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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to strip DDs bedroom of all her personal possesions?

410 replies

VoldemortsNipple · 25/04/2011 10:32

I really need some good advice on how to handle this. Sorry its long.

DD is 14. her bedroom is a tip. I dont mean normal teenage mess, I mean environmental hazard mess. There are dirty dishes that she sneaks up there, pot noodle pots shoved down the side of her bed. We had mice at Christmas!

All her clothes are dirty. I have asked time and time again for her to bring washing down. All she brings is the bare minimum of washing that she needs, ie; one set of school uniform, one pair of jeans and a top that she wants to wear. She normally washes her own clothes now because of this, but she washes them as she needs them. She has a binbag full of washing in one corner, the rest is all over the floor, including smelly dirty underwear. When she runs out of clean underwear, she will take to wearing mine. She will even wear her brothers boxers.

She has broken countless expensive items by lack of respect. Her laptop over heats because she would fall asleep with it on her bed. Now she will take her brothers things without asking and refuses to give them back or denies she has them until we have a big shouting match about it. We have to unplug the wireless router and take it to bed with us or she will sneak downstairs and be on the intenet until early hours of the morning.

I have helped her tidy her room countless times but within a few days it is a mess again. The bedroom is now in such a mess it stinks. Last summer she paid for paint and new soft furnishings to decorate the room herself. I thorght then that she would begin to take pride in it but she still doesnt care.

Her personal hygiene is also very bad. She goes out to school with perfectly straight hair and make up on, but she will smell of BO because she hasnt washed. If we are lucky she will have a shower once a week.

On Friday I gave her an ultimatum that she has until the end of today to clean her room or I will go in and clean it for her and on doing so will remove all her things. Up until not she hasnt done a thing and I really dont expect her to.

So tomorrow I want to not only clean her room, but take away all her things including books, ipods, make up and straigteners (which will upset her the most) and leave her with two sets of clothes, underwear, uniform and pyjamas.

I want her to respect her own and other people posessions. I dont know whether by leaving her with so little will do more harm than good but I just dont know what to do next.

OP posts:
LittleMissFlustered · 09/05/2011 18:37

Voldie you are a hero. Now then, when are you free to come sort me out? My room is pants, it's the repository for all the household junk;)

RoseC · 09/05/2011 18:39

I've been following this with interest (and a HUGE amount of respect) and thought I'd chip in about checking up on revision:

Can you say that a well-made set of revision notes, with thought gone in, would take about 45 minutes per A4 sheet (if using different coloured pens, drawing diagrams etc.) and that is something she could easily do without a laptop and with her exercise books. Even if she sulks through it you'll be able to a) check the quality/amount and b) something will have gone in :)

NorksAreMessy · 09/05/2011 20:59

Voldy for QUEEN!
Thank you for coming back to update us. Every step is a step forward. Has your DD noticed a difference herself? This must be helping her self esteem, but she probably won't let on :)

Divide and conquer is the only way with sibling squabbles, separate them and allow NO TALKING if it isn't nice.
We also had a very strict 'play fighting is still fighting' rule, because it can easily tip over from friendly wrestling to nastiness ( mind you...aging hippy writing here)

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 10/05/2011 11:04

Norks - I totally agree - she's not going to let on that she's feeling better!

Voldy - you are doing so well - and thankyou for the updates!

Sheepasaurus · 11/05/2011 23:41

I have read through this whole thread so far over the last couple of days and just wanted to say well done for sticking to your guns!

Sarraburd · 12/05/2011 06:59

Just popped by to see how you're doing. Go Voldy!

If she has no homework why not set her some yourself Grin Esp if there's a subject she especially struggles with.

Should be able to find a test question on the Internet eg for her English lit. She doesn't have to do whole essay, just bullets/spider diagram but you can easily see if she understands it.

Sure Letts must still be doing its revise series if you need ideas for other subjects, possibly also with Internet based tests/questions? Alot of it is rote learning at that age.

fuzzpig · 06/07/2011 21:30

Somebody linked to this on another thread - I'd read some of it at the time but didn't post. I'd love an update, Voldie, if you're about?

wakeupandsmellthecoffee · 07/07/2011 13:08

yeah voddy spill the beans how it going .

katekoo · 08/07/2011 12:36

Wow Voldie! i am totally impressed!

SusanneLinder · 08/07/2011 14:00

I am still laughing at the "we had mice at Christmas"

We had turkey. :)

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