Washed uniforms last night and didn't put them in the dryer

[earlgrey]

And dd1 will moan like hell 'cos I haven't got time to freeze them properly.

Any ideas?

I'm ashamed to say - but had to tell the truth - that I bottled out. I will put us through it though. Was thinking about after half term.

Are there ways you can prepare during half term - such as stopping the carrying?

Was it all the clothes that have to be frozen or just school uniform?

Why wait? Other than the obvious of just not having the strength to deal with it all.

What has your DH said? Is is on side or will you have to battle him too?

How about baby steps? Start by getting them to walk downstairs themselves in the morning. Instigate a star chart or the pasta jar and try that one for a week. Then try something else. Maybe that way it would be easier for all of you.

20p, it's just the school uniform

Buda, yes, at the moment it's the strength of having to do it. I know that's pants but mornings are a battle even with having her clothes in the freezer at the moment.

So start small then. Get one thing at a time back into YOUR control. If you manage one it will make you feel stronger about the next thing and so on.

I wouldn't just spring it on them though I would make sure they know. If I were you I would start telling them today that from Monday Daddy won't carry them downstairs any more. Make a big positive thing out of them being big girls etc.

As a Nanny, I reckon you have to gain back the respect & control of your Children. Start by telling Little Miss Frozen that she'll wear her school uniform unfrozen, let her have a meltdown it'll only make her hot!

I really find it difficult to understand how a child can manage to become the Boss of the household tbh.

earl - could you maybe tackle this by approaching it by contemplating a 'new start' - some kind of family meeting either at home or somewhere neutral (picnic / walk in park etc.) and propose a series of changes after you've agreed a strategy with dh ? I would guess that introducing some things which adversely affect your children (no frozen / warm clothes, no carrying downstairs), as well as some things which they would enjoy / want would be a good way to do it (although some might argue that it's just time for them to 'put up or shut up' I would still guess that some kind of 'upside' for them to 'mend' their ways would still be more effective going forward - carrots and sticks and all that).

For example - re: the carrying down (which I'm sure will eventually do one or both of your backs in !) - maybe the new rule is they either walk downstairs or the TV doesn't come on; or if they walk downstairs like big children should, you'll all go on a fun family bike ride etc.

re: the clothes - could you think of things that your daughter might go for as 'rewards' to dropping the insistence on frozen clothes ? I'm thinking about things that tie in - for example, would they enjoy some frozen berries in the morning ? (You can buy bags of frozen Summerfruit berries at the supermarket) Or just other random things she would enjoy - things, in fact, for all the family to mark a new era of being more grown up ? Craft sessions after school with all the glittery / beady stuff they might like etc. etc., or 'big girl' activities like being allowed to go on / hold a sleepover (or whatever girls of this age want to do).

hth a bit, and good luck.

Um, the school uniform thing in the freezer isn't (imo) an SN thing. eg's DD2 wants her uniform warm from the dryer, so her DD1 wants it cold. My two do this, too - whatever one wants, the other wants the opposite. (No clothes in the freezer here, though.)

THis is a difficult time for you earlgrey. It is awful when you find that you are boxed into a corner by kids actions, and adult responses.

And we have all been there to a greater or lesser degree. Anyone who says they haven't is suffereing from selective memory syndrome.

You know, because of the fact they you posted on this issue that the situation can't continue. You know that this isn't in your best interests......or that of the kids. However much kids try to rule the house (and trust me they all try this at some time) in the end they don't want to be the boss.

They want you to the trhe boss. In the long term this will make them happier and more confident children. It will also help them to cope with school, and later in life, work.

It will be hell for a few days. And then it will be better. You have to get ready to make the change that you want. And I can see by what you have written that you do want to make the change. You already have the strenth of mind to see that. You have greater strenth than you know.

MN will be there to help, but you have already made the first step.

earlgrey have been reading this with interest. Have you tried changing things in the last few mornings, if so, how did it go?

Hi earl grey - I was thinking about how you are getting on. Martian bishop is right - you are stronger then you realise, and you will be able to make the changes, and your relationship with your girls will be better because of it.

HEY, USING A TUMBLE DRYER IS REALLY BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!!!!!!!! Why not just dry the clothes on a clothes dryer/radiator, and help save the planet whilst we are all still alive??

Also tell your children if they want perfect temperature clothes then they can employ a slave?? i cannot get all this freezing clothes crap. Just tell them NO.

I'm still totally confused by the clothes in the freezer. Isn't it really bad for her to be wearing frozen clothes or are they just chilled...

sorry to bump this but just seen from another thread that the freezing is still going on.
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