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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not to do DP & his son's washing anymore?

116 replies

hoolagirl · 02/05/2007 11:22

I currently work from home full time. I basically do everything I can (time permitting) in the way of housework.
This usually ends up in me spending most of the morning (in between doing work) washing and ironing.
I have at least 2 loads every day. DP and his son tend to hoard their washing, so the day it gets dumped in washing basket there is no way I can get it all done, plus the following day there is twice as much ironing.
This leaves me less time to do other things that I would prefer to do.
Now if I just do mine and my ds's washing, I can comfortably do all my work and get the house in order.
It was starting to piss me off, and DP has said many times, not to do it if I didnt' want to and they didnt' expect all their washing and ironing to be done for them.
Now I have done it for 3 months and its what my day seems to revolve around.
I told DP yesterday that he now needs to do his and his DS's washing as i am resenting it.
He said that was fine and done it yesterday, he asked me last night to do his and his ds's ironing and I said no, do it yourself.
He is now in a strop, banging doors etc, saying that all I do is lounge around all day etc and basically he is acting like my 2 year old who is not getting his own way.
So, am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:

Anna8888 · 04/05/2007 07:10

moondog - sounds right to me, I wholeheartedly endorse child labour in the home.

moondog · 03/05/2007 23:26

My sister's 8 year old does his own washing.
And makes her espressos in the morning to drink in bed.
Christ she is lazy.

tigermoth · 03/05/2007 23:25

could be lots of sports stuff?

Inspired by this thread, I have just told ds that I am going to put a sports clothes bag in his room so he can dump all his dirty cricket and football stuff in it and wash it himself. With the cricket season upon us and ds wanting clean cricket whites two or three times a week, washing is mounting up. Ds was surprisingly compliant with my suggestion. Hmm.. perhaps I have been underestimating him.

moondog · 03/05/2007 22:55

I don't get that there two loads a day and about 80 items a week.
What the hell is going on???

themoon66 · 03/05/2007 22:51

And why the F**K would anyone iron pyjamas.... why, why, why????? {are you mad emoticon}

themoon66 · 03/05/2007 22:50

OK... ironing... if you have a tumble dryer and fold things neatly or hang them straight out of the dryer, then there is no need to iron anything.

DS and DD have never, ever had a single item of school wear ironed.

tigermoth · 03/05/2007 22:15

yes totally agree with you I know my 13 year old is more than capable of it but I do not trust him to do it thoughtfully. I can just see him adding his coloured stuff to the whites (my whites) or burning the school trousers he is meant to be ironing.

He cooks safely and considerately for me and the rest of the family. Tidying and washing turn him into a grumpy monster. This is partly why I end up with those jobs.

3littlefrogs · 03/05/2007 21:47

I promise you, any teenager who can play computer games, work a CD player, download stuff onto an ipod etc, is more than capable of learning to operate a washing machine and an iron. One day, my 2 gorgeous dss will marry. I do not wish to be blamed for any shortcomings in their domestic skills.

LittleSarah · 03/05/2007 20:43

I rarely iron, shirts, occasionally smart trousers or if anything is noticeably creased. Nothing really ever is. But perhaps my standards are not that exacting.

Original poster

hoolagirl · 03/05/2007 20:31

What do 'non ironers' iron then.
I iron everything, jammies etc.
Not underwear or towels though.

OP posts:

cat64 · 03/05/2007 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

berolina · 03/05/2007 20:24

Original poster

hoolagirl · 03/05/2007 20:24

This 'ironing' thing is the biggest pain in the arse ever invented!

OP posts:

berolina · 03/05/2007 20:22

Can I just ask what this 'ironing' thing is you're all going on about?

Original poster

hoolagirl · 03/05/2007 20:17

Why don't you devise a rota system tigermoth and stick it up on the wall.
If they fail to do the chores could you withhold something, ie pocket money, computer game or something after giving them a week or so to get used to it?
As for your DH, his punishment will be your discretion

OP posts:

tigermoth · 03/05/2007 20:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

fizzbuzz · 03/05/2007 14:06

I ignore it as well....the problem comes when it is time to change the sheets......

3littlefrogs · 03/05/2007 14:02

PUT it away, even

3littlefrogs · 03/05/2007 14:01

But they really don't notice it, do they FB? I hate it, but I am a lot less stressed now I close the door and ignore it. If he can't find something, I sympathise and ask where he put it when he out it away.

With my much younger dd, we do room tidying together, one surface or drawer at a time, just for 10 minutes after school. It is less overwhelming that way.

fizzbuzz · 03/05/2007 13:52

Yes, I do that.....Ds has a bed on the floor, he just pushes it all off to form small obstacle course round edge of bed.

In fact sometimes piles of crap are higher than bed...most of the time really, with small pathway through to bed

3littlefrogs · 03/05/2007 13:41

With teenagers - gather up all their "stuff" that is lying around the house and place carefully in the middle of their bed. Close bedroom door and walk away.

fizzbuzz · 03/05/2007 13:29

Also Hoolagirl, I frequently chuck shoes and bags outside, when there is so many at back door that actually accessing door becomes impossible........especially when the logistics of a pushchair are taken into account

fizzbuzz · 03/05/2007 13:27

The sad thing for me, is I love ironing!!! Just have no time to do it.

Loathe every other form of housework with a vengence though!

themoon66 · 03/05/2007 12:46

Ripeberry - Agree totally with your post.. Ironing is not necessary IMO. I only iron work shirts and a cotton skirt I have. On average I iron about 9 items once every 6 to 8 weeks.

Original poster

hoolagirl · 03/05/2007 12:35

Motherinferior, there was nearly an incident last night with the dishes, I can sympathise!
I nearly chucked them all out on the path, this has opened up a can of worms in the house.
Basically if they don't wanna wash them, then there will be no dishes for them to eat off of.
They got done and not by me.

OP posts:

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