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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Staying in school uniform after school?

217 replies

Jupin · 13/10/2020 19:12

Thought I would start a thread to see what others do as my partner and his family always comment on the fact that my DS stays in his uniform after school and I don’t see the issue so wondered if it isn’t normal.

He has fresh uniform every day but keeps it on until he gets ready for bed. If he wants to get changed then he will just get ready for bed early but I’ve never got him to get changed into other clothes when we got home and partner thinks I should.

I never got changed after school apart from as a teen when I was going out with friends after school. But partner and family are really judgey about it like it isn’t normal and it’s not hygienic (not covid they have always felt that way).

So do your children get changed after school and Is there something I’m missing about why I should be making him change?

OP posts:
iwishiwasonhol · 13/10/2020 20:11

when she was in primary no unless she was playing out, since starting secondary yes tie/shirt/skirt not the most comfy ,now with covid she is going straight in the shower and uniform is washed every day

HotGlueGun · 13/10/2020 20:12

I used to insist that my son got changed from school into normal clothes, however I soon stopped when I realised that I was doubling the amount of washing I needed to do. He comes home from school filthy and if he changes into normal clothes, they too get filthy between the end of school and bath time. I'd rather he just get one set of clothes dirty so yes, he stays in his uniform. It goes against the grain and I don't like it, but I simply don't have the time or inclination to wash 2 sets of clothes + pyjamas each day.

severusbadger · 13/10/2020 20:13

Mine gets changed ASAP

I hate seeing children running about in their school uniforms 🤷🏽‍♀️

Suzi888 · 13/10/2020 20:14

Mine strips at the door, her doing not mine. Clean uniform every day. I always changed when I was little too. Just find uniform uncomfortable.

FirefighterA24 · 13/10/2020 20:15

Mine used to come in and lounge about in it Pre Covid, but now it's off straight in the wash as soon as they arrive home, plus getting nice and cosy in their pjs in this horrible weather helps.

Original poster
Jupin · 13/10/2020 20:15

@OneForMeToo
I was brought up that it was the kids of parents who didn’t care or where just lazy who stayed in their uniforms once home/out to play.

That seems to be the same opinion of partner and MIL too... I just can’t understand what the thought process behind it is personally 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
awesomeaircraft · 13/10/2020 20:15

Mine never changed, but could be a cultural thing. I come from a country without school uniforms, so the idea of changing when you get home is just not there.

TheFormidableMrsC · 13/10/2020 20:18

DS would have stayed in uniform until bath time pre Covid but now he strips off at the door and it goes straight in the wash and he showers straight away. He has clean uniform every day but I am immune compromised currently due to cancer treatment and that was the advice I was given by oncology to try and mitigate some of the risk of transmission.

sunflowerspeoniesanddaisies · 13/10/2020 20:19

Mine gets changed as soon as she walks in the door! Uniform off, joggers and a comfy top on.

I always did the same when I worked. I felt like I was going from work mode into home mode.

I don't think it's bad not too, it's just what we do.

DominaShantotto · 13/10/2020 20:21

Depends what else they're doing - lots of days they have other stuff on so it's tea (relatively early by MN comparisons) and then changed and back out. They're staying in PE kit all day now at school - and some comedian has scheduled back-to-back PE days in one class so that poor kid gets stripped on entry to the house so stuff can go through the washer ready for the following day.

ktp100 · 13/10/2020 20:21

Mine can't wait to get it off an at the moment I'd say that's probably for the best.

RonaLisa · 13/10/2020 20:21

I am completely baffled about why anyone would give even a second's thought to this (though I'm obviously invested enough to bother saying that).

I have no idea what my DC did when they were uniform-aged. It wasn't an issue, whatever it was. I'd say the same if they were little again now.

Sewrainbow · 13/10/2020 20:22

I never changed as a kid and my kids, whilst in junior school didnt either. Now my eldest is in high school and has only one blazer and pair of specialist expensive trousers I ask him to change although if left to his own devices I doubt he'd be bothered too.

In my experience when going the kids who got changed had only 1 or 2 sets of uniform. My mum always made us wear fresh every day so it didnt matter if dirty at home/dinner time.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 13/10/2020 20:23

If he wears a fresh one every morning, I don't see the problem. I get mine to take theirs off because I can't be arsed ignoring a clean one for every day. Sometimes I still need to though.

nosswith · 13/10/2020 20:24

I expect if he admitted this to his peers he would be teased or worse.

OneForMeToo · 13/10/2020 20:25

Maybe because these where the same kids running the street with their school lunch and then dinner down their jumpers often just eaten at whoever’s houses garden they happened to be playing in or near. Out way past when everyone else’s children where called in.

We where very much you look your best school uniform is for school not for playing in or dossing in. You wouldn’t turn up to the ballroom in a tracksuit you wore the appropriate clothes for the appropriate time and place. My dhs family is the same. Maybe it’s an area thing? Down our street only one family let’s their children play out in uniform they are the same kids out at 10pm on tictok age 8 and whatnot not exactly fabulous examples of caring parents.

Igotthemheavyboobs · 13/10/2020 20:26

@nosswith

I expect if he admitted this to his peers he would be teased or worse.
If he admitted what? That he has to change or that he doesn't have to change?
seayork2020 · 13/10/2020 20:28

Ds mostly stays in it, he has a fresh shirt each day but refuses shorts, not sure it is proven covid is on clothes for people to catch it from (not saying it isn't either)

Tunnocks34 · 13/10/2020 20:29

No they stay in uniform. I wouldn’t be able to keep on top of the washing tbh if they wore two outfits a day.

Igotthemheavyboobs · 13/10/2020 20:29

@OneForMeToo

Maybe because these where the same kids running the street with their school lunch and then dinner down their jumpers often just eaten at whoever’s houses garden they happened to be playing in or near. Out way past when everyone else’s children where called in.

We where very much you look your best school uniform is for school not for playing in or dossing in. You wouldn’t turn up to the ballroom in a tracksuit you wore the appropriate clothes for the appropriate time and place. My dhs family is the same. Maybe it’s an area thing? Down our street only one family let’s their children play out in uniform they are the same kids out at 10pm on tictok age 8 and whatnot not exactly fabulous examples of caring parents.

I never changed out of my uniform, none of my friends did, and that was a private school. We certainly weren't eating in random gardens or out roaming the streets until 10pm 🙄
DrinkFeckArseGirls · 13/10/2020 20:30

Our, primary, school has specifically asked to take off the uniform upon getting home and come in a fresh one every day due to Covid.

Before Covid DD used to like staying in her uniform but I preferred her changing - they sit on the ground outside, pretty sure no pne pulls their sleeves up when wiping, then the sharpie marks on cuffs, socks covered in mud - no thanks on the sofa or the carpet!

EnolanotAlone · 13/10/2020 20:31

DS loves coming home and instantly changing into his sport kit if its a club night, or his new winter onsies now its getting colder or simoly joggers and a sweatshirt to warm up into. School clothes are just that - for school. Saves food stains on school clothes too.

picklecustard · 13/10/2020 20:31

No I don’t bother, we don’t get in until almost half 4 anyway. Bath time is half 6 so seems pointless putting on another set of clothes for 2 hours.

If they’re playing out with friends in summer then they do.

Pipandmum · 13/10/2020 20:31

My kids don't change unless they are going on to a sports activity. Don't think there's any risk from covid either.

MeltingIceCaps · 13/10/2020 20:32

I never changed out of my uniform, none of my friends did, and that was a private school. We certainly weren't eating in random gardens or out roaming the streets until 10pm

I think I went through phases of sometimes changing and other times not. Or I didn't when I was younger, but then did as a teen? I don't remember for sure but I do know that sometimes I did, and sometimes I didn't.

I also remember that luckily my parents weren't uptight enough to care either way. And that I had a sit-down dinner with my family every day and didn't play out on the street or whatever PP was going on about. And that nobody at my school was ever teased (or worse!! shock!!) for not getting changed when they got home.

Some of the suggestions on here are so bizarre.