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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think parents should at least iron uniforms

331 replies

Charlemagnee · 20/09/2024 07:40

I see some children on the way to school and they look so scruffy, I mean I might be being a bit mean but it’s important to me that my children look presentable, I can’t imagine sending my children into school with a mega creased jumper/cardigan it looks awful.

OP posts:
hookiewookie29 · 20/09/2024 09:25

My iron is only used for Hama beads.....

ithinkilikethislittlelife · 20/09/2024 09:25

Bloody Nora. I am absolutely staggered at the amount of you who don't iron. I iron everything. Clothes, bedding, underwear. It's takes no time. Half an hour a day tops. The thought of putting my kids/dh/myself into creased clothes.... gross.

SunQueen24 · 20/09/2024 09:24

Next you’ll be telling me they ought to brush their teeth before they leave too!

TheGoogleMum · 20/09/2024 09:24

Nah I don't iron anything. DDs uniform doesn't crease too much though she mostly wears pinafore dress and polo top

HeySummerWhereAreYou · 20/09/2024 09:23

Charlemagnee · 20/09/2024 09:16

Plants in their hair? Wow

I assume the poster meant 'neat and tidy plaits,' but plants is much better. 😆

Wake Up Animation GIF by Mighty Oak
TheKoalaWhoCould · 20/09/2024 09:23

Charlemagnee · 20/09/2024 08:59

Why would what I do upset you. I Am in the minority 🤣

Because you are passing judgement, and implying that parents who don’t iron are doing things wrong.

Twototwo15 · 20/09/2024 09:22

School uniform is the only ironing I do, apart from my own stuff very occasionally just before I need it, so I’m a wrinkled mess most of the time, but I can’t bring myself to leave school clothes not ironed.

Tdcp · 20/09/2024 09:22

I'm out working for 50 hours a week and my partner is a tradesman so he's usually exhausted when he gets home, after we've done the cooking / cleaning / bathing / washing / bedtimes / pets etc the last thing on my mind is ironing. Sorry if that offends you 😂

hijabibarbie · 20/09/2024 09:21

Brightredtulips · 20/09/2024 09:13

In the poorest parts of India the children go to school immaculate. The girls have their hair in very neat and tidy plants with tied with ribbons. The parents have pride that their children can go to school.

My parents grew up in Pakistan, my dad literally in the slums and they would be sent home if their hair was messy, shoes not shined etc

To this day they maintain their appearance well- dad still wears a full suit when flying!

Gettingcoldbutcosy · 20/09/2024 09:20

I don't iron anything. Sure, ironed stuff does look nice but with the amount of washing my family gets through I'm just not doing it.

I find that a lot of stuff is non iron these days anyway.

I care very much about my children too. I prioritise homework, sleep, clubs, food, a clean house, clean clothes, making sure they're showered and clean teeth, working to pay bills, spending time with them.

I'm afraid that any free time I do get I have a rest and do something I enjoy, which is definitely not ironing.

HeySummerWhereAreYou · 20/09/2024 09:18

Hey I quite like that emoji too.. ^

🤣

Lordofmyflies · 20/09/2024 09:18

I'm obviously in the minority, but I iron everything (except underwear and socks). I quite enjoy putting on a rubbish tv show and steaming through a pile of laundry. I buy non-iron shirts as they do hold creases less, but I quick run over with the iron makes a visible difference. Live and let live..!

HeySummerWhereAreYou · 20/09/2024 09:18

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 20/09/2024 09:14

What kind of loon irons knitwear?

Oh wait a minute, I already know the answer, it's the same kind of obsessive compulsive person who irons socks and knickers because "otherwise they look untidy in the drawers".

Each to her (bonkers) own.

🤣

HeySummerWhereAreYou · 20/09/2024 09:17

redskydarknight · 20/09/2024 09:14

Because the 10 minutes it takes to iron is roughly the amount of time they actually do look marginally better than those without ironed uniforms.

NEWSFLASH! Many items of clothing do not need ironing. Just wash them and hang them up straight away to dry, and they don't need ironing.

I bet the few posters who think every last thing should be ironed ALSO think the woman should do it.

Charlemagnee · 20/09/2024 09:16

HeySummerWhereAreYou · 20/09/2024 09:16

😐

Plants in their hair? Wow

OP posts:
HeySummerWhereAreYou · 20/09/2024 09:16

Brightredtulips · 20/09/2024 09:13

In the poorest parts of India the children go to school immaculate. The girls have their hair in very neat and tidy plants with tied with ribbons. The parents have pride that their children can go to school.

😐

SpringleDingle · 20/09/2024 09:15

No, nope, not happening, no. I don't have time, energy or care for ironing. I wash, dry and hang carefully and she looks fine.

hijabibarbie · 20/09/2024 09:15

Honestly I agree with you, I think this lack of care about presentation is quite shocking. I remember working my first week as a junior doctor and the consultant sent a colleague back to his accommodation because he turned up in wrinkled shirt and trousers and said it was completely unprofessional and unacceptable to turn up to work like that.

My mum made sure our uniforms were clean ironed until we were age 7 when we were taught how to iron and then did that chute ourselves before going to bed. To this day my siblings and I iron all our clothes.

I iron my own and my children’s clothes when they go to nursery and husband irons his own clothes - we’re both doctors , no cleaners or Nannie’s or family around (closest family 3 hours away)

redskydarknight · 20/09/2024 09:14

StarGirrrl77 · 20/09/2024 09:10

For what it's worth @Charlemagnee I'm with you! I used to iron pretty much everything in the days when I had time, now I just do the essentials, and I absolutely think school uniform is one of those essential things. Kids look so much better in ironed school clothes, and it takes me about 10 minutes on a Sunday night to get it done. I never understand the ironing bashers!

Because the 10 minutes it takes to iron is roughly the amount of time they actually do look marginally better than those without ironed uniforms.

RuggedHairyTortoise · 20/09/2024 09:14

middleagedandinarage · 20/09/2024 09:09

Same OP, i am by no means a perfect mum/housewife etc. But i also have a thing about kids being very well presented for school and iron their uniforms. I definitely am in the minority though, i don't think the school even care much. Even the way the head teacher dresses at my DD's school is very casual/no effort.

DS is in Year 9 at an indy. The teachers are required to dress very formally and when I commented about this once his form teacher said that they expected the students to wear blazers and ties etc so the teachers were expected to as well. Which to my mind is fair enough. Both male and female teachers wear suits and jackets ties (men) and the female equivalent of dresses and blazers and trouser suits etc. Several of the male teachers wear three piece suits which personally I adore the look of. (One teacher has a gorgeous heather coloured tweed- he's in his 20s and personally I think he looks fabulous).

My friend does exam invigilation at that school too and she was told they had to be formally dressed. I understand maybe it's different at primary school where the day is possible less formal but I do think that if a school is making quite substantial uniform demands on the students the teachers should comply as well. It;s only respectful IMO. I'm sure I'll be slated for that opinion, but even so. Kids can spot hypocrisy a mile off.

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 20/09/2024 09:14

What kind of loon irons knitwear?

Oh wait a minute, I already know the answer, it's the same kind of obsessive compulsive person who irons socks and knickers because "otherwise they look untidy in the drawers".

Each to her (bonkers) own.

Anonymouslyposting · 20/09/2024 09:14

I always love the phrase “at least” in the title of thread like these - as though the task being complained about it the only thing parents have to do so isn’t it appalling that they fail.

My kids aren’t at school yet, when they are I imagine I will add their ironing to the pile our cleaner does every week. But if it was on me to do the ironing? No thanks, my time with my kids and for myself is limited enough, I’m not wasting it getting rid of a few creases so I definitely won’t be judging other parents for not doing so either.

MayaPinion · 20/09/2024 09:14

As long as the clothes are clean and don’t have too many holes in them nobody cares. Unironed uniform is not a sign of neglect. Dirty, smelly, ripped uniform might be.

HeySummerWhereAreYou · 20/09/2024 09:14

Charlemagnee · 20/09/2024 09:12

Honestly this is how they look, not just a few creases. There are only a few children like this it is massively noticeable and just looks scruffy

.

Jennifer Lawrence Reaction GIF
Hobnobswantshernameback · 20/09/2024 09:13

Over egged it there hun