A small part of me suspects this is a fake post but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. Being part of a family means everyone should be pitching in, as they say, many hands make light work. But it is not the teenagers responsibility to cook for her younger siblings while parents are out kicking their heels up and having a good ol’ time. The parent needs to do exactly that – parent. Look after your own kids!

Everyone living in the house is old enough to help with cooking and chores.
I think it would be fair for each person to have a rotating chore roster, one night you may cook the next you wash the dishes.
I don’t think this family is eating a well balanced diet and I think that is alarming for these growing children. The parents need to make some changes.

I think you should help but not with all the things you’ve listed. Parents should be doing their part too

I think that all of the kids should help out with any preparations like setting the table, doing the dishes at night and, once in a while, do a little bit of cooking but you shouldn’t be expected to cook every night. I see your Mum and Dad are eating out a lot and I’m sure they wouldn’t want to eat the same thing every night. It sounds to me like your parents don’t want kids anymore. They should be reported for child labour

Both my parents worked and from the age of 9 years I was in the kitchen helping out. By 11 years I could cook dinner for a family of 6 people. Every 6 weeks I cooked for a week but got help from my siblings and Mum. It made me into a great cook indeed. So grateful for that.

This is not right or fair. I’m all for kids helping out but this is really unhealthy. If the parents are happy to order takeaway maybe they could at least order some pre-packaged salads, cold chicken or roast meat etc. Healthy dinners can still be quick and easy. Cheaper than takeaway too.

I think a round the table discussion would be good wherein organisation could be discussed and tasks are divided in a balanced and honest way

Sounds like a real-life Cinderella. And very hard to come up with a solution for you. It is a pity that you don’t have the right to just cook something for yourself and watch the others quickly come round to at least sharing the chores with you. You, too, must have homework to do. Who did all the cooking before you were 15? I do hope something happens in a nice way for you and soon.

It’s great to have a little help with dinner, but to have a 15 year old cook most nights is not good. Those parents need to wake up and grow up. Provide healthy meals for their teenage kids and be around for them. I just want to hug this poor girl and cook her some meals.

• • 
  • • Ellen replied
    • 09 Sep 2024 , 7:52 am

  ---

  Yes, my heart goes out to her too

They don’t sound like very good parents. I work 9 to 5 and there is always a home cooked meal. The only exception is the odd Sunday when we get home late from our adventures. Honestly, with kids all the age they are, they could have a roster so they pitch in. It’s not unreasonable for kids that old to be helping out, but I think it’s very unfair it’s all falling to one child and that the parents are going to parties all the time.

I had friends who’s parents both worked and they had to prep meals during the week. Peeling veggies or making meat dishes putting these in the oven or onto the cooker for slow-cooking casseroles. It is not fair putting this onto one child but these are the cards you have been dealt so make the best of this make a list of food you can cook for the family. Rice and Pasta dishes with meats and veggies. Easy fast and tasty Burgers and Wraps are easy and tasty. Chicken is fast and easy too. BBQ’s are fun and easy. Maybe the boys would like to cook the BBQ’s. Girls grabs bags of salads and add a dressing. Mexican food is fast and tasty as is Thai. Chicken is easy to prepare and grab some sauces to marinade the meat add frozen veggies. You can make yourself into a great chef and hopefully your family will appreciate you more. And maybe want the help and learn what you do. You are a great daughter just don’t let this get you down. Get your sisters 12 and 14 onboard with you and get them chopping and peeling and cooking together. Get Mum and Dad to shop the ingredients you require to make tasty meals.

Definitely more food choices are needed a family discussion and family shopping trip weekly. Hopefully mum can step up. A team effort is required from all the kids food and dinner responsibility shouldn’t be put on one child. Sandwiches, eggs, beans should not be the only quick meal options.

Shame on these parents. Each child needs to cook once a week and the parents the other nights and forget about their immature parties. Is there a drink or drug problem with these irresponsible parents? Ask for a food budget to get in some food stocks that are healthy. Have some fruit and nuts around for snacks.

This is terrible. Why does this responsibility fall on one child. Where’s the parenting?

Cooking something like once a week might be a fair request, if everyone is taking a turn. But even then they should be providing healthy ingredients.

That’s awful. Firstly, what they’re eating is not very nutritional. Secondly, it’s up to patents to ensure kids are eating healthy meals. Yeah, the kids can help with meal preparation and keeping the house clean, but I do think these patents are expecting too much

Sounds like there is a lot wrong here.
I feel very much for her and can only hope thatshe is able to find a way to sort this out.
Sounds like Mum and dad feel you can all cope on your own and they have given up being parents.

• • 
  • • Ellen replied
    • 05 Sep 2024 , 7:48 am

  ---

  To be honest I wonder if they’re able to come to a solution as in one of the conversations the parents state that they’re not just going to stop doing whatever to make the daughter content and that if she was really hungry she’d eat whatever. A concerning situation indeed

Why not ask your parents for a shopping budget and then shop online for ingredients to make healthier meals. Also, there is no reason why the other siblings cannot get involved in making dinner or washing up. It doesn’t take very long especially when there is more than one person cooking.

It’s important to have some responsibilities at home but far out. Kids still need to be kids. It seems like the parents have completely checked out. At the very least the parents could make sure there is food in the house to feed them. Money doesn’t seem like an issue seems they can afford takeout most nights. Very sad and shame on the parents.

Sounds like the kids are just being left to it while the parents do their own thing.
I think the kids would be better off cooking their own meals maybe asking for certain foods in the house instead of takeaway. Very sad.