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AIBU?

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Original poster

At what age should a child start ironing?

558 replies

Boogers · 13/04/2016 19:13

H and I had a big argument last night about the things that DS(12) can and can't do. I said DS should be learning how to iron by now, to which H strongly disagreed.

I remember ironing my dad's hankerchiefs when I was about 7 or 8, and when I was about 12 or 13 I was ironing my school uniform on a Sunday evening (in autumn it was 5 shirts, 3 box pleated skirts, 1 blazer, in summer it was 5 dresses and 1 blazer).

DS had no issues with co-ordination or ability to sense hot and cold, there is no reason why he can't learn to use an iron. H says that he and his brother never ironed when they were younger (his brother is 40 and has never ironed in his life; his parents, my in-laws, do it all for him).

Who is being unreasonable here, me or H? Should I encourage DS to learn how to iron?

OP posts:
TheEmmaDilemma · 14/04/2016 20:15

Collar, cuffs, sleeves, front, back.

Lweji · 14/04/2016 20:19

I notice when people haven't ironed

Are you my mother? Wink

Sallystyle · 14/04/2016 20:19

I only iron my uniform and the children's school uniform.

I tumble everything then hang it up but it needs a go over with the iron.

My 16 year old irons his uniform and has been doing so for over a year now. The 14 and 12 year old try but they are still so bad it but I always get them to give it a go first and they are getting better.

MrsKoala · 14/04/2016 20:26

I just told DH that people who work in the city should have cleaners to iron their shirt. He gave a hollow laugh. He stands bleary eyed in his pants every morning blocking the hallway and ironing his daily shirt. He used to be in the army but it never really rubbed off on him. Grin

I quite enjoy ironing, but with my mountain of more necessary chores and screamy, yanky, pully, climby toddlers it's something i just wont ever have time to do till they start school and i can wear clothes i like again.

TheEmmaDilemma · 14/04/2016 21:33

Rest assured I'm not Lweji . I'm childless. Smile

pearlylum · 14/04/2016 21:43

". I've sent Partner back up to iron something before." really Emma?

Something he is wearing that's not up to your standards?

Natsku · 14/04/2016 21:46

Don't own an iron so in that sense never but actually my mum taught me at about 9 or 10 and I happily did it since then while living at home. It always was my favourite household chore as you can do it while watching telly and there was some satisfaction to making that nice pile of ironed clothes.

rightsaidfrederickII · 14/04/2016 23:04

Personally someone in the family has to die, or I have to get a job interview, before I will turn the iron on. He should know how to do it, but there's no need to make him practice weekly.

Teach him something he will actually need to use regularly - using the washing machine (I did all my own laundry from the age of about 11/12) for instance, and making simple meals.

espressotogo · 14/04/2016 23:27

Sorry but I'm still not getting this. I've taken DDs school shirt out of the dryer, put it on a hanger and it still looks creased. No way would I send her to school with that on. I would judge any parent that would. It's not shameful to have standards. And while I want my children to be equipped with life skills, I'm their mum and I like doing things for them 😘

Maryz · 14/04/2016 23:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FlyRussianUnicorn · 15/04/2016 01:03

My father (aged 65) actually asked how to clean a toilet a few days ago. I was gobsmacked.

pearlylum · 15/04/2016 06:41

espesso " I would judge"

And what conclusion would you come to? That they were lazy? Selfish? Neglecting their children?

There are so many pressing issues in the world, child poverty, violence yet you go around clutching your pearls "judging" others because their well cared for and happy child has a few wrinkles in his shirt.
You seriously need to get a life.

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 07:38

I have a life thank you I just think it's a bit lazy not to run an iron over your kids clothes

espressotogo · 15/04/2016 07:39

No I would not class it as child neglect - no reasonable person would

pearlylum · 15/04/2016 07:51

espresso= why is it lazy? What damage am I doing to my child by not ironing his clothes?

BoboChic · 15/04/2016 07:55

Boys' clothes do not need ironing. Teach him how to wash, use the tumble drier and hang t-shirts on hangers to dry so that they are not creased.

Lweji · 15/04/2016 07:57

Why should they have to learn to use the tumble drier and hanging and all that faff and not an iron?
What is the actual difference?

merrymouse · 15/04/2016 08:11

you still have to hang clothes to dry or put them in the tumble drier, whether or not you iron. The difference is time.

BoboChic · 15/04/2016 08:23

It's an awful lot quicker to hang your clothes to dry than to iron them.

OliviaStabler · 15/04/2016 08:27

YANBU. Ironing is a skill all kids should learn.

Amazed at the people who do not iron.

Marynary · 15/04/2016 08:28

No creases can be seen on my children's shirts unless you look at them really closely and who is going to do that? Generally they wear jumpers or blazers over them anyway (except on a really sunny day). Also , the fact that my children (teenagers) have never asked for their clothes to be ironed also suggests they are not creased as if they were probably someone would have commented if t truely is so important to humanity that things are ironed.

Marynary · 15/04/2016 08:30

Amazed at the people who do not iron.

Which pretty much proves that you do not notice whether people iron or not.

prettybird · 15/04/2016 08:51

I can respect why some people don't like or don't want to iron.

Bur I don't understand those that say "just put it in the tumble drier (autocorrect just tried to change that to "rumple" Grin) and then hang it up". What happens if you don't have a tumble drier or (in my case) you choose not to use the tumble drier on both ecological and cost grounds? (I have it for emergencies and use it maybe twice a year)

I hang my clothes outside on the line carefully and only have minimal ironing - but I still like my cotton shirts crisp and uncrumpled, so give them a quick run over with the iron. I like to wear natural fibres but also like to look smart.

Dh is perfectly capable of ironing his own shirts in fact he claims he does thrm better than me. I really should teach ds (15) to do his own.

Although when I'm in the mood, I don't mind standing ironing and watching something good on TV and I'll do everyone's ironing. It takes me a maximum of half an hour once a week - including my white cotton pillow cases Wink

I'm Shock and Hmm at those that suggest that rather than ironing, you can just send shirts out to be ironed. Fine if you can afford it Hmm. I'd rather spend the money if I had it on having someone come in to clean the house.

Lweji · 15/04/2016 08:52

But hanging carefully to avoid all creases does take time.
In any case, it doesn't have to be either or. They can learn all skills and decide what to do.

LittleLionMansMummy · 15/04/2016 08:59

pretty cleaners I've looked at charge around £10 an hour and will only take work that entails 2 hours per week. My tenner a month for ironing pales into insignificance beside £80 for cleaning. I admit that we use a combination of tricks to keep ironing levels quite low, hence the low cost, but it works well for us. When I'm on mat leave I'll do it myself, but as dh and I currently both work ft and have a 5yo, we really think there are better ways to spend our weekend time than doing ironing!