Are you really appreciated?

[tnokie]

Our 15 year old grandson stayed the night with us while his parents were out of town. So I was sitting ,visiting with him after he got up(at 9 am) this morning. And he says,"So is this what you do all day,just sit around the house and watch t v?" Now the house is not spotles but it is clean and orderly,laundry done,dishes washed,carpets vaccumned,beds made. The yard looks like a park with a multitude of flowers and shurbbery all neatly taken care of,A host of critters are well fed and taken care of. Who does he think does all this? And I am on disability but I still take care of all this while the wife works! Now I feel like I'm useless and lazy and wonder if thats what everyone thinks of me! Bummer.

[sewsilly]

WHAT~!~? ; )

Tomorrow morning, get that young lad up and make sure, that long before sunrise, he does all the chores right beside you, let him help cook breakfast and clean it up before leaving for church. Make sure that he doesn't sit down at all.

heaven, help us...

and you can remind him that when we've had to be away, we've left the 15 year old home to tend to the entire farm, ALONE.

Nothing like a little honest work to up the level of appreciation!

dawn

[bajiay]

Don't down yourself just because of a teenager. You have to remember what their mentality is at that age. They don't know, what they don't know, understand? You can come over to my house and do all of that stuff! I would much appreciate you!

[Txrider]

Originally Posted by tnokie

Our 15 year old grandson stayed the night with us while his parents were out of town. So I was sitting ,visiting with him after he got up(at 9 am) this morning. And he says,"So is this what you do all day,just sit around the house and watch t v?" Now the house is not spotles but it is clean and orderly,laundry done,dishes washed,carpets vaccumned,beds made. The yard looks like a park with a multitude of flowers and shurbbery all neatly taken care of,A host of critters are well fed and taken care of. Who does he think does all this? And I am on disability but I still take care of all this while the wife works! Now I feel like I'm useless and lazy and wonder if thats what everyone thinks of me! Bummer.

Who does he think does all this you ask?

All what?

He likely doesn't have a clue anything is done at all, that everything isn't just naturally always just the way he sees it.

You need to get him for a week, and have him see what gets done that he has no idea doesn't just do itself..

[fetch33]

Probably thinks your wife does all of that due to gender roles. My own daughter told me that I should be doing her laundry and cleaning up after her because I am the mom and that is what moms do. Well, both my husband and I work out of the home and share most chores. My daughter now does her own laundry....

[Maura]

This was impolite of him. But, maybe he was sincere. I agree with having him do what you do, so he'll know. And it's okay to tell him that you are slower than you were twenty years ago, and can't do all of the things you used to, but you still (fill in the blank, weed the garden, do the laundry,...)

[fffarmergirl]

I bet he wasn't suggesting you don't work enough. He was probably bored and wondering if you do anything fun. 15-yr-olds don't care how much work you do or how clean your house is, etc. What he probably meant to say was "Do you ever go to the mall or play video games or go to the movies?"

[Ardie/WI]

I think that 15-year-old was suffering from Open Mouth,Insert Foot Syndrome!

They're famous for that!

[Goat Servant]

Originally Posted by fffarmergirl

I bet he wasn't suggesting you don't work enough. He was probably bored and wondering if you do anything fun. 15-yr-olds don't care how much work you do or how clean your house is, etc. What he probably meant to say was "Do you ever go to the mall or play video games or go to the movies?"

Ditto what Fffarmergirl said, good interpretation!

On the other hand alot of our family helped Grandma & Grandpa move. Two of my nephews, 17 & 20 were sitting around texting.
Grandpa (my Dad) comes in takes a brief look at them & in a fairly loud voice, "Who are these lazy bums!?"

[martenfisher]

With as lazy as the average teenager is I am kinds surpised to hear one saying somthing about watching TV all day. In a way that is kinda good. On the other hand he could use the back of some knuckles to the lip.

[lamoncha lover]

unappreciated that would be me. But I won't go there as it would be hi jacking and that aint nice
I am with the folks who say get him up as the rooster crows and let him help you do the chores. Best way to learn is by experience

[Yvonne's hubby]

It sounds to me like mr 15 year old is as clueless as to what you "did" to make your home what it is today. I am also going to go along with the comment about his being bored without all the video games and other play activities that most teens use to waste their time. Sounds to me like you have done your work well, have a comfy home and accomplished an awful lot. 15 year olds opinions count very little in my house.

[Danaus29]

At least he wasn't complaining about how boring you are. (You're not, IMO) I have to agree that he probably has no clue about how much you really do and was probably wondering what you do for fun. Maybe he wanted to get involved in some of the things you do but asked about it the wrong way.

[Pony]

You could have just asked him what his point was. He probably meant no offense whatsoever, just wondered what you do all day.

15 year olds are not necessarily known for their scintillating communication skills. Give the kid - and yourself - a break.

[Harry Chickpea]

Ooops. Teens can be good parrots. I'd be wondering about his father.

[shanzone2001]

I haven't read all of the responses, but i think you should have him follow you around while you do your chores and make him help.
That will change his mind for sure!!!!

[jlrbhjmnc]

Poor kid doesn't have any adults teaching him skills. Get him up and take him with you to do all the stuff you do around the place. Don't take it too hard. He'll grow up and be really embarrassed if he remembers it.

[landdweller]

my son whos 11 said one day- wheres my clean jeans.... Well, I wash all laundry and fold it... I told him its wherever u put them. My boys that are 6 and 11 are responsible for feeding the dogs ( I prepare it they take it to them) helping their dad take trash to the curb on monday night, and when the can is full emptying it. After making my 11 year old help me clean house including laundry, changing diapers ( There are 2 in diapers) dishes, changing litter boxes, vaccuming, seeping, picking up toys, etc for one day all he could say was " I'm glad Im not home everyday mom. I am wore out." lol He never walks in the door after school and asks me if I have done anything all day cause he now knows what I do every day....

[JanS]

to sewsilly! After a day helping you with chores, the boy will be singing a different tune. Don't be mad at him if he doesn't know any better....but do show him better.

You'll be doing him a big favor by straightening him out because if he tries a line like that on his future wife it isn't going to be pretty.

[Pony]

I think that many of us, if we think back to when we were that age, would have to admit that we often forgot to engage our brain before we accelerated our mouths...