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It’s a given that daughters should learn homemaking skills but often the sons get off scott-free. Even if your son plans to marry some day, there are still some essential homemaking skills your son should know before leaving home. 

Why Your Son Should Know Some Homemaking Skills Before Leaving Home

You may think that once your son turns 18 he will magically become a responsible adult who knows how to take care of himself and a household.

Wrong!

These things must be taught and practiced as your son is growing into a man. 

It is much easier to teach basic homemakings skills to your son while he is still under your wing. Trying to describe the detergent dispenser compartments on a washing machine over the phone can be a bit tricky.

When he’s younger, let him watch you work and see what it takes to run a household. As he gets older, assign age-appropriate tasks for him that you might tend to give to the girls.

As he becomes a teen, choose a few tasks to turn over to him completely for a day or a week. Always be there for any questions, but not to swoop in and save the day. Let him run out of underwear if he didn’t get his laundry done in time.

He’ll survive! And he will learn the consequences of not completing his duties.

With basic homemaking skills he can competently fly the coop knowing he can do his own laundry, nourish himself and keep a tidy home or room.

Homemaking Skills Your Son Should Know Before Leaving Home…

Even if he plans to marry right away.

First I’ll state the obvious: if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans! That’s awesome if your son finds “the One” and marries right away, but not all of us are so swift. [Hand raised!]

I gotta say that a man who knows how to care for a woman when she’s sick is a huge attraction for us girls!

When I was recovering from having our first child I was able to relax so much more knowing that my husband could do his own laundry, fry an egg, vacuum the floors, make toast and take care of our finances.

Don’t get me wrong! Being the stay-at-home wife and mom who dotes on her husband the minute he walks in the door is my dream! I don’t expect him to come in from the fields and have to cook and clean yet. But as the manager and caretaker of our home I like to keep my husband in the loop on how I do things just so he knows.

I let him know where I keep all our online passwords. I show him which laundry detergent I use for what. And he knows that I keep baked goodies, ice cream and soup in the upstairs freezer for his easy access.

5 Homemaking Skills Your Son Should Know Before Leaving Home

1. Basic Cooking: The most consumed convenience food while we were kids was a fried egg sandwich. This was one of the first foods we learned to make for ourselves. Even my brothers. Fried or hard boiled eggs are easy to fix and great nourishment.
2. Cleaning: Ya can’t live in hog swaller! Mold growing on dirty dishes isn’t cool. Nothing has to be spotless, but a guy should be able to swing a dust rag and wrangle a vacuum when the time calls for it.
3. Basic Finances: This skill doesn’t have a gray area. He must know how to keep a checkbook register! If your son doesn’t know where his money goes, he won’t have any. Make sure he has the phone numbers or online access to his bank for any questions.
4. Laundry: Again, nobody likes hog swaller! Not only teach your son how to do laundry but also how to fold it and put it away. Clean clothes is great. Clean, unwrinkled clothes is even better. Teach your son how to do laundry in your home machines but also take him to the laundromat. If you’ve never been to one yourself, go learn how to use the machines together. Teach him what all you have to bring from home, how to make sure you have quarters or your card filled and help him figure out what size machine he needs to use. And remind him how lucky he is he doesn’t have to use a wringer washer or a washboard!
5. Filing System: Help your son set up a simple filing system for his important papers. This may seem like a menial skill but it is so important. He needs an accessible, organized place to keep W-2s, applications, college financial info, car maintenance papers, manuscripts, bills, etc. You don’t have to send him off with a fancy filing cabinet if you don’t want. An office box with folders will do just fine.  

I’m not saying your son has to enjoy all these homemaking skills, but he should know how to do them when necessary.

So start training now in these homemaking skills your son should know before leaving home!

 

 

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