Cooking Responsibilities: Raising Teens and Grown Children

Do your parents cook for you daily? At 21 and living with your parents but having them let the fridge go empty and not cook daily, you might sometimes feel upset. Is this a reasonable feeling? Let’s explore.

Teens Cooking at 16

At 16, you were already cooking and buying food. That’s commendable! The reality is that as you grow older, you should contribute more to your daily responsibilities. If you are under 18, you might not yet be fully responsible for cooking for yourself.

Adult Responsibilities at 18

If you are 18 or older, consider yourself fortunate if your parents still allow you to live in their home. At 18, you are responsible for your own care and feeding. You can take the initiative to buy your own food and cook for yourself. There are several options:

Order takeout: This can be expensive but provides convenience. Buy supermarket meals: While not as cheap as cooking your meals, it’s still a viable option. Hire a chef: An expensive but luxurious option.

Older Teenagers under 18

Older teenagers who are at least capable of having a job but are not yet expected to pay for their own food can certainly cook for themselves. However, they might also consider contributing more to household responsibilities.

Parental Expectations and Financial Support

It’s important to understand that if you are an adult over 18, living at home should not cost your parents anything they can’t afford easily. If they are on limited incomes and providing you with a place to live, at the very least, you should be paying for your food, gas, car, clothes, and part of the utilities.

If you contribute to household expenses, it fosters a sense of responsibility and mutual respect. On the flip side, if you live like a bum while others sustain you, it can create inconvenience and tension in the household.

Learning to Cook: Resources and Steps

Do you need help learning to cook? If so, you can leverage available resources. Libraries often provide step-by-step books on cooking and cleaning. Additionally, there are numerous online resources and cooking tutorials. For example, a simple search on the internet can teach you how to cook a basic dish like meatloaf.

Start with learning fundamental cooking skills, and gradually, you will become more confident in the kitchen. Remember, cooking is a valuable life skill that can save money and provide a personal touch to your meals.

Conclusion

Living with parents at 21 and having them handle daily cooking responsibilities can indeed be challenging. However, it’s important to take some initiative and learn the necessary skills. Whether through cooking, contributing to household expenses, or both, taking on more responsibilities can help build a stronger, more independent lifestyle.

Do you need additional support or resources to learn to cook? Explore your local library, online cooking communities, and even community cooking classes. Learning to cook can be a journey of personal growth and self-reliance.