Ruined clothes, daren’t post in AIBU

[Lucycantdance]

I realise typing this out makes me sound like a neurotic mother but I’m honestly not. DS5 has just started school, DS7 already there. We’re overseas - moved from U.K. a few months ago. Very laid back school, no uniform etc but they do wear “house t shirts” on a Friday. DS5 was very excited about getting the house t shirt and wore it on Friday. My kids are MESSY and I’ve always sent them in old clothes for nursery etc. They get dirty, I get it and encourage it. But I’m super annoyed because DS5 came home absolutely covered in paint on Friday and it won’t wash out. So the brand new t shirt I was required to buy and his trousers and fleece (that wasn’t inexpensive but it has lasted for both boys) are wrecked. I know it’s only paint but given it seems non washable, AIBU for expecting them to at least try putting them in aprons?!

YANBU, they must have bought the wrong paint. I would politely let them know.

Definitely tell school. You can’t replace uniform every week!
What happened to wearing one of your dads old shirts backwards?

Cold water wash. Hot sets the colour.

Just send them in the stained stuff.

@DoesHePlayTheFiddle

Cold water wash. Hot sets the colour.

Shit. This is where I’ve gone wrong

@Dailywalk

Definitely tell school. You can’t replace uniform every week! What happened to wearing one of your dads old shirts backwards?

I know right?!

I'm having this with senior school kids! The school won't let them use aprons because of Covid (!?) DD got acrylic paint on her blazer as a result.

I've had this too OP, ds has been at school for 3 weeks and one of his tshirts is already stained from something, marker pens I think. I put it in the wash the second we got home and used 2 different types of stain remover but it's still there. So annoying!

If they were 2 & 3 I’d say you had a point and aprons should be used. However at 5 & 7 I would expect them not to cover themselves (top, trousers and fleece) in paint, they should be able to be more careful, or ask for an apron.

Like a small bit of paint on one clothing item is an accident but to cover every item they were wearing to the point of ruining the clothes sounds like carelessness.

I get cold water and a bit of liquid detergent on the paint as soon as they get home, give it a good rub to start to break the paint up, rinse and then straight into a cool wash. Not a quick wash, not too full and the paint stain is on the side facing out. Most colours come off.

@Kanaloa you clearly haven’t met my 5yo then. He’s a gem at covering himself in all sorts, paint, food, dirt, whatever. Lovely kid but I don’t know how he does it! (I suspect being left handed isn’t easy for him, and I wonder about dyspraxia).

[quote IamJuliaJohnson]@Kanaloa you clearly haven’t met my 5yo then. He’s a gem at covering himself in all sorts, paint, food, dirt, whatever. Lovely kid but I don’t know how he does it! (I suspect being left handed isn’t easy for him, and I wonder about dyspraxia).[/quote]
Surely if you know this you could send him with an apron/over shirt if you were worried about his clothing being ruined.

Even so, I think the average 5 or 7 year old could paint without covering every item of clothing in paint. Some children might not be able to or have difficulties but I would expect most can.

I wouldn’t replace the T-shirt/clothes. Maybe, as he gets older he’ll realise the consequences and try harder to stay clean? Or maybe he won’t care about the stains, but I wouldn’t replace.

We do try and make them wear aprons in my Nursery class.. but usually goes something like this..

Put apron on Child A, turn to put apron on Child B then Child A throws apron on floor/in the water tray.
Child C doesn't get to the loo in time, wets self then refuses to get changed as substitute pants don't have the correct character from Paw Patrol on them.
Child A wipes hands on jumper/t-shirt then runs off to play in the garden.

I just send mine in clean but stained stuff, I'm not replacing shirts every week.

Nursery age children are quite wriggly, but if they won't keep their apron on they shouldn't be near the paint. The idea that 5 to 7 year olds shouldn't be getting paint on themselves is hilarious. I still manage it myself and I'm all grown up. I agree with OP, if they are using paints they should be keeping their clothes protected, or be allowed to wear "messy" clothes. If they can't wear school aprons because of covid (!) then they should be bringing in an apron or old shirt from home. Parents/carers should know in advance, or it can be kept in a bag on the child's peg in class.