'Domineering' Dad Slammed for Banning Teen Son From Cooking Over Burnt Pan

Anyone who's ever set foot in a kitchen has most likely burnt their dinner, or appliance, or both, often resulting in flapping a tea towel in front of the smoke alarm.

That's exactly what happened to one teenager, who ended up blackening a pan as he tried to rustle up a meal.

But his "domineering" dad dished out a peculiar punishment, by banning his son from using the stove for two weeks.

His other parent shared the situation to Mumsnet, under username WaitingforRain, as they explained the two males have a rocky relationship.

They said: "My 17 year old DS [dear son] does not have a great relationship with his dad, my ex husband. He is there now and there has been an "incident" with DS burning a pan of rice on the cooker hob [cooktop], but no damage done.

"DS now reports that exDH [ex-husband] has "banned him from using the hob for 2 weeks". DS is 17 and very into cooking. He bakes and boils all manner of things and messy but will clean up after himself.

"DH will be out of the house during working hours, leaving my son to make cold sandwiches etc for the foreseeable. DS has asked me for advice but I am at a loss as to whether to get involved or leave it.

"I think cooking is a life skill and at 17 he should be getting on with it. Ex husband has a history of being domineering and imposing odd bans and restrictions like this."

The post, which can be seen here, amassed more than 110 responses since being posted on Monday, as people shared their views on the situation.

MolliciousIntent advised: "I'd tell DS to come home."

Hapoydayz agreed, saying: "Tell him to come home if he's being treated like s*** by his dad."

ImAvingOops commented: "I'd tell DS he has the option of coming home if he's unhappy or his dad is generally an arse. But it's not a big deal to eat sandwiches for lunch in the summer."

Mariposista wrote: "Tell him to come home now or go and collect him. This is pure mean."

Beautyisthefaceisee pointed out: "The cooking is not the issue. The way his son is being treated is."

Soggycrisps joked: "When a one year old falls over after their first step would you ban them from walking too? We all know it's unsafe to fall over."

Although Veggiemonster added: "Not to sound too harsh but you're making out that having to eat sandwiches is equivalent to something terrible. It's up to his dad how he handles it, really. Seems a bit dramatic to ban him from cooking but if that's how he wants to handle it let him get on with it."

In response, WaitingforRain later said they didn't want to intervene, but had asked for advice as their son had specifically asked for help.

They added: "I believe my ex is reacting in a dramatic manner. They do not get on brilliantly, but we are trying to encourage them to have a relationship rather than no relationship which is why he goes there but he is not forced, obviously.

"Banning someone from cooking is not really going to help DS in the long run if he wants to learn to cook. DS is a responsible cook but I imagine he got distracted and no-one wants that happening if he is home alone. Sandwiches it is then, and I will offer DS to come home if he wants."

BBC Good Food shared a handy guide for age-appropriate tasks, starting with washing vegetables and stirring for toddlers.

Those aged between 3 and 5 should be able to complete a range of tasks in the kitchen, including weighing, rolling, mixing, sieving and cutting soft ingredients.

Children aged 5 to 7 should be able to master setting the table, using scissors, measuring, grating, beating and folding.

For older kids aged 8 to 11, the site reckons whisking, making salads, opening cans, using a peeler, planning a meal and crucially—"Using heat on a hob, oven and microwave"—can be safely done.

"Cuts and burns are common in the kitchen so always keep an eye on them. However capable they may be, it's easy to get distracted or try to rush an activity," they said.

Although the guide also noted: "Even much older children should have some supervision to avoid accidents in the kitchen."

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