To not let ds go to his friend's house because she doesn't iron her clothes?

[TheRhubarb]

I mean, it's filthy isn't it? The children are sent to school in crumpled clothes and she walks around like a bag lady! I spend hours ironing my children's clothes and as soon as they walk in from school they need to change into lounging attire and then carefully fold their uniform over the trouser press I have in their rooms. This has saved me many more hours of ironing I can tell you!

Yet if I allow him to go to this woman's house, he'll no doubt come back with creased clothes and will doubtless have stains over it, I mean I don't think she changes their uniform more than once a week.

Hygiene and being smart is very important to me and whilst I don't mind my children attending houses of similar children who are smartly dressed, I don't particularly want them influenced by slatternly waifs and strays. Obviously this is not the child's fault and that's not what I'm saying, but if my children see that they can get away with looking like homeless people, then they start playing up at home.

I could tell her what my expectations are but I just don't think she would take any notice, so aibu in not allowing ds to go?

W0rmy of course they don't. Their shoes are polished every week and I change their uniforms every other day. On the days when I don't change them, they put their trousers, jumpers and shirts individually in the trouser press just to smarten them up for another day.

I send them to school to be educated, not to get filthy.

I personally love the non wrinkly packets of crisps you get in multipacks. I have been known to choose a flavor I don't particularly like just to get the smooth crisp packet.

It calms me.

I put the DD in the trouser press every morning and I make my DH sleep under the mattress. I am with you OP.

Yes, I can see why this particular parenting site is called "the lowest common denominator". I feel for your children.

phone SS now, no time to lose.

You only polish their shoes once a week? I do it every day admittedly with that quick liquid polish stuff. What do you use that lasts a week?

I never iron uniforms, the tumble dryer does it well enough...I do wash their uniforms after one day's wear though not every other day.

So am I a slattern or not?

Starts taking shoe polishing notes.

Throws pad away

Gets whiteboard out.

You are a "Semi-Slattern".

Well you could invite the dc round to yours, having explained to your dc why their friends' home is such a temptation towards the sin of sloth, but make them go through a specially constructed 'decontamination unit' on the way in (Im sure you could get something from Lakeland for it). That'd solve your problem. You could write to the mother explaining the need for such; you'd have to word it carefully, obviously, seeing that the way we present ourselves to the world says a lot about who we are. But wasn't that your point in the first place? Anyway, I'm sure both dc would appreciate it greatly and be great pals because of your loving attitude. Well done you!

Filthy!

Don't let them go! They'll catch Chavian 'Flu!

"The way we present ourselves to the world says a lot about the people we are" Yep, I don't give a fuck what people think. If people judge purely on appearances then they're shallow fuckwits.

Leave the bastard (just helping with tooearlymustdache's card)

W0rmy, we use the proper shoe polish that is melted on a tablespoon slowly over a candle and then poured carefully over the shoe, spread out and rubbed in. Leave it to dry and then buff to a polish.

My children do not come home with stains on their uniforms so there is no need to wash them every day. I do my bit for the environment.

A tumble dryer will not magic away the creases. Trousers need to have a very straight and sharp crease down the middle that a dryer will not put in there for you. Shirts must be crisp, especially cuffs and collars. Sweaters/blazers need to be brushed down to prevent bobbling and then ironed.

chavian flu :o

Please check out the OP's profile - she is joking!

Is that you mummy?

Iron? Isn't that what the dryers for

Your abit slovernly yourself, clean uniforms every day in this house, you should take a look at your own ways

I am standing back in awe at the laundry skills of Rhubabrb.

rhubarb

How can I get a turmeric stain out of a cream silk blouse?

Are they clean despite having creased clothes? If so have a !

Can I ask where you purchase school trousers from as I find ds's go shiny if I iron them and that that somewhat counters the image I am trying to achieve. Advice gratefully received.

Thank god someone else has this problem too.

For days I have been worrying about whether or not I'm being unreasonable in expecting everyone else to adhere to my standards, but I thought I'd be flamed.

Op keep up the good work!

but, but, tumble dryers do magic away creases!!! and if trousers didn't come with a crease down the front, I'm not adding one

Goosey - then your school trousers are too cheap. May I suggest you try some real school uniform shops and not ebay or Primark.

redruby - I don't even have to name change these days!