVER! (so I cooked for our family from 7th grade) - and YES arsmall, I left him as soon as the youngest (our daughter) was 1/2 day in kindergarten, so I could work to support them (was never on welfare).

My mom never used the giult trip she used “You live here for free. DO IT!!”

Yes, I remember Saskfan. LOL! :-) That should have been used as a lesson for what a nutritious meal should be. A good way would be to start out with something easy like pasta, (frozen) meatballs and veggies, and walk her through it once or twice. Holly should learn (or know) how to boil water.

IndyMan said,

Not to brag, but my wife got a prize. My Mother wanted me to be a bachelor so she taught me everything. Since my wife and I got married, I’ve helped around the house from 2am feedings and diapers to laundry and dusting and running of the the vacuum. It doesn’t hurt after all marriage is a 50-50 proposition the good with the bad.

~~~

You’re right, your wife did get a prize even if you do say so yourself. I wish more men thought like you.

I got a prize too, my husband’s great around the house, as a matter of fact he’s less tolerant than I am when the house gets into a mess. Kids basically cook, bake and clean too, even the 9 year old (boy, the girls are 13 and 17) is of real help and getting better. :D

My family consisted of me, my daughter and several cats. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!