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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

How do you get your teenager to put their own bowls, cups etc. in the dishwashwer and turn the lights off?

88 replies

AskBasil · 27/01/2014 12:40

Is this too trivial to ask about?

It just pisses me off. It takes 5 seconds to put your own bowl in the dishwasher. It takes 1 second to flick the switch on your way out of the room.

I feel like I can't leave for work until the DC's leave for school as there will be food left out, lights on etc., all day if I'm not the last to leave. But I'd rather get to work earlier so that I can leave earlier. Can't do that until I know the DC's will do those basic things before they leave the house.

Anyone had any success in getting their kids to do this?

OP posts:
MrsTomHardy · 27/01/2014 20:51

Oh god don't mention sugar on the work surface....or tea bags left by the sink...or cupboards left open...or empty wrappers left everywhere...or pee over the toilet...or non flushing of toilet...wet towels left on floor...dirty washing left on bedroom floors blah blah blah!!!!Hmm

bigbluebus · 27/01/2014 21:16

Has no one mentioned the empty packets left in the fridge/cupboard - they often don't even make it to the worktops. And why does my DS put the lights on every time he goes into a room - even in broad daylight. If I switch it off, he puts in straight back on again. My Radio is never on the station I like to listen to when DS is about - in the house or car, it is almost like a reflex action that he has to change radio station to Radio 1.
The other day I ventured into the bathroom after DS had shaved using his rechargeable razor. He had decided it needed cleaning out - but why oh why did he have to clean it out all over the tiles on the ledge above the sink/toilet?
I left the hoover in the doorway to his bedroom today as the carpet was not visible. I told him he could hoover his room once he has picked his clothes up off the floor - methinks the hoover will be there waiting to be used for quite some time.
I did laugh the other day though as DS was busy telling me how he would like me to iron the collar on his polo shirt (as apparently I hadn't done it quite to his liking.) DH quickly reminded him that a similar comment from him about shirt collars about 10 yrs ago meant that he was still suffering the consequences I haven't ironed one of DH's shirts since that day

MrsBennetsEldest · 27/01/2014 21:29

I have whittled it down to one word commands and am very rarely stressed.

Dirty Laundry...once a week I shout up the stairs LAUNDRY. Three bedroom doors open, muffled sounds and wash basket it full. Three bedroom doors close. No stress.

Glasses, plates, cups etc in rooms ( festering)....a couple of times a week I shout up the stairs POTS and go into living room. They then have a 10 min window to place all items in the sink. Three bedroom doors open, three lots of clanking coming downstairs. Sink full ( a soak is usually required before dishwasher) three lads back upstairs, bedroom doors close. No stress. ( they are perfectly capable of filling/emptying dishwasher but I prefer to do it myself)

Ironing is done in my room and placed on my bed in their respective piles...you've guessed what I shout etc. etc.

I don't have a problem with lights as I have cunningly trained them to have heightened night vision and can function in very low light conditions Grin

They do not eat sugar so no spillage and rarely eat bread so no crumbs.

I rarely enter their cavesrooms so no stress there.

They can all cook,bake, sew, knit, launder and iron. I have made sure they can look after themselves but,for now, I prefer to do these things myself.

They will however, do anything I ask of them without complaining and fix things that need fixing, DIY and car maintenance unprompted. We have a very laid back and easy going way I think. No nagging. No Stress.

MrsBennetsEldest · 27/01/2014 21:34

I also trained them from an early age in being a forklift truck. Oldest is almost twenty and grins when I say it now and happily raises arms to the correct position Grin

Claybury · 28/01/2014 08:56

A mini Dyson Hoover thing is a great help as a teen ( like mine ) who will not use any sort of dish cloth or dustpan and brush will use a hand held Hoover. Great for sugar spills, on floor and counter, and weatabix crumbs. Ours is on the wall, always on charge.

chocoluvva · 28/01/2014 10:28

Can I join in please?

My 14 and 17YO are dreadful too. Although the 14YO has 'progressed' from leaving damp towels on his bed to chucking them on the floor outside the bathroom. This was the result of me going absolutely mental.

The 17YO stacked the dishwasher, put shopping away and wiped the surfaces the other evening to put off getting down to studying! Grin

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 28/01/2014 15:27

I asked DD1 (18) to put some potatos on to boil while I watched the end of the news last night. Unfortunately she "didn't know how to do that"!!! I ask you!

Does anyone else also have the problem of empty bottles of shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste/toilet rolls etc etc being left in the bathroom for weeks on end, until an adult goes in to clear up?

MrsTomHardy · 28/01/2014 15:36

I too just shout one word here and there at them....I can't get over the pure laziness esp my 16 yr old ds...

my 11 yr old ds is better as he has a horse and rides daily so I can easily bribe him into doing things....

I still get the rage on a daily basis, especially when they then start fighting late in the evening Hmm

Catsmamma · 28/01/2014 15:59

Everyone lives here, everyone makes mess, everyone does housework.

I am amazed at the 16 year old up thread who half emptied the dishwasher for the first time ever...seriously a-fucking-mazed! And don't come back and tell me he is a good boy really and studying....16 years old and never emptied dishwasher.?? Was it only installed on friday?? I'll take it all back if so.

That DIL is gonna love her MIL.

Claybury · 28/01/2014 16:45

Catsmamma that was me. Don't worry I'm not going to say he's a good boy. He came home stoned on Saturday evening and was aggressive to me, determined to pick a fight, and I went to bed early because I couldn't stand to be near him . Sad

Dishwasher is least of my battles.

impty · 28/01/2014 17:03

Does anyone else also have the problem of empty bottles of shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste/toilet rolls etc etc being left in the bathroom for weeks on end, until an adult goes in to clear up?

Yes. And overflowing bins, in bathroom and bedrooms. I'm so grateful I don't share my bathroom with my kids!

honeybeeridiculous · 28/01/2014 20:13

My DD aged 25 still tries to grow penicillin in mugs in her room Hmm
I gave up ages ago, life's too short and all that, she eventually realises they stink and washes them in bleach Grin
Good luck OP!

timetosmile · 03/02/2014 10:32

So far (13) DS is not too bad about putting laundry in bin, hangs up towels (mostly) and is the environmental zealot who turns down the heating and switches lights out even when we are still in the room. Also will put plates in sink and empty bins/dishwasher on request.
but Getting.Him.Out.Of.Bed.In.The.Morning is a nightmare.

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