THings are different with workmates and their kids and my family and parents.
Growing up, I thought that my parents only had kids because we were cheaper than slaves. Mum had us cook one meal for the family per week, we had to wash up, on a roster. Dad had us shovelling dirt, digging holes, mixing and laying concrete, paving, building and construction, gardening, preparing lawns, and ultimately maintaining cars.
Now, I see how much he taught us, and that the lessons were more than just how to do things.
Guys at work can't get their 15 year old sons away from the telephone and T.V.
Mum (deputy pricipal of a school) was telling me just how bad it's getting these days. The senior kids in the primary school (12ish), are on a roster to answer the phones at lunchtime, while the school secretary has her lunch break. One parent told the school that her child was not doing this, unless the school paid him secretaries rates to do so.