Well my family was a little diffrant then most as my Mom is in a wheelchair.She can walk but not stand for a long time.So as the oldest daughter I was in charge of the cooking cleaning and laundery for a family of 5 starting at the age of 12 or 13.I was in 7th grade and I would come home clean the living room and the kitchen then wash any clothes we needed for thr next day.Then clean the bathroom.Then do my homework.I have a younger sister and an older brother.But most of the chores fell on me.
I started working a part time job at 14 only in the summer.I still had to do all the cooking and clean the kitchen and wash my own clothes.Bye this time my little sister had been made to help around the house more.My brother had quit school and started working full time.He spent most of his time at my uncles house becaue he worked at night for him cleaning stores floors.As you can imagin I spent a lot of time cleaning and cooking and working.I was charged rent.I think it was around 20.00 a week to live there.But I still had all the chores.I was only makeing 3.75 an hour at the time and only worked 20 hours or less at my job.So 20.00 was a lot of money.That was the first year I had new clothes to wear to school becaue I bought them.
At 18 I got a seddlment for a car accedent I was in at 14 were I hurt my back.I was forced to give my Mom $1200.00 of it because she had taken me to the doctor and paid for the perscriptions.Both of which were covered under the family health insurance.
I graduated from high school.Then I got a full time job and paid rent and still did the chores for the family.I moved out at 19.I was on my own for about 6 months when I had an accident at work that caused me to be off work for about 8 weeks.I lost my apartment and had to move back home.
This time I refused to work like a slave for my family.I went back to work but I quit soon after.I found another job.I was working again full time.I paid 1/3 of my pay check to my parents for rent.I worked I did some chores and kept my own room clean.And I was still attending 5 meeting a week and field service at least twice a month.
I moved out again when I was 22 or 23.My roommate at the time moved in with her boyfriend and I had no choice but to move back in with my parents.This time was when I DA ed.My Mom told me I couldn't move in unless I went back to the meetings.I told her no and she went to the elders.I wrote my letter the next day.I was allowed to move back in but I spent most of the time at my old roomates house because of the stress.I only slept there occasionaly and I ate no meals there.I still paid rent.But I only took care of my stuff and I cleaned the bathroom because no one eles ever did.I lived this way for about three years.
I moved out the finnaly for good when I was 26.I'm now 31 almost 32.I can cook clean and take care of my own things.I bought every thing I have because after I had my first job my parents stopped buying me clothes and things like that.
I wanted a TV for my room.I bought it myself.I wanted a new bed I bought it myself.What ever it was I did it myself.I have come to reliase as much as I hated it when growing up I learned to care for myself and my stuff.Because mommy and daddy won't replace it for me.I earned the money to buy it myself and if I wanted it to last I had to take care of it.I learned to cook and clean.I learned to care for my house.
I share this story with you so you can tell your kids how good they really have it.I wish I had a Mom who cooked and cleaned for me.I wish all I had to worry about was going to school to educate myself.I hope your kids appreciate what you do for them.