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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To make (13) to do her own ironing?

31 replies

TooManyBlossoms · 24/03/2011 20:10

Every day after school she gets changed. Every evening the entire outfit goes straight into the wash basket, even though she's only worn it for 3 hours maximum. I wouldn't mind but each outfit consists of approximately 27 different items of clothing (whoever decided layering was "in" should be shot!).

There's only me, dh and dd here but my ironing pile is constantly full of dd's clothes. I suggested she do some of her own ironing but that idea caused a tantrum that could have been heard several miles away didn't go down too well.

IABU? BTW when I was her age (god I sound old) I had to do all my own washing, and ironing.

OP posts:

TheVisitor · 24/03/2011 20:12

No, you're not, and I'd be making her pull the clothes out of the wash basket to be worn again. I've had this issue with my DD and she'll now wear something a couple of times before it goes in the basket.

ChrissyHynde · 24/03/2011 20:13

Teach her how to fold her clothes they can't be dirty after 3 hours

justpaddling · 24/03/2011 20:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 24/03/2011 20:14

I was about to say that's a bit young, but if she's old enough to insist on a wardrobe of Cheryl Cole magnitude she's old enough to help with the laundering of it.

I've trained DS1 to make his evening clothes go at least 2 days, and I don't even iron his t-shirts!

Why does she have to wear a special 'outfit' every evening, if she's just in the house with her parents?

FabbyChic · 24/03/2011 20:16

When I was 12 my mum and I took it in turns weekly to do the household ironing, there were five of us. One week it was me on a Sunday the next was my mum.

I hated it. But had to be done.

Same as one week I would do upstairs and the next week downstairs on a Sunday. That including the skirting boards, changing beds, cleaning windows.

My brother and sister didn't have to do anything but then again they were five years younger.

squeakytoy · 24/03/2011 20:16

I was going to say its a bit young too, but if she is taking the piss, which it sounds like she is, then no, make her do her own washing too. Put a laundry basket in her room, and let her sort it all out herself. She will soon change her tune a bit. :)

Tidey · 24/03/2011 20:16

a) Ironing is a massive con passed down from generation to generation, and unless it's a special occasion, it can just sod right off. and b) She needs to learn to wear things for longer than three hours, it doesn't need washing after being worn at house for a single evening anyway.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 24/03/2011 20:17

my dd started doing this when she was 13 so i make her do all her own laundry now, including washing

PeterAndreForPM · 24/03/2011 20:17

My dd has been doing her own ironing since at least age 13

I got mightily sick of washing and ironing stuff she was too lazy to fold and put back in the drawer

I also take stuff out of her washing basket that I know doesn't need washing (a cardigan ? jeans ? after 3 hours ? I don't think so...)

she irons all her school uniform...it looks like shit, but that's not my problem

expatinscotland · 24/03/2011 20:18

YANBU. I was doing all my own laundry and ironing by this age.

Just stop doing it for her, show her how to use the washing machine and let her run out of clothes.

SpeedyGonzalez · 24/03/2011 20:19

YADefinitelyNBU.

Firstly, she clearly doesn't appreciate that looking nice requires work. Secondly all children need domestic training, and IMO that should actually start younger than 13!

Good on you.

squeakytoy · 24/03/2011 20:19

I was a teen in the 80's when everything was layered, frilly, lacy, and according to my mother "a bloody nightmare to wash and iron".. I also used to drop it all on the floor, and expect the laundry fairy to magically wash, iron and put away.... and I have now turned into my mother and find myself not buying clothes even though I like them, because I just know that once washed they will never look like they did originally.

FabbyChic · 24/03/2011 20:21

I wouldnt even contemplate washing clothes that had been worn for 3 hours, they can be hung back up and put back in the wardrobe. I don't think she should do her own washing, but ironing yes. Why not? Why not encourage her to take it in turns with you, one week she does it all the next week you? I would actually pay her though i.e give chore money for doing it.

valiumredhead · 24/03/2011 20:22

My mum stopped ironing for me and my sister when I was 12 and sister was 9 - she decided we were old enough to do it ourselves - so we did ( or didn't, depending on how we felt!)

ithaka · 24/03/2011 20:24

I never iron, unless it is a special occassion. IDH irons his own work shirts. If DD wants something ironed, she does it herself (she is 13).

LaurieFairyCake · 24/03/2011 20:25

Dd started ironing at 10. She only irons school shirts and everything else is just hung up.

I don't iron anything.

Skinit · 24/03/2011 20:25

I did my own...YANBU

wendihouse22 · 24/03/2011 20:26

She should be doing her own ironing.

My step daughter does nothing.... it infuriates me.

SpeedyGonzalez · 24/03/2011 20:26

Flabby, why shouldn't she do her own washing? It's just a matter of sticking stuff in a machine!

SmethwickBelle · 24/03/2011 20:30

She'll be fine!

I did all mine from about 11 and as such all my school pullovers were shiny shiny from overhot iron. I became obsessed with spray starch for a spell and so then the clothes stood up by themselves and then there was the excitement of the big spray bottle of water (before irons had much internal squishy power)... Happy days.

These days I iron NOTHING, I feel like I have got it out of my system however if needs must I am bloody expert.

4FoxAche · 24/03/2011 20:32

I don't think you are being unreasonable.

But then I was ironing my own school uniform and my dads work shirts at 8yrs old.

Either that or like others have said, take clean clothes out of basket and dump them back in her room.

Original poster

TooManyBlossoms · 24/03/2011 20:34

Right, pretty unanimous there then! I'll break the news to her that from now on, she either wears her clothes more than once, or irons the lot of them herself.

OP posts:

PeterAndreForPM · 24/03/2011 20:35

no, you are being too kind

she irons her own from now on

amberleaf · 24/03/2011 20:37

Tidey Thu 24-Mar-11 20:16:59

a) Ironing is a massive con passed down from generation to generation, and unless it's a special occasion, it can just sod right off.

Amen to that !

VeeBee3 · 24/03/2011 20:38

YANBU, my DD (16) has been doing her own ironing since she was 11 and complaining she didn't like the way i did it! She makes sure it's all done every Sunday.

She was also one for waiting for the laundry fairy to collect her clothes. She now makes sure she brings her dirty washing down - after complaining i hadn't washed something that was lying on the floor of her room and I threatened to stop doing her washing as well!

I've also resorted to removing clothes that she's worn for a couple of hours from the basket and puuting back in her room. She now thinks twice about what goes in the laundry.

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