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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dishes at the top of the stairs

79 replies

littlemouse15 · 25/09/2022 20:44

my partner kicked an empty glass down the stairs accidentally.
He wasn't happy about it(the glass being at the top of the stairs)
He asked for my help cleaning it.
I had just started organising my stuff for college in the morning,
he asked who put it there and i said my son. Then he said ' well it shouldnt be there, so can you help me clean it'
I said 'no I can't cause I'm doing my college stuff.'
He said 'well he can't help me cause he's six, so I'm not gonna do it on my own'
then I laughed and said 'he's got that from me, I always tell him to put them there and take them down when he's finished'

My son put the glass about twenty minutes before, as he had just cleaned his room and it was put it there so he could take it down when he finished (he's 6 so couldn't clean glass up),
I had been down to grab my laptop for college but didn't grab the glass on way down(didn't kick it down the stairs either)

Partner then said to me 'im not doing it without you, it won't be an inconvinence for you, so you won't think twice about doing it again' ,
(I took this as I'm going to teach you a lesson)
I said ' we've always done it so I'm not gonna tell him diffrent now'
Partner at this point just sat down refusing to clean it up without my help.
I said I would clean it on my own at my own convinence as it doesn't take both of us.

I finished my college stuff, went down n cleaned up downstairs including the glass.

As far as I'm concerned when cleaning stuff that belongs upstairs gets put at bottom of the stairs and stuff heading down goes at the top.

So the question is.

Am I being unreasonable to tell my child to leave the glass there In the first place.

If he hadn't said the whole thing about trying to inconvenience me so I would think twice next time, I don't think there would of been an issue.

OP posts:
Vikinga · 25/09/2022 20:47

That's a stupid place to leave it. Easy to not see a see through glass and kick it.

Freddiefox · 25/09/2022 20:51

I don’t think you should leave glasses at the top
of the stairs. But you dp
sound a bit petty, but I wonder whether there is more to this.

greensnail · 25/09/2022 20:53

We do the same, leave stuff at the top of the stairs ready to bring down. If he'd cleared it up and asked you politely to not leave glasses at the top of the stairs in case he knocks then down again then I would consider it, but him refusing to clear it up would really annoy me.

NotJustAnybody · 25/09/2022 20:53

It is a really silly stupid idea to tell your son to leave anything at the top of the stairs! It's just asking for an accident to happen. You're all lucky this time it was just a glass that got broke.

Darbs76 · 25/09/2022 20:53

No you shouldn’t put glasses at the top of the stairs. It’s dangerous and your child could get injured.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/09/2022 20:55

We have a chest at the top of the stairs for this purpose.

girlmom21 · 25/09/2022 20:55

YABU and I can understand him refusing to clean it up when you're being so ridiculous to be honest.

It's really dangerous and a recipe for disaster.

Pixiedust1234 · 25/09/2022 20:56

Who the hell leaves a glass on the floor??? Thats beyond stupid and to teach a young child to do that too. Wow.

Starseeking · 25/09/2022 20:59

Your shouldn't be teaching your son to leave glasses/crockery at the top of the stairs; assuming no mobility issues you should be teaching him to take them straight to the sink or dishwasher after use.

That said, your DP sounds a bit fed up, I take it he's not a fan of this "time-saving initiative"? I wouldn't be either, it would drive me up the wall!

Starseeking · 25/09/2022 21:00

*You shouldn't

angelsinstead · 25/09/2022 21:02

telling a child to leave a glass at the top of the stairs is extremely stupid and dangerous. yabu

Xiaoxiong · 25/09/2022 21:03

YABU for telling a 6 year old to put it there in the first place (terrible idea to put a glass on the floor at the top of the stairs), to then fail to take it downstairs when you went to get your laptop and finally for refusing to help clear it up when it was (understandably) broken and all you were doing was getting yourself ready for college. Your priorities were quite wrong there IMO.

In our house broken glass on the floor is an all hands on deck drop everything emergency until everyone has shoes on and kids and pets are kept well away until it's cleared up. If you've ever had broken glass in your foot you will never want to repeat the experience.

PepperSprayFirstApologiseLater1 · 25/09/2022 21:03

Why on earth would you tell your child it's ok to leave a glass at the top of the stairs? That's stupid OP.

Why should your partner clean it up?

He's right. If you go through the hassle of having to clean it, maybe you'll think twice about doing it. And it's worked because you've written this post.

Is this a reverse?

GroggyLegs · 25/09/2022 21:04

Don't put a glass at the top of the stairs, it's silly.

Don't be with pompous men who treat you like a naughty child.

BitOutOfPractice · 25/09/2022 21:05

It was just on the floor at the top of the stairs? Because if it was it’s hard to think of a more stupid place to leave a glass.

Your DP also sounds a twat though.

Imogensmumma · 25/09/2022 21:05

Teach your son to take it down to the kitchen or you will be making a rod for your own back when he’s a teenager

Also you admit you walked downstairs and didn’t take the glass so very YABU …. Who did you expect to take the glass downstairs the washing up fairy

Thestagshead · 25/09/2022 21:06

That sounds ludicrous. Why would you teach a child to leave a glass there?

MomwasCasual · 25/09/2022 21:08

Am I being unreasonable to tell my child to leave the glass there In the first place

If that is your question, then yes YABU. Bloody stupid place to leave glasses or crockery that is easily broken, bloody stupid to leave anything at the top that could be tripped over. It's not frickin' rocket science.

If you're asking for opinions on your partner, well, he sounds like a supercilious, condescending twat.

Chdjdn · 25/09/2022 21:08

I think it’s silly to put stuff at the top for the very reason that you’ve just found. However he was being an arse about cleaning it up.
he should have cleaned it up then talked to you like an adult and say can we ask your DS not to put it there any more

MermaidSwimming · 25/09/2022 21:09

A glass should never be left at the top of the stairs, cleaning up the glass should have took priority over everything else

Midnights · 25/09/2022 21:10

Obviously YABU to tell a child to put glassware and crockery in a dangerous place like the top of the stairs. You shouldn't have been laughing about it either imo, it's dangerous! If you've told your child to do something stupid like that, then you should have carried the glassware down the first time you went past them - not left them in a precarious place where they might cause an issue. I'd expect you to be cleaning it up too!

Brigante9 · 25/09/2022 21:11

Stupid idea, frankly and I wouldn't allow glasses/crockery upstairs at all. Does he not have a water bottle? Bit less breakable.

I would have gone to help, like I did when my DH broke a glass, two sets of eyes are better than one to spy bits of broken glass.

properdoughnut · 25/09/2022 21:12

On a window ledge at the top, fine. On the floor at the top - bloody dangerous.

Tootels · 25/09/2022 21:13

My kids leave their plates / cups at the stop of the stairs. I'm used to it now but it does sound ridiculous.

properdoughnut · 25/09/2022 21:13

?I would have gone to help, like I did when my DH broke a glass, two sets of eyes are better than one to spy bits of broken glass.* agreed, when glass gets broken get the kids safe then help clean up every bit

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