A while back, we decided it was time our kids learnt to help in the kitchen. I asked my son to peel the carrots. He said he didn’t know how to peel carrots.
What skills have you passed on to your kids? PICTURE: Patti Adair/www.freeimages.com
I said, “How can you not know how to peel carrots? Everyone can peel carrots!”
It made me stop and think. Of course, he couldn’t peel carrots. He had never done it before. If I hadn’t taught him, who did I think was going to teach him?
Hmm. What else haven’t I taught my children? Can they change a tyre, clean a toilet, iron a shirt? Hold a conversation, treat a date well, pay a bill?
We expect schools to teach our kids so much, but the reality is; it’s our job. If I have “useless” children perhaps it’s because I’ve been a useless parent.
The good news is, my wife isn’t useless.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
