It's just laundry - nothing to be embarrassed about

[Aparecium]

I took the family's clean laundry off the airer, folded it and put it in a basket. I gave the basket to 17yo ds and asked him to sort it and put piles of clean laundry on everyone's beds for them to put away.

When dh does the laundry, he either tells people to claim their kit straight from the airer, or he sorts it as he takes it off the airer, so the dc who distributes it just has to pick up ready-sorted piles.

Apparently ds told dh that he prefers dh's way, as he was embarrassed handling his mum's and his sister's underwear.

YANBU - it's just clean clothes and ds should be grateful he wasn't asked to put on a load as then he would be handling dirty laundry.

YABU - give the bashful teen boy a break.

Oh you mean ashamed of my period? No not at all but it's a bit minging to expect someone else to wash bloody knickers.

Having said that, I too wouldn't expect my family to deal with bloody knickers...unless they don't care, in which case, crack on.

This has made me laugh. 30 odd years ago, we employed a school leaver, 16 year old lad, good at woodwork, thought he was a bit macho. Even from a young age, all he wanted was a steady job, a wife, and kids. He was very old fashioned in his views of the male breadwinner. Anyway, our business was in a city centre, and if we needed provisions we would pop to the local shops to get them. W asked him one day to nip to Superdrug for a big pack of toilet rolls. He refused, in case one of his mates was in town, and saw him with them. 15 years later, he had 3 or 4 kids, the oldest all girls,and he was completely worn down by them. Nothing embarrassed him then. He was always getting a call to pick up tampons, make up, anything for his girls. He still fostered the macho image, but was a softy.

Yeap with the majority ive read, husbands way. Sorry OP

As a teen girl I was required to iron my mum and dad’s undies. Quite large knickers and old fashioned y front brief things for my dad. As a grown adult no underwear gets ironed!! lol. But as a teen I handled a lot of my parents underwear. Was totally fine.

I just wish my kids would get theirs and take it to their rooms. I iron what needs an iron, fold everything into piles and then pop in baskets. They seem to prefer to come daily for what they need than to put it all away one day and then get it from their drawers and wardrobes.

YABU. He is 17 and embarrassed.
Give him a break!

Teenagers are very squeamish about granddad’s under pants, mum’s knickers, sister’ bras 🤣

This is how laundry was done when I was growing up. Put on the line, taken in, folded, put on correct bed - bar one or two bits you weren't sure on. I can see why he'd be embarrassed (teenager, underwear, the horror!) but I think I'd just leave him at it

Blimey, what a delicate soul @Aparecium Do you wear thongs or other particularly unusual underwear that might cause your son’s blushes? I don’t see why delicates should upset him so.

My sons were taught how to put a load of washing once they reached their teens. And to remove dry items from the airers so they could hang up the wet washing. Neither has fainted at the sight of mine (or their dad’s) occasionally voluminous pants, or my bra and have handled it all with ease (if not always good grace because I am obvs expecting them to pull their weight now they are grown).

Just sort it into piles as you take it off the airer, it's that simple. If your Son is embarrassed about having to handle his Mums & Sister's undies why make him feel uncomfortable when it's easy to do what your husband does? Be thankful that your 17 year old is willing to help around the house & don't make it awkward for him.

My DS is 11 and won't hesitate to gather up dirty washing and stick a load on, he's not fussed and did it by choice to start with. Now I do ask him and he will take it out of the dryer and fold it, desperate the stuff that needs ironing and put the rest away. The only issue I have is that he folds differently to his dad and as I have more clothes then his dad he will rearrange them each time so the stack neatly then dad will do it back to his standard. Me I just chuck them in the drawers I don't care.

I tend to sort into piles then get the kids to come and get their own piles. I will sometimes ask both to help which might mean sorting or hanging up anyone’s clothes including the pants of their parent or sibling. Both of my teens will also put a dirty load in of mine which includes handling my dirty pants 😱 DS has never said anything about that as they are just clothes.

I will add though, I don’t ask him when I’m on my period and have any blood stained pants or washable pads in the basket and always put my own wash in then. He does see and may handle my clean washable pads though and again, has never been bothered. I think it’s important for boys to know that this is all just a normal part of life and one day they may have a partner or daughter who will have periods too.

Your method seems bizarre to me. Why wouldn't you sort the clothes into family members' piles as you fold? I wouldn't want my 13 year old having to sort my undies either. But the most important thing is the effeciency aspect here I think.