“Is it ok to use that All with bleach alternative detergent on everything?” CB wondered. “Sure,” I replied with a smile. “That’s it,” he said. After I hung up, I thought I’d better tell him one more thing and called back to say, “Son, use cold water.” Veteran moms know cold water may not be as effective, but it’s a whole lot more forgiving.
This morning in a short before class call, CB shocked his mom with, “I just want to thank you for doing my laundry all those years. It’s hard.” Laughing, I replied, “Well, I am surprised to hear you thank me. That means a lot.” “Yeah, it took me three hours,” he said, “but I was able to study while I did it.”
I hope CB is learning as much in class as he is outside of it.
17 comments:
I must admit that doing all my own laundry was a big eye opener when I went to college. Nothing like being thrown into survival mode to appreciate what you've taken for granted. I am sure CB will have many more revelations! Gauging from most CBs I've observed, I'm impressed he's gotten to the laundry so quickly! That's a good sign. I don't know where he learned it, but Jeff is better at folding clean clothes than I am.
good job CB, I am sure he is learning plenty in class.
Natalie,
I don't even remember doing laundry in college it's been so long. Ha. But you are right about being thrown into the situation to learn fast. I thought he had enough clothes to go a little longer. Maybe Jeff learned the folding from Boy Scouts.
Marsha,
I was surprised and pleased that at least he is attending to life's little chores.
i love this post honey!!!
smiles, bee
Isn't it nice when they start to learn what you did for them all those years.....
I hate to admit it, but that's pretty much the same way I learned...
My kids learned to do their laundry long before they finished elementary school.
Plus, despite having a loving wife, I do my own laundry!
Miss Bee,
I'm glad to see you visited. I'm thinking about you a lot this week.
Sarge,
I am thankful you bet.
Joe,
The best way to learn is by doing and I don't know why I didn't insist on more of that for second son.
Jay,
You were smart with your kids. It's nice that you do your own laundry. When I worked outside of the home, my husband did the laundry but he never folded my clothes like I thought they should be folded, and I was overly critical. Silly me. Each family devises a system of chores but the best situation is where we all pitch in and know how to do for ourselves.
I grew up in a family of 8 and had only one sister whose job it was to wash the clothes of the entire clan. This was before we got our first washing machine, so she had to do it in the bathtub with a scrub board. These youngsters of today have no idea how lucky they are that they didn’t grow up in “the good old days”
:-)
Don,
And every time someone brings up the "good old days" I'm going to remind him or her of your example. Sister had a tough job, but I'll bet the boys had to pitch in with other chores that were just as hard.
What a wonderful son you have, to phone you with such a great insight!
You must be immensely proud and satisfied!
Marion,
I was, as I said, shocked.
Sheila, you bet we sons had a multitude of tasks assigned to us, both inside the house and outside where we helped maintain the lawn and flower beds, and also worked in 4 gardens to help feed us, cared for the chickens (more food on the table for Sunday dinners and eggs every day), took our cow out to graze, brought her back for water, and milked her twice a day (milk and butter – some of which we sold to neighbors) by the light of a kerosene lantern which I still have as a reminder. We also helped inside with house cleaning, kept the furnace and hot water heater maintained by making sure they were supplied with coal and the clinkers and ashes cleaned out. Ah, yes, those were the “good old days”, but we all learned the rewards of meeting our responsibilities and how to take pride in a job well done.
Also, as I'm sure he found out, hanging around the laundry room is a good way to meet girls. (You didn't ask what he was studying, did you? -- Not that I would have either. Sometimes it's best not to know.)
When Oldest Son was in college he lived in a men-only dorm -- but it didn't have washers -- so they had to use the washers in the women's dorm across the way. (I suppose they could have used the washers in the men's dorm next door -- but these kids weren't completely stupid.)
And what's amazing -- even though they're doing their own laundry... is how much of it happens to come home -- dirty -- at Christmas or other holidays.....
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Well, I hope he'll meet a few. Women tend to "civilize" men. Sorry to be so sexist, but if a guy gets a girlfriend, he will suddenly start cleaning an otherwise pig sty and take personal hygiene to a new level--not that I'm suggesting these things apply to son.
one of the many nice things my mom did for me growing up was she taught me how to cook, do laundry, shop and be self sufficient. I took those skills with me when I left home for college. Dad made sure I knew how to change a tire, use basic tools and basic survival skills. they were good parents. I'm gonna go call my Mom now too!
PSS,
Sounds like your parents were smart to impart these basic survival skills. I guess we try as parents and then reality takes care of the rest. I still don't know how to change a tire--well, I know what you do but have never done it myself. I know my husband can do it, but the last time we had a problem he just stood around a couple of minutes scratching his head and a couple of guys came over and offered to "help." Husband didn't want to deny them the pleasure of a good deed and let them do it al a Tom Sawyer.
Post a Comment