# Should I Let My Son Pay For This? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-let-my-son-pay-for-this/612055 "2012-02-07T06:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ballardfam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@ballardfam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ballardfam)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-let-my-son-pay-for-this/612055/41 "2012-02-08T17:01:02Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It wasn’t easy for me. My parents had a cleaning lady and I never was taught to do basics around the house. I actually struggled to learn basic things my friends already knew. Plus it was the mechanics of how you organize yourself and keep your environment managed. I’m a very technically oriented person, but it took me years to learn some of these higher order organizational and responsibility skills. My mom had a housekeeper & between the two of them I didn’t do a load of laundry or cook (except cookie baking) til I was on my own. Did do my own room & major family projects (raking leaves, etc.). My siblings and I were taught to be responsuible and organized with other stuff like homework, activities, jobs. It wasn’t difficult to pick up the mundane housekeeping crap once I was out. I think the OP’s kid, at his age, has most likely picked up all the ‘life lessons’ he’s going to from housework. Now he’s showing initiative in wanting to manage his time & effort. Pretty adult thing to do. Denying him this (imo) is more about controlling him, not teaching. Teaching would be letting him pay for it and watching to see if he finds the continued output of funds is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-let-my-son-pay-for-this/612055/42 "2012-02-10T10:04:54Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Because sometimes people are kind to kids. No offensive intended to the maid, I’m sure. We have to keep my friend from overpaying my daughter when she baby sits for his kids. People are sometimes like that. This sounds to me like silliness, no offense intended. Somebody wants to do your daughter a kindness, and you go out of your way to prevent it? Hmmmmm…what if she were to return the favor? I’m sure you mean it for well, but, here is a girl trying to be independent, and when she is almost rewarded, somebody interferes and says ‘No way!’ Ouch. Thanks, parent! hh ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-let-my-son-pay-for-this/612055/43 "2012-02-10T10:41:24Z")
Well I gave him the go ahead to do it. My housekeeper has been with me over 8 years and would have probably undercharged my son. If he’s going to pay, I want him to get an idea of the true cost. He is almost done with high school and this last semester his classes are pretty much a joke. He could’ve left at the end of December but we discussed it and I think he’s enjoying the socialization for the last semester. He has gym, three computer classes and the work study, which is work after school. So it’s not a hard schedule. He certainly isn’t working much at school. He likes his computer design classes. I make a decent living, and my late husband did well too. I have been very careful to make sure my kids know we had nice things but having them is a privilege their father and I worked for. I work about 70 hours a week so it’s nice to have someone come in and clean. In reality I don’t need a cleaning woman, but with the economy being as it is, I’d hate to let her go, if I can afford it and she could use the money. Plus she does a great job keeping the dog hair away 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-let-my-son-pay-for-this/612055.md?page=2)