to think my ds looks a tad trampy??

[whethergirl]

This morning DS, age 6 was:

Wearing a filthy coat.
I try to wash his coat at least once a week as it's needed. I do really need another coat so I can wash one while he has a spare to wear, but really can't afford to buy one at the moment.

Wearing tatty shoes.
I do buy quite cheap shoes and maybe I need to consider saving up for a pair of better quality ones as he wears them out SO quickly. I bought this pair for £10 two months ago and they look like they've been worn for years. The label said "Scuff resistant"?? Bollocks.

Sportiing bed head hair.
His hair is impossible. I've tried water, spit and gel but if he wakes up up with sticky up hair then there is no taming it. The double crown doesn't help.

He has 3 school jumpers and still ends up wearing a dirty one sometimes because I can't wash them as quick as he dirties them. I change his school top every day, and his trousers most days, yet my mum complains that I don't iron them.

When I pick him up, if he happens to have had a runny nose (snot sleeves) and got lunch down his top then this only adds to his tramp themed image.

Sometimes I think if I had more money it could be improved, eg. I could get better quality shoes, smarter school tops, extra coat etc. He did look a bit like the 'poor' kid when he went into school this morning

Does anyone else struggle to keep their kids looking half decent? Is this normal and shall I just relax? My mum is of the iron-your-knickers mentality so do feel that DS is definitely not up to her standards!!

Well I've washed his coat tonight, polished his shoes and coloured in the scuffed parts with black felt tip pen! He does actually have another coat to wear, but I didn't think it was warm enough and was about to put it away, however we don't live far from school and will just make it up with gloves/scarf/hat if necessary. And actually he does have yet another coat but it's a ski coat and too warm!! Only suitable for snowy or really freezing weather really.

I also spoke to a some of the other mums, it seems I am ahead of the game with the clean uniform changes, some only put on clean jumpers once or twice pw and don't change tops/bottoms every day like I do.

Re the jumper thing, he normally has a clean one on, but SOMETIMES not, for example, if he has left one at school, one is drying and one is dirty. Am going to ask a friend with an older son at same school if she has any hand me down jumpers. Also, my mum noticed today how wet my clean washing is, so will adjust spin speed which will hopefully get clothes dryer quicker!

elfiro - I know other mums who are very laid back with their kids being scruffy, and they certainly don't get teased either. TBH most 6 year olds wouldn't notice or care.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll "one that has snot on his sleeves from the day before is not (normal & healthy practice)". He never has snot on his sleeves from the day before.

seeker - "I really don't think a child should leave the house covered in mud on a regular basis". I hope you're not implying I do?

LizzieMo - Wow, tbh most of his friends aren't that interested in his time machine because it doesn't actually work I would love to see what another one looks like, does she use pencils for fuel like ds? And yes, I too am very afraid of what I might end up finding in his pockets, especially if I can't identify it. I used to use baby wipes but moved on to Vanish wipes, not sure if they're much better tbh.

olibeansmummy - thank you. I will definitely be buying at the next uniform sale (much to my mums horror). Good tip about the scuffing, didn't know it was worse on non leather (especially when the label says 'scuff resistant'!).

I have a clean set of uniform for each day of the week, infact when i put DS school clothes away i put a whole set together, ie, Jumper, tshirt, trouser, pants and socks. It just makes things slightly quicker and i feel more organised iykwim. Also, having a full set per day seems to pay for itself it erms of wear and tear through the year.
I also only buy cheap shoes, actually DS are about £8 in Asda and look like black trainers. He's had them on since Jan and they dont have a patch of wear on them other than the soles being slightly warn, and his feet dont seem to be growing either !

Nice tip BabyDubs, never bought the Asda ones before as I don't shop there, so will try them out. I think Shoezone has fleeced me quite enough.

I know asda is really looked down on here, but all DS' stuff has worn really well, Ill be passing on his trouser to a friend and DD will be reusing his school jumpers (another reason I am happy to buy 5 from the school, I get two years out of them and having so many they wear really well too) Tshirts are good for nothing by the end, but that probably down to the amount of sodding paint he comes home caked in tbh!

second asda, her cardigan has been going for 2 yrs now. i loved their jersey trousers too, but they don't make anything bigger than a 9-10 in those.

Sounds like a 6 year old boy, to me.

I don't think you're helping matters by not ironing his trousers or putting a clean jumper on him every day so yes I do think YABU.

Re, the washing, my boys (5 and 7) have 3-4 pairs of trousers (depending on whether they've gone through knees recently)5-8 polo shirts (depending on how many they've trashed recently - I find the teflon ones survive DS1's artwork much better) and 3 school jumpers. I never struggle to keep up with clean ones unless one of the boys has left a jumper at school, ut then I just use each other's on them, since they're only a size apart.

I do an average of 10 full laundry loads a week, by the way - for 4 of us. And I tumble dry and hang immediately to keep things crease-free (though what happens by the time the boys have rummage through drawers or sat on things before putting them on is a different matter entirely)

I buy all ds2 8 uniforms from asda except coat and shoes that I buy from tesco, I have bought him expensive shoes, it makes no difference were lucky if they last a term. Luckily the school allow them to wear black trainers now so they last longer.

Sometimes I get his polo shirts from tesco we got 3 for £4 last term and they wash well.

Ds has a uniform for every day but still looks like he hasn't been washed for a week by 3.30 every day. We could afford to buy uniforms that are abit more expensive but he would still rip them playing football , get paint on them so I don't see the point. This way we can afford to replace them more often

I specifically choose most uniform items on the basis of what will require the least ironing.

DD1 used to have about 8 polo shirts due to DH not realising I had ordered some and buying her some himself but now she makes do with a pack of 4, though most weeks 3 is enough as long as clean ones do not find their way into the laundry as I have caught DD1 and DH putting them into the basket when they will do for another day.

She usually looks fairly clean and tidy in the morning but one of the scruffiest at home time- she has lovely and thick but wavy, fine and unruly hair that doesn't stay in bobbles, but I think that might be also due to spending half of playtime upside down...