Tired of being called the evil step-MONSTER - At what age should kids cut up own meat?

lab082199 wrote: I have an 8yo step-son who doesn't know how to cut his own meat. Am I crazy? I have a 12yo that I am almost positive that I taught much earlier than 8. Please somebody shed some light on this for me. I can't remember. Oh yeah and he can't wipe his own bottom by himself either. Isn't that late bloomer?
Thanks,

loveydad replied: Okay that sounds a little lazy to me. My son's are 5 and for the most part do all that stuff.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Ok I have kids from age 6-14 and they all cut there own meat. My 6 year old gets mad if I try to do it for him, because he is not a BABY he says.

Now, my 14 year old throws a fit and wants me to make her plate, Like I do for the younger boys. I make there plates for the reason that no matter how many times they wash there hands i feel like they are nasty boy hands, and don't want the frog germs all over my kitchen.

But they can't make their plate and do their dishes(dishwasher) then they don't eat.

TANNER'S MOM replied: *****oopps almost double posted sry

jcc64 replied: Did you say 8 yrs old and still not wiping his own butt? That's pretty astonishing, imo. If they're co-ordinated enough to work a gameboy, video game, or a remote, they're co-ordinated enough to wipe their own butts.

TANNER'S MOM replied: oH MY GOD. I don't think I saw the wipe his own butt thing. Now how in the heck did that happen. I don't want to smell my kids poop, and maybe it is me but dang.

Tell him to wipe or wear it. He will get tired of being the stunky kid and wipe. I am disgusted at the mother who acutally touches her 8 yr old butt, I think 3 or 4 was the last time I have wiped a butt. I have been alot of toilet paper but I don't care I say wipe away!

Boys r us replied: Well, my 8 yr old CERTAINLY wipes hi own behind, but I do still cut his meat for him.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: My daughter has been wiping her own butt since she was potty trained. She is 4 and I still cut her meat. Not sure about an 8 year old.

kimberley replied: if the meat is tougher to cut (like steak or something) i will do it for them still. knives can be used as weapons LOL. but for waffles or pasta, etc, they get a pair of kitchen scissors and do it themselves and they are 8 & 6 yo.

there is no way i would be wiping their behinds at their age!

Kirstenmumof3 replied: Both of my older children ages 7 & 9 know how to cut up there own meat. I think I started teaching them to cut up things with play doo when they were around 2 or 3.

momof2girls replied: He cant wipe his own butt??? Ummm I dont get that!
What does he do if he has to go in school???

MomofJandB replied: I still make my kid's plates. My son is 5 and won't take enough of the "right" stuff and my daughter is 8 and will take too much of the starchy stuff, like potatoes. Therefore, I can portion what they get. Plus, when I cut the meat, like steak or pork, I do it on a cutting board, then move it to their plate. Honestly, until I read your post, I never even thought about the fact that my 8 year old might not know how to cut her own meat! Certainly something for me to think about.

As to the wiping...eeewww! My ds is finally taking the responsibility himself, YEA! It can be a messy result, but there will be no teachers wiping him next year in Kindergarten! I think I've let my part in it go on too long, as it is! That part I would definitely work on! Good luck!

AmyO replied: I feel ya about the meat thing but the butt thing? That's gross!
I thought I was the only evil step monster. My stepson is 9.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: My son is 2 1/2 and pitches a fit about the meat, only if WE are cutting OURS, then he wants to do his.

I've fixed that problem...maybe it's more of a hassle for me, but I don't care... when I'm cooking the meat, when it's about 1/2 way done, I take it all out of the pan or whateve,r and cut it all up, then all the pieces are cooked individually, bite-sized. So there, no fighting, and nobody gets to cut their own meat.

When I notice that Zach is pretty proficient with other stuff.... (like scissors, cutting playdoh etc...) then I will start trying to let him cut stuff. He's used a plastic knife before.... and grasps the concept...but still sucks at it and makes one heck of a mess, so I just don't bother, not with food.

But for the butt thing? Zach is fully potty trained - he wipes his own butt too. Not too well sometimes, but he doesn't need to know... it gets wiped properly at bath time.

MichaelsMommy replied: My 11yr olds have a tough time with the meat cutting thing.
They try, but I am always after them about how they hold
their fork and knife to get them to do it the right way.
I may have cut theirs too long for them. I keep joking
with them about 'what are you going to do when you
go out on a date?' They joke back and say they'll
just order salad.