Anonymous wrote:Not a middle schooler, but I have a 4th grader who does for himself. I'm in Loudoun county so school starts at 730. 3 mornings a week I go to the gym and arrive home at 645. My son gets himself up via alarm, gets dressed.l, microwaves himself a sausage, egg and cheese breakfast burrito, eats it, brushes teeth and bikes himself a mile to school at 725.

We make the burritos Sunday nights and have them ready for the week. We make lunch the night before and make sure the backpack is packed.

I find it very strange that a middle schooler isn't already taking care of themselves in the morning. However, as a working mom, my kids have had to learn to do a lot on their own.

What's your recipe for Sunday burritos that are good for the week? Think my son would like that.

It seems like a lot of the boys are doted on and assumed to be unable while the girls are expected to learn to care for themselves.

I wake her. She gets out of bed, brushes teeth, etc., gets dressed, makes breakfast and lunch. I help her if she's running late, but try not to. It has taken almost the entire school year to get to this point. She's gone without lunch once or twice because she wouldn't get out of bed, and I wouldn't make her lunch. But the routine is better now that 6th grade is nearly over.
Next year, I'm not going to help her at all. She has an alarm clock and she can wake herself up.
My older DD got herself up, dressed, etc. all by herself starting at the end of 5th grade. She always did everything all through high school. She's in college now, so is independent, and I hope, is taking care of herself. At least she says she is.
I would not baby a 6th grader. I feel my younger daughter is overly reliant on me. She is gradually becoming more independent. Next year will be the test.