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What was your most hated chore as a child?

(172 Posts)
littleflo Thu 11-Nov-21 10:12:58

My mother worked full time including Saturdays. So we were left with a big list of chores. My most hated one was, ‘cleaning the cutlery’. For some weird reason, I had to take everything out of the draw, clean each individual item with Vim and then wash and dry it before putting it back neatly in the drawer.

One day I went out with a friend and did not get back in time for all the chores. I tipped the cutlery into a sink of water and then dried it. She never noticed and so that became the norm afterwards.

User7777 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:02:33

Same as Paddyann54. My mother was houseproud. Liked to do it herself. Wanted us to be children until older. I cooked in my teen years. But it certainly paid off for her. She was well looked after in her elderly years. Was looked after well, with her dementia. Children need to be children first, adulthood comes with a myriad of issues and problems. So being able to remember carefree days is idyllic

jenpax Fri 12-Nov-21 12:03:31

Changing my bed (still hate!) and writing the obligatory thank you letters to hardly seen family

Cs783 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:03:38

It’s stayed with me that someone I knew, born 1970s, had to make an inch of lace (for granny) before going to school.

Me, 1 daughter with 3 brothers - I only remember the washing up rota. Mum was pleased when I baked because she thought I studied too hard ?. Oh my lovely mum.

Annaram1 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:05:09

I was 10 years old when my sister was born. At lunch time on weekends and school holidays it was my job to push her pram back and forth until she went to sleep. Just when I thought I could leave she would wake up and scream.
I was another who had to polish all the silver once a week.
Also had to peel carrots and potatoes.
Had to walk the dog when time permitted, but I liked that.
Also had to take a bucket to a nearby field where there were cows and collect cow pats for the garden. Always tried to find the dry ones. Then had to top up the bucket with water so that my dad could water the vegetables and his much loved roses.
My brother had no job, only used to help Dad wash the car.

Nannan2 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:05:34

Hated shoe polishing?

grandtanteJE65 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:11:58

I am glad to hear that so many of you had chores.

DH told me rather unkindly the other day that no-one was brought up like that when I mentioned daily chores.

The ones I hated most weren't daily though.

I had to clean two birdcages every Saturday morning and a hen-house once a month.

I was happy to do anything else, quite literally, but I detest the smell of a mucky hen-house.

Amalegra Fri 12-Nov-21 12:14:32

My sister and I were supposed to do the dishes every night but it didn’t always happen. On the occasions when it did, I remember we would quarrel about who would wash and who would wipe until my father would get tired of it and intervene. We would spend the duration of the task not speaking, as ordered, but making horrible faces at each other!

Dee1012 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:15:57

I wasn't given any chores as a child, although she'd often let me 'help'.

Once I hit 13, I was told that as I was becoming a young woman, that my room was my own and it was my responsibility to keep it clean.
I was allowed to choose some new items of furniture and pick colours for redecoration - I can still remember my Dad's face at my choices but it was all done.
I loved cleaning that room...
I felt so proud and grown up smile

daisybooh Fri 12-Nov-21 12:16:20

Dig over my grandmas chicken coop was stinky and the hens would peck my legs and fly round hated that job

Awesomegranny Fri 12-Nov-21 12:20:46

Never really had chores, but I used to love chopping logs, ironing and cleaning the oven with one of those spongy things you left on for a while before wiping away

FarawayGran Fri 12-Nov-21 12:24:06

I had to polish the furniture while my mum was out working.
I removed all the ornaments, dusted them, shook out the little lines mats, or put them in the wash if necessary.
One day she came home and gave me a row for not dusting the sideboard legs (spindly curved things) I was so upset, as I'd spent ages doing all the rest that I never polished again, and she never asked me to

FarawayGran Fri 12-Nov-21 12:24:55

**linen mats, embroidered and lacy

katy1950 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:27:13

Getting the coal in

Hatty05darling Fri 12-Nov-21 12:28:42

I have so enjoyed this post on hated jobs but best of all is that being in the category of “gran” we have so many similar experiences!! I was cooking a full roast dinner for 6 at the age of 7!! The young things I know ...... goodness me!! Having said all that I am so glad I grew up in the 50’s! My mum is still alive and we have some great and insightful conversations about the ‘old days’ . Wonderful! I am helping with a young family at the moment - oh goodness - the angst, anxiety and many other issues they have fill me with horror!! I’m too old and cynical for that! Just been to 2 amazing live concerts postponed goodness knows how many times and what a blast!! Forgot how much I missed live music!! Gigspanner and Show of Hands. Give yourself a treat girls! Peter Knight’s B sharp English!! What a musician!!

Philippa111 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:29:24

Raking out the fire and getting all the ashes out and then resetting it by making rolled up 'kindling' from newspaper then small sticks and then small bits of coal. It had to be done correctly otherwise it wouldn't light! Another horrible job was polishing the silver tea set and other silver items from around the house. Horrible eggy smell of the Silvo polish and then the black marks left on the cloth after polishing it up. I till loathe housework!

Philippa111 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:31:18

What a wise mother you had!

Philippa111 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:32:44

That last message was meant for Dee1012.

She777 Fri 12-Nov-21 12:35:50

I used to hate cleaning the brass, it took ages and I still hate the scent of Brasso.
On the other hand I used to have to iron as a punishment for being naughty but this was OK because I love ironing. My mum never realised until I was in my 20’s and I told her. I still go to parents and do the ironing now.

sundowngirl Fri 12-Nov-21 12:37:06

I didn't have to do any chores when I was young. I was an only child (my mum and dad waited 12 years for me) and my mum would say 'you'll have enough to do when you get married'. We didn't ask our children to do any chores either. I don't mind ironing but don't like jeans or shirts much

Alioop Fri 12-Nov-21 12:38:10

Clearing out the cupboard under the stairs, where shoes and coats, etc were kept. I was the smallest so could get right in the back of it, but so could the spiders too.

homefarm Fri 12-Nov-21 12:46:03

Being made responsible for my sister - she is only 14 months younger than me - as I was the oldest!
At school she was always in trouble, one member of staff said 'I don't know how you put up with her' nor did I.

Yammy Fri 12-Nov-21 12:48:33

Cleaning out the fire and using something called a" gas poker", to put it on. It was a metal tube with holes, attached to the gas supply and you lit it with a match. Smelt awful and gave out quite a flame.

Lollipop1 Fri 12-Nov-21 13:15:17

I was eight when I started. My job was to fill the coal bucket from the coal shed, after school chop the kindling in the garage, the axe was too heavy for me so I used a sharp knife and hammered it into the wood 'til it split. Then.... clean out the grate, make the paper firelighters, add the wood and small bits of coal until it caught, then gradually adding more. Also collect my baby brother from nursery. One parent family, only had a dad.

Kaggi60 Fri 12-Nov-21 13:19:07

Peeling the potatoes but finally got away with it because nan said I was taking to much peel off and took the job off me but I was cooking since age of 7

Joesoap Fri 12-Nov-21 13:19:23

Cant remember doing anything I didnt like but I dont like ironing or even housework really, but it has to be done.