Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm a teen. Am I BU or my mum?

112 replies

confusedtiredandhormonal · 06/10/2013 18:00

I'm 16 and I started AS levels this year.

I've been working all day and I just popped downstairs for a piece of fruit. On my way back up my mum stopped me and asked me to unload the dishwasher and then load the dishes in the sink, knowing full well that I've still got work to do.

Was she BU to have made me done it there and then or should she have let me finish my work and then do it?

OP posts:
LIZS · 06/10/2013 18:01

just do it , you could have done in the time it has taken to argue and post !

Bunbaker · 06/10/2013 18:02

If I had been your mum and I knew that you really were doing homework I wouldn't want to stop you, and would happily empty the dishwasher myself. I struggle to get my daughter motivated to do her homework though.

meditrina · 06/10/2013 18:02

If your homework is taking so long, you need to start it before Sunday.

Because yes, you need to do your fair share of household chores at the time they need doing. Not some other time that suits you.

YouTheCat · 06/10/2013 18:02

If you are genuinely working and not mucking about on Tumblr/Youtube, then I'd have let you do it a bit later.

My teen is usually not doing work.

Original poster
confusedtiredandhormonal · 06/10/2013 18:03

I didn't argue, I did it, but it just made no sense to have me do it in the middle of working...

OP posts:
littlewhitebag · 06/10/2013 18:03

Just do it. A break from doing your work will help you when you go back. If you can take a break to get fruit you can also do a few chores. My 15 yo DD is upstairs doing school work. I am about to call her down to empty the dishwasher. It is part and parcel of living in a family.

TEErickOrTEEreat · 06/10/2013 18:03

What LIZS said.

usualsuspect · 06/10/2013 18:04

Stay upstairs next time Grin

Original poster
confusedtiredandhormonal · 06/10/2013 18:04

meditrina I've been working since Saturday morning. We've assessments coming up so I've been studying for them.

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 06/10/2013 18:04

Confused, you need a stash of snacks.

nomorecrumbs · 06/10/2013 18:05

Just get on with it!! It's a simple chore that takes 5 minutes, no biggy.

Original poster
confusedtiredandhormonal · 06/10/2013 18:05

usualsuspect I think that may be necessary Grin

OP posts:
pictish · 06/10/2013 18:05

Oh just get on with it! Don't imagine your time to be more precious than anyone else's. We've all got other and better things to do, not just you.

Many hands make light work!

NoComet · 06/10/2013 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

YouTheCat · 06/10/2013 18:05

Tbh, on the odd occasions my dd was actually doing work and had assessments going on, I'd be the one taking up cups of tea/snacks and not laying down the law about a dishwasher.

Trills · 06/10/2013 18:06

You should talk to your mum (and dad if applicable) and agree on a list of what chores you are expected to do, but then you should get to decide when to do them (within reason).

This means planning revision and chores and relaxing time. You won't be surprised with a request to "unload the dishwasher right now" when you are in the middle of something, but you also will be contributing to the running of the household (which every member of the household should be doing something towards).

MarianneEnjolras · 06/10/2013 18:06

She asked you to do it then because it needed doing then. A 5 minute break from homework will be good for you.

Are you sure you are a real teen though? I didn't know teenagers did homework all day and only stopped to eat fruit?

usualsuspect · 06/10/2013 18:06

I wouldn't have asked mine if they were working.
Mnetters are so bloody harsh on teenagers.

Original poster
confusedtiredandhormonal · 06/10/2013 18:07

Star I didn't argue back, but I may have been a bit huffy about it Wink

OP posts:
littlewhitebag · 06/10/2013 18:07

People on here (myself included) have managed to get a degree while caring for children and looking after a home. You split your work up in to bits and fit it around all the millions of other things that need to be done. If you can't manage a quick kitchen chore and fit in your work you are going to struggle mightily if you go to uni! Just look on this as practice for real life.

bigTillyMint · 06/10/2013 18:07

confused, I think you need to plan in breaks if you are not already - nobody works well for hours on end!
Sandwich your work times with something more physical like a run or bike ride or emptying the dishwasherWink

And get a pack of chocolate digestives for your roomSmile

Original poster
confusedtiredandhormonal · 06/10/2013 18:08

marianne, fear not, I had my fair share of chocolate too!

OP posts:
BellaVita · 06/10/2013 18:08

Well you need some sort of break and if that means doing the dishwasher then so be it.

Btw, I have a 16 year old teen doing a levels and he has to do the dishwasher and he has just hoovered my car for free as last week I did not have change and he got £20 for lunches instead of £15 and I also made him a chocolate cake he asked for.

Horses for courses.

We all need to help each other in our house.

pictish · 06/10/2013 18:09

Unloading the dishy is hardly harsh.
It's unloading the dishy. 5 mins max.

Original poster
confusedtiredandhormonal · 06/10/2013 18:09

bigTilly ooooh yes! And a jar of nuts/dried fruit mmmmmmm! Biscuit

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread