Reasons why curtains should be opened ...

[crimboAkimbo]

I've been trying for several years to train my teen to open his bedroom curtains in the mornings. It's not a huge issue, but I don't think it's an unreasonable thing to aspire to is it?

Thing is, his bedroom is at the back of the house and he doesn't go in it much between getting dressed in the morning and getting undressed at the end of the day. So, being in possession of a hyper-logical teenage brain, he just doesn't see the point.

Whenever this comes up (regularly) I have to go round the "but why?" loop, so I trot out the same old arguments - it's the respectable thing to do, it's good training for the future when you're living with other people, it's simple and I've asked you to do it so why not, it's my house and my rules, no play-station till they're open, etc etc. However, clearly none of these arguments are clinching enough to drive a permanent change of habit.

Any advice? (I know I will get "stop worrying about it and give him a break" but I'm hoping for some more positive steers too).

I do, and open the windows, so the house gets an airing. If windows/curtains are shut all the time, you're creating an ideal breeding ground for mould and condensation.

Because dear stinky teenager it helps the air flow to keep your room fresh?

Yeah, I'd go the mould, condensation and smells route.

Tell him you’ll get rid of the curtains if he can’t be bothered to open and close them once a day.

I think the reason that you are struggling to find a good reason for this is because there isn't really one. It's just a preference you have. I don't really understand the reasons you have listed here tbh. Respectful? Good practice for when you live with others? What?

@orangesmartieseggs - thanks - just the sort of line I was looking for.

I do see his point. Why does it matter? If you were talking about windows and fresh air then fair play, but curtains? I don't see why it matters to you that he does this seemingly arbitrary action each day, and it sounds like you can't think of a good reason either beyond 'my house my rules'.

Could he just leave them open nonstop instead if you really can't abide them being closed? I don't know anyone who faffs around every day opening and closing all of their curtains!

I don't know anyone who faffs around every day opening and closing all of their curtains

we do, it's no faff. It gets dark, you close the curtains for privacy, especially the garden side which is pitch black. You get up in the morning, you open curtains and windows to freshen up the rooms.
I wouldn't care so much for close curtains if they have been opened for at least 30mn in the morning whilst the windows were opened, but I am guessing they aren't.

I open my ds’ blind because he never does. I tell him it will stink in there if I don’t open the windows. Dd has the loft room and has no curtains, only velux windows, have to be careful to remember not to leave her windows open

I don’t open ours. I don’t see the point. It really fucks me off when I go for a shower the walk in my bedroom naked to find dh has opened the blinds.

Definitely agree about the mould thing. I had tenants who caused mould in a bedroom doing this so I read up on it . The room needs light and air.

I think he's right, there's only any real point to opening curtains if you're in the room during daylight hours, or if you have houseplants anywhere other than on the glass side of the window ledge.

We don't always open all our curtains, it hasn't made us pariahs.

I couldn't be bothered to argue over it to be honest. I go round most mornings and open the upstairs curtains after everyone has gone out. Pretty sure I didn't do it this morning though so they are all closed. Not going upstairs now to check though!

Just shut his bedroom door, then you won't know.

Because it's my house

We also don’t shut our downstairs front room shutters, so people can see right in if they look. I don’t see the point because I’ll just open them again in the morning.

We never close ours. I like the windows open too.

DP has aspirations to live in a Tupperware container so will rush round closing them but they're open most of the day for fresh air to blow in.

But I think it's his room therefore his room. Don't understand the 'respectable' thing.

So the cat can sunbathe without leaving the house.

I remember renting a flat and one guy never aired his room - when he moved out it was absolutely vile. The walls were covered in mould/condensation because the place was never aired. We took over his room and the problem never returned once it got a decent airing everyday.

I'm with him. It sounds like a pointless argument that is more about you asserting power than anything else.

That said, its your house and you can insist on whatever you want, so just tell him to do it and don't argue.

Airing a room is nothing to do with opening curtains though. Our bedroom curtains rarely get opened but the window is open most of the time.

Does he open his windows at all? That would be the main issue. It's better to open the window fully whilst the curtains are open, but even if they are closed, it would be better than nothing

So the cat can sunbathe without leaving the house.

When I said opening curtains only has a point if you're in the room, obviously the 'you' includes pets who like to bask (my dachshund is sunning himself at my feet right now.