Mum is criticised for teaching her son that housework isn’t just for girls
A mum has been criticised for sharing a post about why she’s teaching her son to do housework [Photo: Facebook Nikkole Paulun]
Though the world is undoubtedly wising up to outdated household gender roles, there’s still a way to go. Which is why one woman wanted to shout about the fact that she was teaching her son to do household chores, so he’d realise early on that housework wasn’t just for women.
Mum-of-two Nikkole Paulun from Michigan took to Facebook to share pictures of her six-year-old son, Lyle doing the washing, loading the dishwasher and cooking, alongside a lengthy caption explaining why it is so important to her that her son learns these important life skills.
“I teach my son to cook & do household chores. Why? Because household work isn’t just for women,” she wrote.
“Because one day he might be a single man, living on his own, who will actually know how to do laundry & not eat take out every night. Because one day he might want to impress a significant other with a meal cooked by his own hands. Because one day when he has kids & a spouse, he’s going to need to do his fair share around the home. Because I live in a generation of people who complain that school didn’t teach us how to cook, do laundry, tie a tie, or pay taxes. Because teaching my son how to do these things and be a productive member of society both outside the home and inside, starts with ME. Because it’s okay to let your child be a child but still teach them lifelong lessons along the way,” she continued.
Nikkole is a single mum to two children [Photo: Facebook/Nikkole Paulun]
The 22-year-old went on to challenge traditional gender stereotypes. “My son will never be too “manly” to cook or do chores. He will be the kind of man who can come inside from changing a tire to check on his pot roast. Who can properly sort his laundry and mow the lawn too.”
Nikkole who once appeared on the MTV series ’16 and pregnant’ ended her post by saying that she hopes the lessons her son learns now will help shape the person he goes on to become.
“Remember parents, a man who believes he shouldn’t have to cook or do chores was once a boy who was never taught any better,” she finished the post.
Since sharing earlier this month the post has gone viral with over 148K reactions and more than 58K shares. But while many people praised the mum for slamming outdated gender stereotypes, she also drew some criticism for piling on the chore pressure.
“You do not have kids to be your slave! Or to do the chores that you yourself don’t want to do. I agree with teaching responsibility! But enough is enough,” one woman wrote.
But others were quick to step in and defend Nikkole’s stance.
“She teaching him to be a great man! Thats the probably with this generation of “men” they weren’t taught how to take care of his family… good job nikkole;))) ur a great mum,” one woman wrote.
“I personally think its great she’s teaching her son to be self sufficient my son will be doing the same thing when he is old enough to know what chores are he will still get to play with his friends but only after his chores are done.”
Nikkole shared this picture of her son Lyle relaxing on the sofa [Photo: Facebook/Nikkole Paulun]
Following the backlash the former reality TV star shared a picture of her son lying on the coach.
“And he relaxes after his chores with some video games,” she wrote.
She also responded to criticism that by piling on the chores she wasn’t allowing her children to be children. “I enjoy and do the majority of the housework. My son just helps along the way and earns allowance as well.”
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