My 12-year-old son refuses to do ‘girl chores’ and my ex-husband agrees

It’s 2023, but according to one mom this week, her son is acting like we’re living in 1923.

She’s explained online that her 12-year-old boy has decided that he will no longer perform “girl chores” in his home – and, frustratingly, he’s been backed by his dad.

“Cleaning is not gender specific”

Writing on Reddit, the mom shares that she has three kids: twin 12-year-old boys and a 10-year-old.

They have daily chores, for which she pays them, “$10 daily. However, their pay is deducted $10 if they miss a day. The boys have to do their tasks five days a week, although it doesn’t matter which days they choose to work.”

The mom adds, “This system has worked swimmingly for us since it started, the boys have always complied with completing their chores.”

But when one of the twins mentioned to his friend that he had chores to do, the friend retorted that he’s glad his parents don’t make him do “girl chores.”

The outraged mom said, “I spoke with my son and explained to him that knowing how to clean was not specific to any gender, that it was a life skill everyone needed to know. I also told him that I understood that other families functioned differently; however, in our family, everyone did an equal share.”

The boy remained unconvinced, and for the next few days, refused to do his “girl chores.”

This meant that when allowance day came, the two brothers who completed their tasks got $50, but the 12-year-old who refused only got $20. But instead of learning a lesson, the boy called his dad to complain.

“My ex-husband then proceeded to call me and tell me that I’m in the wrong for only giving him $20 and to imagine how it makes him feel that his brothers got more than he did.

“I explained to him that our other sons actually did their chores for all 5 days, so they were rewarded accordingly.”

She added that her husband said she is being “insensitive” and “humiliating” their son.

“$600 a month for the three kids”

Commenters wholeheartedly agreed with the mom, and even told her she had made a smart decision being separated from her “clueless” ex.

Mostly, the comments focused on the mom’s generosity in paying her three kids $600/month for their chores.

One wrote, “It’s the real world, you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid, and I actually think $10 a day is pretty generous for allowance. $10/day is insane for that age.”

Another added, “You’re not taking money out of your son’s allowance, you’re not paying him for services not rendered. The sexist, misogynistic reasons behind not completing the chores need to be corrected and that won’t happen by rewarding it.”

Many others were confused about the “girl chores”, with one writing, “What are girl chores? Is that what they call it when men do housework? I know that mom tried to explain things, but the dad really needs to back her up for the son to get the message.”