If you believe cleaning the room is a chore, wait ’til you hear what Boomers did before they even hit double digits. And no, it was not a TikTok dance or asking Alexa to make things happen. Prior to iPads and DoorDash, kids were basically free labor. Here are the 21 chores Boomers did as kids that would put today’s kids straight into therapy.
Doing the Dishes by Hand. Every. Single. Night.
Dishwasher? No way. After every single mealtime, the boomer kids were elbow-deep in dirty water, scrubbing as if they were about to lose their jobs. And no, you did not get to whine, “I’ll do this tomorrow.” You lived there, therefore you scrubbed. Period. The kids these days think rinsing a dish will kill them.
Ironing EVERYTHING (Even Hankies!)
Boomer children did not just do their own shirts; they did Dad’s work shirts, Mum’s Sunday best dresses, and handkerchiefs. You have not lived until you have burned a hole through your dad’s Sunday best, feared for your life.
Cleaning the Ash Trays (Yes, Seriously)
Boomer parents smoked everywhere—the kitchen, the car, and even the bathroom. And guess who cleaned the disgusting, smelly ashtrays? You guessed it right: the kids. Bet that’s not on any 2025 chore chart.
Helping with Canning… All Summer Long
When you’re telling parents you have “free time,” what you really mean is “time free for peeling a thousand tomatoes.” Canning season was about hot kitchens and scalding pots and burns you’re not permitted to howl about. Happy summer days.
Sweeping and Scrubbing the Sidewalk
A clean house was not enough. Boomers had sidewalks as well that needed to be kept spotless, frequently wire brushing stains away while the neighbors scrutinized every step. Today’s sidewalks? Try getting a child even to know they exist.
Polishing Shoes Every Sunday Night
Back then, school shoes were not sneakers or Crocs. Children used to have just a single pair of shiny leather shoes—and you were expected to shine them until you saw the soul staring back at you. The children of today yell if they get a scratch on their Yeezys.
Raking Leaves…Then Burning Them
Skip the adorable pumpkin patches. Fall was about raking leaf mountains for hours on end… and then burning them up in the backyard. It smelled like a dream come true, was likely illegal, and it was raw, reckless ecstasy.
Defrosting the Freezer (By Hand!)
When “frost-free” was not a reality, freezers created glaciers overnight. Spatulas and hair dryers were used like they were on a budget cut of Frozen by kids who had to hack through blocks of ice. Today’s teens don’t even know where the freezer is.
Cleaning Behind the Refrigerator (Where Nightmares Reside)
Do you think your kitchen’s clean? Boomers used to make the children pull out the fridge―yes, the big monster―and clean the mess that was behind it. Dust, forgotten peas, gross goo. It was a full-blown survival mission. Today’s children won’t even wipe off a crumb unless they can see it.
Beating Rugs With a Stick
No Dyson. No Roomba. Just raw, primal fury. Children pulled heavy carpets outside and hung them up and whacked them like piñatas until dust was burning in their lungs. Today’s children would sue for “unsafe working conditions.”
Painting Fences and Sheds by Hand
No fancy contractors. If a fence required painting, guess who was handed a brush? You, the kid. Glopping about in paint, sunburnt, and very likely inhaling far more than a fair number of fumes—the classic building of character. And today’s children cannot even be left to color inside the lines without an app.
Cleaning the Family Car—Inside AND Out
Boomer kids weren’t just hosing off the exterior. No way. They vacuumed, washed, and even Armor Alled the dashboard. And if you left a spot? You’d know about it. Nowadays? Children won’t even get their trash out of the way before mom drives through a car wash.
Peeling a Million Potatoes for Dinner
Family meals weren’t “grab whatever.” It was a big, sit-down feast – fuelled by 12 pounds of hand-peeled spuds. Bonus trauma if it was Thanksgiving. Now there’s all this “Uber Eats” and microwave food.
Shoveling Snow at 6 AM (Or Else)
No snow days here, baby. Boomers shoveled pathways through blizzards shoulder-deep, with shovels taller than them. Nowadays? Kids won’t even roll out of bed unless the snow day alert blares.
Hauling Wood for the Fireplace
Winter atmosphere called for freezing your butt off bringing wood from the shed or yard. Frostbite? Splinters? Tough luck, kid. Today’s “work” consists of lighting a scented candle by Bath & Body Works.
Animal Milking and Feeding Before School
If you grew up on a farm—or even within view—you started the day with cow udders and chicken chow. See if you can get a 13-year-old kid these days to milk a goat by hand before algebra class. You’re going to get sued.
Food Shopping… Without a Car
Your parents handed you a list and sent you walking to the store—all frequently a mile away. Rain? Snow? Who cares. You were the family’s unpaid delivery person. Today’s kids wouldn’t get 5 minutes without the services of DoorDash.
Walking to School (Uphill…Both Ways…in a Blizzard)
Boomers did not have minivans lined up outside the school like a VIP event. Rain, snow, blistering sun—not a difference. You wore the jacket that was just a little too light for the weather, perhaps kicked a stone for entertainment, and walked like a small warrior. Now? Drizzling? And they’re like the end of the world, and they’re requesting Uber.
Babysitting Younger Siblings… for Free
Never mind employing babysitters. The boomer kids WERE the babysitters. You were 9 or 13 and babysat the tiny humans while the parents enjoyed a “date night.” No payment, no snacks, no sympathy. Go try and get a modern teen to babysit these days without Venmo.
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