Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: tarasis on October 09, 2011, 03:07:59 pm
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Trying to move the conversation out of the what are we cooking thread as I think its an interesting topic and one that is quite relevant to me at the moment.
Relevant quotes from the other thread
Yeah its not unusual for me to have a house full of kids most weekends. My next door neighbor works on the weekend and leaves her kids home alone (I don't approve as they are only 8 and 11) So they end up here nearly every weekend so I figure they may as well join in.
way 2 young to be left alone :( >:(
oh that is so annoying...some parents are just so irresponsible :) At least they have you for neighbours dede !
it makes me so mad when i see kids as young as 6 walking home from school alone....who the hell does that..sorry that and kids with no seat belts is a sore point for me >:(
oh that is so annoying...some parents are just so irresponsible :) At least they have you for neighbours dede !
it makes me so mad when i see kids as young as 6 walking home from school alone....who the hell does that..sorry that and kids with no seat belts is a sore point for me >:(
Come to Germany, its mostly expected that children 6+ will walk home or get the bus home alone from school. Our son is desperate too do it but I've resisted so far these last 6 weeks as I enjoy spending the 20-25 minutes each way with him & him alone.
As to being left alone, its a matter of degree's I guess. I remember being left by my gran while she went shopping for a few hours on my own, it never bothered me as I was a fairly responsible kid (I think this was in the 8-11 bracket). I also was kind of left alone by my mum (I think more from 11-13+), in the sense of she would work nights as a nurse so at times I would come home from school to her still asleep in bed for a few more hours, or if it was a Sunday I'd be up from 8-9am with her going to bed and getting up for breakfast around 5pm. I could go out, play in, have friends in but I just had to be quiet (only a couple of times I failed that); oh yeah and I had to sort my own lunch out :)
Based on that we've been trying to work out what is the right age to leave our oldest alone (and for how long), particularly with the expectation that kids are supposed to be coming home from school alone. I've a couple of times left him for 25 minutes while I cycled to Kindergarten to get my daughter, while he was doing his homework. It worked out fine but I don't know.
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its a tricky question tarasis... im just not ok with parents leaving kids alone so young...not in todays world...they are just not capable to deal with difficult or emergency situations and I find it irresponsable parenting and lazy for parents who leave young kids alone..but thats my opinion although like i said on the other thread...some parents have no choice...others do and just cant be bothered so decide they are old enough...its easy to get sick of having to stay home or to take kids with you everywhere but ask a parent who has had something happen to their child by leaving them home alone or having them go to and from the shops alone or to and from school...in oz alot of you will know of Daniel Morcombe and his story and their are thousands of kids like him..this is a subject close to home for me...I am fortunate enough to be able to be home for my kids and be there wherever they need to be taken and I dont think I will ever be comfortable with them being home alone while they are young...even as older teenagers it would all depend on how they are...there are so many elements that can come into this but my original response to a comment was to do with young kids alot from age 6-8 being left alone...thats just wrong as in my opinion they are no where near old enough nor ready to be left alone... :)
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oh just have to add as a thought....think of what age you find your kids are no longer naive, are capable of evaluating a difficult situation and think how much you are wanting your kids to be independant as opposed to wanting to have more free time ...
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It certainly depends on where you live. In California it is a crime to leave children unattended and people who do, even for a short time, may have Children's Services swoop in and take the kids, even if a teen is left in charge.
Children here do not walk to school alone, it is too dangerous as there are too many predators that, in spite of some stringent laws, live in close proximity to schools and there are just too many nutters around.
It was different forty years ago but things have changed greatly since then. There are still many more rural areas where children are safer but I live in a rural area and it certainly is not safe here for children on their own. The school buses stop down the road from my home and parents escort their children to and from the bus, making sure they get on it before leaving.
Kids can also get into things on their own without outside help. One of my friends is the principal of an elementary school and a few weeks ago one of the children, a 9-year-old, brought a bottle of chewable vitamins to school and was passing them out as candy. Three children became ill and had to be taken by ambulance to the ER.
Now the school is checking all backpacks as the children arrive in their classrooms. This takes away from study time and the school has had to hire three teacher assistants and were already on a very tight budget.
One would think a child of that age would know better but sometimes they want to impress their friends and do something that is potentially dangerous.
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I agree andie..unfortunately in europe they like to force kids to be independant at a young age and let kids roam around the streets even at a very young age..I often see very young kids walking home alone and think my goodness that kid is defenseless and there are alot of predators in any country...i have come across alot just where I live...i have even had creepy men come to my fence and try to get the kdis attention in our old house..it happened when we were in a new housing lot and there werent alot of people in houses and in shopping centers it happens alot creepy guys following me and the kids around..(they soon get the mama wolf element)...i see six or seven year olds taking their younger brothers or sisters to school..seriously makes me fuming mad...there are alot of creeps around, very sick people in any country..some worse than others and like andie mentioned put that aside from accidents in the home or kids showing off to their friends...i drum into my kids about never trusting anyone and there are bad people who will be nice to be able to hurt you...i dont believe in sheltering kids from the truth either...the world is a rough place and I just dont udnerstand parents who leave their kids home alone...i know a number of parents who even go away on holidays and leave their kids home alone....but unfortunately often they are low income earners who find it normal to leave their kids at home alone as they have oftne done it to go to work etc all their life as they cant afford childcare..to me there is always a solution..a neighbour, a friend, family somebody is always around to help out...ill shut up now lol :P
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This is a very touchy subject. Some parents have no other choice
My kids did walk to school but all ways in a group and the school was only 1 street away
Trying to think at what age that was, maybe DD was 10 and DS was 9
And for leaving them alone at home that depends on the child, i could leave DD on her own, but could not leave DS on his own (high school age) i would worry more when both were at home together lol
I was very lucky back then, i was always at home for my kids and still am. If i am not at home they will track me down lol
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I always worry about kids left home alone or walking any where on their own. I even worry about my DD (8) going to the next door neighbours house on her own so the kids jump the fence. I won't let her walk any where on her own. My other DD is 11 and I don't let her walk alone either she always has some one with her. Both my DS's are in high school and im comfortable to let them walk alone and be left home alone for short periods.
And my youngest of cause he is never left alone. He once walk to school with my 11 year old daughter with me following behind in the car to keep an eye on them lol. I'm am so paranoid about predators or even cars reversing out of drive ways and not seeing these smaller children. It only takes something to happen and you would never forgive yourself and it's so not worth it. Much better to avoid it altogether.
We have a mother at the kindergarten who leaves her 2 year old daughter in the car while she picks up her other daughter from kinder which could take 15 minutes. In the entire year I think she has had her out twice. Why would anyone leave their kids in the car? Is it somich effort to get them out? The only time I leave my youngest in the car is when I have someone else to be there with him. Again anything could happen. I once seen a boy who wad left in a car while his mother went to the shop, he got out and ran across the street and got hit by another car. It was horrible. ( luckily the boy was not badly injured but it could of been so much worse)
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I think much the same as you dede and just dont understand the thinking of some parents..i just dont understand it other than thinking in most instances it just to be lazy or them finding it an inconvenience...like you said if something happens its too late...imo better to be safe than sorry.
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Oh and what about that 14 year old who was arrested in Bali for having drugs. Why was he left alone to wander the streets in a different country. I couldn't imagine my 14 year old having to go through something like that. It would be so scary. I know he has done the wrong thing but I don't thinka prison sentence for a young child like that would help him in any way.
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Oh feel so sorry for that boy in bali, i just can image him crying for is mummy .i get goose bumps just thinking about it.
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Same here fundj.
Another story I remember is a fee years ago 3 children where left in a car alone. The found a lighter and caught the car alight and a passer by pulled 3 very burnt children out of that car. All 3 children survived but are extremely scared from head to toe. In only takes a few seconds for think to go from ok to devastating.
As parents we are constantly telling our kids don't do this and don't do that or something bad could happen. But if we are not with them then they do it anyway because they can't see beyond the fact that it could be fun. And think 90% of injurys our children receive is when we are not supervising them. Weather it be a stubed toe or a broken bone.
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And whats with the parents that leave the kids in the car while they are gambling
Accidents still do happen even with supervising, dede
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I know they do fundj but alot are prevented with supervision. We can't watch our kids all the time that's for sure.
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I have always been very aware of this and would always freak out when leaving kids with hubby and finding out he left the house but (not property) - the thing is he could just go over to cattle yards but that would be the 'other side of town' in distance away! but he didn't see it it as leaving them at home - he grew up on farm whereas I was a towny. Now they are older I still leave strict instructions and take the phone with me when working on farm (sometimes just can't get DD10 doing farmwork - she should have been a towny! :-\).
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Has anyone read this website http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/ (http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/), I find it very interesting. I am by nature a hovering helicopter parent but I am trying hard to let me kids have some age appropriate freedom. I am not sure we are doing our kids many favours by restricting all their freedom, what sort of generation will they grow up into. Don't get me wrong, I am the first person to be protective and make sure my kids are safe but I am starting to question the wisdom of this.
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:) my kids are 6 & 7, and i live on acreage, but I wouldn't leave them at home.
Its a ten minute drive to school / work.
although we don't have many neighbors around us, except for my parents.
that is a hard one, as maturity differs with ages.
Robyn
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I believe that kids should not be wrapped up in cotton wool and molly coddled. They should be allowed to play outside with their friends, walk over/ride their bikes to friends houses and go any reasonable distance (safety hazards pending of course eg. busy roads). Basically parents need to know where their children are, and what each parent decides to do will depend on the age and individual maturity levels of each child.
Too often parents want to chaperone and monitor everything their children say and do and these poor kids grow up stifled without any sense of independance, maturity, confidence, free time, responsibility, exercise, imagination and fun. They need to be educated on what to do in regards to road safety, stranger danger, how to call emergency services etc so they know what to do if the situation ever arises. There is safety in numbers and more children should be walking to and from school. There are a lot of good people in this world, and they outnumber the bad. A lot of parents would like to be able to leave a child/teenager for a reasonable amount of time but peer pressure makes them feel guilty and a bad parent for doing so. At any time any thing can happen whether there is a responsible adult present or not, but you still have to give kids some breathing space of their own so they are not smothered and can grow into well balanced adults confident within themselves. Sometimes parents have no other choice, and there may be strict rules in place for the way in which their child fills the time they are not being supervised. My views come from growing up in a country town, however I still upheld these views when we raised our kids in the city and it was just the other day my DD21 was saying she hopes that she will be able to do the same for her children when she has them as she feels the positives far outweigh the negatives.
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Yep: education is the key.
It also depends of your situation and the maturity of your kids. Many parents haven't got the option too...
We live 25k out of town (closest neighbour 2km) and I've left my boys (nearly 11 and 13) home alone a few times in the last year. I wouldn't have done it before.
Mobile phone makes things easier for me when I'm working in the paddocks and my sons are home, but then it's also for my own safety ;)
I guess you gradually give more & more independance to your kids and leaving them home alone (when they're ready for it!) is part of them growing up.
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I dont think they are being wrapped up in cotton wool but there is also common sense and its not about peer pressure imo but necessity...kids today get taken out of their own front yards...it is in no way teh same world is was and will only get worse so they need to be armed for todays world and unfortunately again imo that means less freedom than others may have had or freedom but in numbers and very much aware of the dangers... again also depends on age and maturity..it oten doesnt come down to the individual but dumb luck that nothing bad happens... also depends on the kids...my kids attract weirdos for some reason and when you see creepy men trying to come up to your kids with your own eyes or konw of several people who have been approached or bought things by strangers (yes im focusig on one element and there are many dangers) I think you would think twice about letting them run all over hte place.
Every parent should have the choice to do as they think is fit but for me..we dont live in a world where you can leave kids alone and trust them to go here and there alone...the majority of missing children disappear in those situations.. Quite recently over here there were two kids (different places) taken from their own yards jsut playing ..one the father was not far away and unfortunately the girl got taken but they got her back quickly, the other not so lucky..another a while back a little boy left home alone while his parents went to dinner at a restaurant down the road as the kid didnt want to come ..he was 6..kid taken as someone was watching...and the famous maddy in portugal..left in the room with brothers and sisters again gone because her parents left them alone while eating out (not far away but still not with them)...sorry its just pure selfishness not at all about making them independant. Even some of our friends have left kids alone for a short period (young children) to go to the shops..seriously how hard it is to take the kids with you..others will never go grocery shopping or any shopping with their kids as they find it annoying..grrrr if kids are that much of a hassle then SOME peope shouldnt bother having them...gets up my goat!
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I’m with Cream Puff on this issue. I believe that a parent (just like any animal) should be educating their child to be a well balanced independent. I am heartily sick of what they call “a Nanny state” here in England. Neither, parents, schools not even the law has any control over children these days. They grow up all too often (especially the boys) at not being able to do anything for themselves. They can’t cook or clean and in some cases I think the parents selfishly choose to want to keep their offspring in a childlike state. Children are clever enough to manipulate grown ups and get what they want and I find that they have a lot less respect for their parents than my generation. Sadly, they recognise their own importance. They have no need to to earn their pocket money since spending money is given without any effort. It’s no wonder that many of these kids are relying on the Bank of mum and dad when they grow up. I was an Army wife when I raised my children. My children were proud when it came to the time to go to school on their own. It was a sort of freedom of passage point. The age can be different depending on the child’s maturity. I made it my business to be there when they came home from school. I have no patience for the mother who sits out her maternity leave and then puts the baby into nursery care to go back to her career. Why bother having a baby at all for strangers to raise. There used to be a saying “give me a child from 0 to 5 and I will show you the man or woman.” I think it wrong to take away their adventurous spirit and take away their freedom. I certainly told mine the truth about how the world was and how to be on their guard but I did not teach them not to trust anyone. There are always exceptions to every rule. I wonder if there are actually more predetors out there these days or is it that we hear about them more. When caught, predators of children are often found to come from disfunctional backgrounds themselves. Right it's time to jump off the soap box and get some work done :-)) You certainly opened a can of worms here tarasis!!
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not sure there are so many more predators but these days society is alot more accepting ....not like the 'old' days when anyone odd or different was run out of town...
my kids have adventurous spirit which is usually what gets them into trouble and I dont believe in blocking htat either but I do believe in freedom within certain limits if that makes sense...
this subject is very sensitive and there are different types of parents out there...my kids go places, travel alot and are alot more aware of the world than the majority of their friends even at their young age...doesnt stop me from protecting them which is after all my job! I have no doubt they will be independant, strong, outgoing and well educated and well travelled adults...its also easy for the lazy parent to put labels on something like independance...
also want to note that I do not intend to offend anyone else but this is a very important subject to me...I have my opinions but they are jsut that...my opinions in the end and they will not change...your quite right dot..Can of worms lol
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Same worms Frozzie, just a different label on the can lol!
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So, um, first apologies for breaking the conversation out and trying to continue it. I didn't mean to start a thread that would be so divisive / bring any disharmony to the forum.
Has anyone read this website http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/ (http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/), I find it very interesting.
I hadn't before but it does look interesting particularly the discussion (http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/times-have-changed-shriek-parents-afraid-to-let-their-kids-outside-but/#comments) that its actually safer now than it ever has been BUT because of the proliferation of media available now we are more aware of the cases of childnapping and other incidents around the world. I think that is largely true, particularly regarding other things like murders, indecent assaults by ministers / pastors in churches and so on.
I've run out of time to add more (got distracted), back later :)
... slight addenum as some posts since I started
You certainly opened a can of worms here tarasis!!
I know :/ but that said the conversation is interesting.
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As a grand-parent, I am far more protective than I was as a parent but times have changed and I don't think I am alone on that one. I once gave a friend a protection device to carry around with her when she had to walk at night to her car or unit - you pressed the button and it screamed like crazy. I'd be inclined to give one to any young person to carry whilst walking to school or elsewhere as I'm sure a prospective snatcher would not want to hang around once it started screaming.
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I am watching the Oslo bombing on channel 7, my DD was only 20meters away from the bombing .
Keep them safe as long as possibly
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love the new pic dot ;D
JD good idea with the screaming thing...I remember those...i also have my mobile number on the kids bags and an sos keyring that has a recording of their name, address etc on it (in case they get lost) ...makes them feel more at ease that they just have to press the button to give their home details etc as when they are little and lost ..they dont often know their full address or phone number..
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JD, grandparents are far more careful than parents in many cases, I guess they're not your kids, so you take extra care.
My children were very responsible, as they grew up in a farm environment. I didn't leave them home on their own though, because their was no need!
Kids join in with with adults at social activities in the country. We would pop them in the back of the station wagon with their doonas at night and check on them every half hour or so. They have fond memories of this.
My kids had a lot of freedom - but this also came with responsibility. Learning to ride a motorbike meant you checked the sheep. Learning to shoot a rifle meant you culled kangaroos when necessary. Rules were strict and, as far as we know, adhered to. Consequences were very carefully spelled out!
I do think that there isn't a 'right' age, it does depend on where you live.
fundj, how terrifying!!
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I am watching the Oslo bombing on channel 7, my DD was only 20meters away from the bombing .
Keep them safe as long as possibly
that would be terrifying...does she live there or was she visiting?
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love the new pic dot
Thanks Frozzie, Its a case of keeping up with the birthdays. lol ;D
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I am watching the Oslo bombing on channel 7, my DD was only 20meters away from the bombing .
Keep them safe as long as possibly
that would be terrifying...does she live there or was she visiting?
It was very terrifying frozzie .the worst part for me was when she told us how is got out of there
Never in a million years would I have thought she would hitch a ride with a complete stranger
DD went traveling when she was 18 on her own,come back home for 1 year and off again. she is living oslo with her partner.we are meeting up in bali in march next year for her 22nd b/day ;D
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I grew up in a small country town and remember walking alone to and from school once I was in Grade 2 (about 6 years old) - I loved it! I could explore things and play along the way. I also remember on the weekends being able to ride our bikes around the town for hours and do all sorts of things, and my parents didnt know exactlyl where we were - just "out riding the bikes". But the world we live in today is very sadly not the same .......... My children are still very young, so leaving them alone is still not an issue for us, but I would love to give them some of the sense of independence and ability to explore the world at their own pace that we had when growing up, and it is going to be a very fine line later on to decide what is safe and what is not.
I also remember as a University student getting quite drunk at parties and hitchhiking home :o :o :o :o I also used to pick up hitchhikers when I was driving in the country. Thanks goodness no harm ever came of that! We really do live in a differerent world now, one less innocent, which I find very sad.
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I am finding this topic very interesting. I agree with tarasis in that the world is how it has always been and easy access to the press give you the appearance of it being worse. I am almost 50 and had a few scary incidents growing up - as a young tall 12 or 13 year old, attempted abduction and sexual assault! I believe education is the best weapon. I also believe in age appropriate freedom and allowing more as each child proves their ability ( although I find it very hard as am a mother hen at heart). As far as being on the streets and walking alone at 6, i dont think peripheral vision is aquired until around 11 and personally until that age I would be accompaning them. This way when they did it alone they had the skills to do it safely.My babies are now 17,20,22.( I found it very hard leaving my 2 young ones home this last month, they did so well and now even make their own bread and came home to flowers a clean house and appreciation for all that has been done in the past - I know off the subject but just wanted to be the proud Mum I am)
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I agree with Tarasis & Bedlam that the constant 24/7 of the media makes us much more aware of the dangers that have always been there. After reading this thread, I was thinking that I feel safer now occasionally leaving my DS10 at home for an hour or so, than I did staying home alone when I was a 12-year-old. Back then, we had no phone, no internet - when I was left alone on the odd occasion, I was truly alone. These days, our phone numbers, along with those of a dozen other helpful people, are all on speed dial, so he is just the touch of a button away from contact. When we do leave him alone, he sees it as a privilege and relishes that independence, knowing full well that if he doesn't do his homework/assigned chores, then he won't get the privilege again any time soon.
Mind you, just because I might allow this particular child to stay home alone occasionally, it doesn't mean I'd automatically let another child stay home. It would depend on their maturity, their competency, as well as the location we were talking about. I do think we need to encourage independence and responsibility in our kids in general though, in whatever way we deem as low-risk for them as we can. While I might let DS10 walk along our quiet road to his bus stop where other school families will be waiting, I wouldn't let him walk along a main road to a bus stop where he knows no-one.
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Mom and Dad left me at home when I was around eight or nine for whole days. Before that, I came home when I was about seven and let myself into the house and waited an hour or so until they came home from work. I think my first overnight was when I was twelve. I was/am an only child and perhaps I was rather well equipped to being independent from an early age. I wonder what Mom and Dad would do nowadays in this climate. I loved being home alone and there was always a telephone close by if I needed them.
xxx
;D
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Tarasis - wish you lived closer! My DH is also a stay-at home Dad with 2 boys and a TMX - and loves role-playing games :D
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I'm not a parent, so not in a position to have a real opinion here.
But I'm wondering - those of you who think kids shouldn't be left alone until their teens or later - how did your parents handle this when you were kids? Were you never left alone or with other kids? If you were, do you think that was inappropriate?
It's a myth that the world has got more dangerous. There are real dangers, but there always were.
fwiw: As far as I remember, I walked the short distance to school and home with my sister (1 year older than me) from about age 6, and we stayed home alone for 45 minutes or so after school until Mum got home, or while they were out grocery shopping, from about age 8. I think I was 10 or 11 before we were left home without a babysitter at night, and about 12 before I caught the bus into town alone or with friends. There were no adverse consequences for us, but this was in the 70s and 80s, and I know expectations have changed.
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i think the stats on sexual assault of children is that over 60% of offenders are family members or people who are close friends of the family, trusted people. children are much less likely to be assaulted by random strangers. (despite what the media might want us to believe)
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so true its well over 60% :(
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Indeed at first one of the theories about Maddys disappearance in Portugal was that it was possibly her parents.
Bob was reading to me the tragic story of 2 3.5 year old twins that happened very recently in Hamburg. Dad was cooking in the kitchen, the kids were entertaining themselves and one twin put the other in the tumbledrier, closed the door and turned it on. A short time later the other twin went and got dad and dragged him to the machine but by then it was too late :/
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This subject was on 'A Current Affair' last night. A single mum had to leave her 8 year old at home alone (one off time) as the baby sitter was sick and she got charged by police, had to go to court and nearly got him taken off her. I was unaware that there is a Law in Australia against leaving children under 12 alone for any period??? ???
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Nay-Nay, thanks for that one. I'd actually been told by a researcher that there was no law in Australia that specified a minimum age. Must watch the progrm. I know plenty of parents who breach that law, and I would consider every single one of them concerned, loving parents who have their children's best interests at heart.
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Funny how the law finds that âge inappropriate :P
There was also a show Like ACA that had parents who said their kids were fine alone at Home and would never open the door etc. And so they did a test and every Time the stranger was allowed in... Parents were shocked
Bottom Line is at that âge kids are too naïve nô matter what you think and should not be left alone :)
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I do agree with you Frozzie. Better to be safe than sorry. I wouldn't consider leaving my boys home alone for even a short amount of time until they are in high school (12+) and then only if I felt they were responsible and capable. I am very over-protective at times though. I still have horrible nightmares about my youngest son running out on the road in front of a car. He isn't a crazy toddler anymore (now aged 3.5yrs) but the nightmares continue. It's hard to keep it all in perspective when you love them so much!
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very true chelsea..my kids are very active and alwsays up to something...im sure if i had nice quiet kids that are happy to sit and play things may be slightly different although i am a mother hen when it comes to my kids.. :)
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I thought that you might like to hear of my children’s exploits whilst I left them at home. My DH and I went on a scouting trip to Queensland from England. We left my 15 year old DD and My 16 year old DS in our hotel which was closed for the winter. My young DS was in boarding school. My daughter took a booking for a 56 seater coach for lunch. She bought ready cooked sliced meat from the local butchers but made everything else herself. They left her with a substantial tip for an excellent meal. Meanwhile my young DS phoned his brother and declared that he would run away if someone didn’t take him out of the school as he hated it. My elder DS thereupon went to Lancaster where the school was and arranged for his brother to leave. When we came back from Oz and asked how everything had been, they told me that not much had happened at all. :o :o :-))
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great story, Dot :)
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Yeah, not much happened. I bet you were proud of DD and she made a few extra pounds to boot. Is she a good capable cook now DD?
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ha ha very resourceful kids :D thats a story that's brought out often at family speeches I bet. love it
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In Queensland it is illegal to leave a child under 12 alone for an 'unreasonable' period of time. What exactly constitutes an unreasonable period of time is open to interpretation and would depend on the child's age.
As for leaving a child alone in a vehicle, there is a federal law that states that no one under 16 can be left unattended in a vehicle.
I let my 15 year old baby sit my 8 year old but this may also not be legal. The law is quite ambiguous.
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Strangely enough Bedlam, my DD was a rather poor cook up to leaving school. Her rock cakes were well known for being as hard as their name. She could manage veggies and apple crumble though. My DH was a top chef who actually went on tour to Germany with the Queen and so perhaps some of it rubbed off on her. She has evolved into a great cook now and I love her weekly suppers.
My elder DS has never lifted a hand to cook anything at all. The younger one is an Army officer in the education Corps so the loss of the posh boarding school did not hamper his future and he is a very inventive cook too.
Yes CP, I am proud of all 3. They all did well and there are many tales that are told of their exploits.