For a while on PerC I've noticed some threads in the three non-SJ forums (most often made by NPs, but sometimes SPs or NJs) that are posted by a teenager describing their frustrations with their parents making them do chores around the house.
These posts are usually made in their own type's forum, and it's basically along the lines of "I'm so frustrated by my SJ parents making me do this. They care so much about it, and I don't. It doesn't matter to me, and I'm so sick of them having to do them just because my parents tell me to."
Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with them feeling that frustration. But here's what I want to find out: How much of this is related to type?
Because here's my thing...when I was a teenager, I basically felt the same way. My mom is ISTJ and my dad is ENTJ.
Now, for the most part, my parents were pretty lax about me doing chores. I probably had to do fewer than the average teenager. My mom just wanted my room to not be too messy, and I just had to do a few basic things like taking out the trash (which I contributed to) and taking care of the pets.
However, there were some times where I got really angry with my dad about doing chores. Often he would want me to help with a lot of his outside gardening projects. I used to get so angry about it because I thought it was stupid...I didn't enjoy it at all, and I didn't see the point of it...it just seemed like a hobby of his, not something that was necessary. I used to think thoughts like "Why do I have to do this? Sure, my dad's done a lot for me, but that's what he's supposed to do...I'm his kid. I shouldn't have to help out with his stupid gardening." This was especially true if it was a hot day and there was some heavy lifting involved.
Now, as an adult, I have quite a different perspective on the whole situation, which is my point: To me, it seems like these situations have more to do with a person being a teenager living under their parents' roofs than it does someone's type.
I guess it just seems to me like a frustrated NP teenager will sometimes think "Oh, I get it now! I'm an NP, my parents are SJs, and that's why I can't stand to do their stupid chores!"
So I wanted to get an idea from SJs what their experiences were like as teenagers. Am I an exception to the situation...an SJ who got irritated by chores (which were probably much easier than the average teenager due to my parents' lax nature)? Or is it just true that all teenagers get irritated by this and it has little to nothing to do with type?
I will make this point: I do think type can accentuate the frustration someone feels about this. I think it's possible that SJs in general are more anal about chores and that NPs are more frustrated by them. But I also just get the sense that all parents get their kids to do chores and that SJ teenagers are irritated by it too. After all, I live pretty messily on my own now, despite being an SJ...my SJness doesn't make me a neat freak who has to have everything in place. I'm probably messier than most people I know, non-SJs included.




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