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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

15 year old in charge of the washing?

86 replies

PixiePlunge · 06/03/2017 23:33

Overheard a colleague today say that her 15 year old son takes over the clothes washing in their house and doesn't like anyone to do it.

Aibu to find that very strange?

OP posts:

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 06/03/2017 23:41

Sounds wonderful. Does he iron?

She could hire him out.

Leggit · 06/03/2017 23:45

Why do you find it strange? Some people enjoy organising washing etc, perhaps he is one of them?

BeanBabies · 06/03/2017 23:51

I have two much younger step siblings, they do their laundry. They're 10 and 14. They started at the age of 8.

Also some of my friends in other countries were expected to do their laundry from the age of 12.

BackforGood · 06/03/2017 23:52

Well, fair to say it's unusual, but my 15 yr old has just decided she wants to do the weekly shop - I'm not going to stand in her way!

hibbledobble · 06/03/2017 23:56

His own washing? He should be doing that at his age!

Or everyone's washing? In which case he is a saint.

Meowstro · 07/03/2017 00:05

I was doing laundry at 8 (and ironing at 13) as well as cooking a few dishes at 10 when someone was home. It's not strange, it's great for building their life skills. I just wish my DH used the bloody washing machine!

Willow2017 · 07/03/2017 00:23

Send him round here asap, sounds wonderful. My 11yr old is almost fully housetrained 15yr old not so much, sort of a work in progress....

toomuchprosecco · 07/03/2017 00:25

I do all the washing but DS (21) does all the ironing

Ludoole · 07/03/2017 00:29

My ds recently turned 17 has been doing the washing and weekly food shop for a year... his choice so i let him.

lalalalyra · 07/03/2017 01:14

Mine all have jobs that are theirs. They don't mind, other people get all eyebrow raised.

aliphil · 07/03/2017 01:18

I was at boarding school but did all the family laundry in the holidays - just my regular chore. I got paid for ironing though as DM hates it so much she said she'd have been paying someone else to do it if I didn't.

NancyCarolinesTorch · 07/03/2017 01:19

I started doing my own washing at around 13 and my sister started doing hers at the same time- must have been around 8. Sometimes she'd do mine for me.

The reason was that my mum was still is shocking at housework. All clothes ended up a kind of pinky grey colour if we let her wash them. So if we wanted nice clothes, we washed them ourselves. Our dad got in on the act and wanted his done by us. Canny sister charged him £1 a wash ando. Bought herself a TV when she turned 10!

ScarlettFreestone · 07/03/2017 01:32

Would you have been so surprised if she'd said her son did all the gardening, all the DIY, all the decorating or even all the cooking?

I bet you wouldn't have been.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 07/03/2017 01:33

my youngest sister is 13, she does all the washing because all of my siblings that still live at home have to do their share of chores and she's worked out if she does all the washing, which isn't really that much effort, she doesn't have to do any other chores (like washing up, which she hates) because mum feels too guilty to ask her it's not strange its smart.

BeachyKeen · 07/03/2017 01:36

My ds 17 and and dd 19 have been expected to do all of their own laundry since they were about 10. It goes in a machine, it's not like the have to use a wash board, and it is an important they know how.
Same as any other cleaning or cooking, they have to learn how

highinthesky · 07/03/2017 01:41

Out of interest, why is laundry separated by people rather than colours / whites / sheets / delicates etc?

An underloaded washing machine is wasteful IMO.

Thadius · 07/03/2017 01:57

Sounds fantastic. So many people struggle to get their children to do household chores and I know many adults who struggles because mummy did everything for them. Great life skill to have.

My 11 year old ds has asked to do the ironing, after teaching him and making sure he wouldn't burn himself or anything else I let him crack on. plus I loath ironing so huge bonus

OverthinkingSpartacus · 07/03/2017 02:03

Not strange at all. I'd think a 15 year who is not capable of putting a load on more strange tbh. It's a basic skill for adulthood like being able to cook a meal.

Every friday 4pm dd gathers up her used uniform and PE kit for week and puts into washing machine. Didnt have to ask her to do it and she started doing it at about 10 year old (now 12)

She's watched her Dad put his work clothes in every Friday when he gets home and just started doing the same. It's usually a full load but if it isn't, she waits until her dad is home and will top it up with his works clothes.

My three nephews have laundry and ironing to do between them aged 17, 14 and 12, sil says only one person commented they shouldn't be doing it, not because they are young or whatever but because they are boys, apparently sil should be doing it until they are living with a woman, who will then get the job. Sil says "fuck that for a laugh"

wigglesrock · 07/03/2017 07:25

He just likes doing it - I don't find that weird at all. My sister always loved to iron - she found it & still finds it soothing, so she started doing the bulk of it from about 15. Everyone has to help out in a house - surely it makes sense to do the job you like doing or hate the least?

Sparklingbrook · 07/03/2017 07:28

It's not really difficult is it? Put it in washing machine add powder/softener and switch it on so anyone can do it.

It's like when people say their children don't know how to clean the bathroom. What is there to know?

incredibule · 07/03/2017 07:28

I see a bright future for the lad.

sirfredfredgeorge · 07/03/2017 07:43

Poor boy, got embarrassed about one wet dream and made out he didn't like anyone else to do the laundry, now he's found himself stuck doing it every week!

Nothing wrong with it of course, not a difficult job, perfectly reasonable one as long as he's happy doing it.

skerrywind · 07/03/2017 07:48

I am the only one that does laundry in our house. Lots of different fabrics/ colours/ temperatures, No tumble drier so I watch the weather and line dry most year round. I am at home all day so I have the opportunity to keep an eye open for rain. Never less than 15 loads a week, I have a system of rack drying or on out of the way radiators. Don't think my teens or OH have ever used the washing machine.

budgiegirl · 07/03/2017 07:57

I think it's great ! My DS16 has been the only one to cut the grass for the last 2 years - he's very proud of the grass, and gets quite precious about it if anyone else wants to cut it.

Astoria7974 · 07/03/2017 07:59

I was responsible for the house's cooking at cleaning by 8, laundary too by 10. Nothing strange about it.

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