Had enough of my family. I've gone on strike!

[Glastonbury2020]

Locked down with DH and 4 teenagers. Apart from me, no one:

• cooks any proper meals
• loads/ unloads the dishwasher
• puts a wash on
• wipes kitchen surfaces/ cooker top
• sweeps the floor
• cleans the bathroom
• makes lunch

I have had enough and I'm not doing it all anymore. Last night, I made myself a fish finger sandwich for dinner and ate it in my room. Ignored everyone when they wanted to know what was for dinner. This morning, I made breakfast for me and I'm now sitting in bed drinking tea. Rant over. Thank you for listening!

It's just disrespectful when it gets to a stage where your family are willing to live in a shit tip rather than pick up after themselves.

@Glastonbury2020

Locked down with DH and 4 teenagers. Apart from me, no one:

• cooks any proper meals
• loads/ unloads the dishwasher
• puts a wash on
• wipes kitchen surfaces/ cooker top
• sweeps the floor
• cleans the bathroom
• makes lunch

I have had enough and I'm not doing it all anymore. Last night, I made myself a fish finger sandwich for dinner and ate it in my room. Ignored everyone when they wanted to know what was for dinner. This morning, I made breakfast for me and I'm now sitting in bed drinking tea. Rant over. Thank you for listening!

Bloody excellent decision - I feel your pain - it’s like ‘everyone is suffering’ and you’re a quality Mum and want to support but the piss can very much be taken - my son called me ‘superwoman’ last night as I had finished a 12-hr shift (amid Covid) to return to a messy bloody kitchen, bathroom and 3 kids and their self entitled bollocks (quite frankly) - like you, I can do it for so long but there are times when you need to step back and teach the fuckers a life lesson - look after yourselves for a while!!! 👍🏼

I am loving this! Go OP!

How does everyone doing their own washing work? Do you have lots of small mixed loads with all the light washing coming out grey?
My rules

• not in the laundry bin, not washed
• I don't do ironing
• clean laundry is put in a pile outside bedroom door
• if you want clean sheets you know where they are
• the cook doesn't clean up

@Glastonbury2020

My pettiness pleases me too! I'm off for a bath!

Did you make sure you used all of the hot water and didn't put it back on? 🥇

@Justkeeprollingalong er no, you wait until you have a load of white or coloured clothes.

@Cadent
Er er er .....so your each of your children has enough clothes to make up a coloured wash and a white wash before running out?

enjoy the bath. Use all the hot water. Get a book and read for 3 hours in there. Lock the door? (That might be going too far unless there's another loo somewhere.)

Good for you OP!

But why have you confined yourself to your bedroom to eat all meals so far?!

Well ask a stupid question and get an 'er' response. But you be the martyr and do all the washing.

Love it OP!

Have you decided what to have for dinner tonight, OP?

Please get a takeaway for one for dinner and leave the boxes and plates outside your room like a hotel

@Cadent it was a genuine question. My kids could go a month and not get a full load of their own whites.
If putting a load of your family's washing on make you a martyr you have a weird view of life.
It's give and take in my house.

My older Dc do their own washing, they usually run a wash once a week, then once every few weeks they also run a wash of bedding.

When they were younger and it was us three I would run the wash, they'd both help me hang it, then older DC would sort the laundry and leave piles of clothes on everyone's beds to be folded/hung up and put away.

I don't iron.

my machine also does half loads/quick wash/freshen cycles which I know my older DC has used in the past to wash smaller loads.

Or the older two will add each others clothes in their loads if they don't have enough and want to run a wash. Or they'll add our clothes if they want to make up a load and don't have enough.

Well done OP. I'd leave them to it until at least Monday!

I'm disappointed you didn't put the empty packet back in the cupboard

@4amWitchingHour this made me chuckle. Only someone who lives with teenagers would know this.

OP, I am contemplating going on strike in solidarity with you. My teenagers do absolutely stuff all. One was moaning about wanting lockdown was over so he could be independent again. He then asked me what was for supper.

As it happens, I have no idea what's for (their) supper tonight, as I am having wine and crisps.

@jux, OP needs to take her phone in the bathroom with her and a) listen to really loud and annoying rap music; then b) start watching something very long on Netflix. Then she needs to use 24 towels and leave them all strewn around the room.

Brilliant. Hope you’re still relaxing. Has anyone noticed yet?

My experience with that @Glastonbury2020 is that it can work very well.
When I did that, it forced H to actually stepped up and do something like cooking dinner or tidying up after said dinner.

And then he also got involved in making said teenagers step up and do some of the washing up, cooking etc.... probably because he was then personally affected if they did it or not!

I have to say, my teens don't put a clothes wash on for themselves but then I've left that to H too and he doesnt seem to mind so.....

Having said that what is REALLY hard is to not give up and do stuff yourself when you see the washing up half done, the hoover that hasn't been pushed round for weeks etc...

@Glastonbury2020 for how long have you decided to be on strike for?

This thread has given me a chuckle. Well done, OP. Sometimes a little domestic revolution is needed to remind everybody of their good fortune!

I tried this with an ex, with the bin. Three months, he still wouldn’t empty it.( He did fuck all else)

I emptied it eventually, he thought he won...it just led to me hating him a bit more. Eventually I divorced him.

I'm looking forward to each update. Go OP!