Why do you have to be so mean?

[Mishetta]

I applaud you!!

 

[Belle1962]

I think it's great


But then I'm the woman who several years ago had her husband REMOVE THE DOOR to DS's room when he closed it when he had a group of mixed friends over--the rule was the door had to be open at least a few inches if the compnay was mixed or the pc was on. DH thought I was joking....told me DS needed privacy to change, etc--I said he could use the bathroom.

 

[Galahad]

No you're not being mean. You are doing a service to his future wife, and therefore saving HIS future sanity.

 

[Pembo]

This thread was the first laugh of the day. Thanks everyone. I love "mean" Mom stories. The washcloth solution is Brilliant--and Funny--my favorite combination.

I agree 100%!!!! Now just don't give up on it! More power to you from a MOM who is trying to win the meanest mom contest.

 

[SpecialK]

Sorry, but I can't agree with this solution. I think it's humiliating to give a boy a wash cloth to dry himself. I wouldn't do it. I don't think the punishment fits the crime.

Obviously, towels aren't important to him. I'd tie the consequence in with something that is - computer time, money, TV, etc.

 

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by SpecialK
Sorry, but I can't agree with this solution. I think it's humiliating to give a boy a wash cloth to dry himself. I wouldn't do it. I don't think the punishment fits the crime.

Obviously, towels aren't important to him. I'd tie the consequence in with something that is - computer time, money, TV, etc.

I'm with SpecialK on this one.

Also, just a little note, my best friend's mom did these kind of things to her all the time. My friend would then go into the bathroom and take her mom's toothbrush and scrub the toliet with it and then put it back up.

 

[minniecarousel]

humiliating?!?! puh-leeze! If he wants a full-sized towel, he'll never leave it on the floor again after this experience!

Another option would be to start having him do his own laundry now. Start with sheets & towels!

 

[iamsorcerermickey]

I really like the washcloth idea.

The problem we have is that the kids always throw wet/damp towels in the laundry basket. Doesn't make a difference if its a bath towel or a kitchen towel. Probably about 25% of them are wet/damp. This drives me nuts. Can't stand the smell of wet towels after they have been buried by other towels. And I hate it even more during earwig season.

The funny part is they walk past the bathroom to the other end of the house to put their towels in the laundryroom where the dirty clothes basket is.

 

[Rajah]

I also don't really like the idea of making him dry off with a washcloth, especially if it's cold, but *do* like the idea of getting him some towels that are his ONLY, and if he hangs them back up you'll wash them, otherwise he gets to either wash them himself or use damp and dirty towels.

 

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
humiliating?!?! puh-leeze!

Um, minniecarousel, can I used your bathroom for a sec? hee hee

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks for the input everyone--especially Pete's Mom. I'll be sure to hide my toothbrush during this "experiment".

The trouble I have with punishments is that we do not allow our son to watch much TV anyway (he watches about 2-3 hours a week) and it seems he only plays on the computer once or twice a month. We do not have a gaming system. He does have a gameboy, but that is usually contingent upon school work and reading. Money does not seem to be a big deal to him. His favorite thing is to shoot hoops, and I hate to punish him from that since he is involved in a program that encourages physical activity. When he leaves clothing on the floor I take away his favorite items (jerseys and such) but was at a loss on the towels. I also recently banned him from his radio since he has a lot of trouble remembering to shut off lights, etc.

After proofreading that, it sounds like I am definately a contender for meanest mom!

 

[mommystieg]

I did something similiar to DH but it involved ice cube trays. He would always put the trays back in the freezer with one or two cubes in each one so when I wanted ice I would need all six trays to get a glassful I finally hid all the trays but two and told him when he could take care of those I would put the others back in the freezer. Problem solved.

 

[kild]

The washcloth idea is great. I think just telling my son I am going to do that will be enough of a deterrent.

 

[MICKEY88]

the quickest way to break him of this habit would be to do the following:

tell him he has two choices, he hangs up the towel,,or you will come into the bathroom and dry him when he takes a shower, then you'll hang up the towel...I guarantee he hangs up the towel....

 

[Kallison]

AWESOME -- I always tell my kids - Do your teachers have to tell you the same thing over and over and over and over..........

I think you should leave him a roll of tp to dry off with.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

...everything when my 4 were growing up. Socks and uns had colored dots so each boy (3) knew which were his (and so did everyone else). Each had their "own" towels/wash clothes. If they put them down the laundry chute, they got washed. If they didn't ~ they didn't. The sky fell on the one who took someone else's because he/she didn't want to use their own dirty towel or washcloth. I didn't mind doing the wash but I wasn't going into their rooms to haul it out. Each kid had a basket that went into the hallway outside their rooms with clean clothes. If they weren't put away with a day or so after the laundry was put in the basket, the basket disappeared. They had to "buy" it back from me by doing chores. By the time they were in their late teens they did their own laundry, it was preparation for college.

Hey, it worked for us. I didn't have to yell ~ much ~ which made us all happier. Raising 4 stairstep children (5 1/2 years between oldest and youngest) certainly had its moments!

My best advice is to treat your son with respect but expect him to treat you the same. I'd have used the washcloth to dry with idea if it had occured to me.

 

[olena]

Great strategy! Make him earn the towel.

 

[bumcat]

Make him hang up the towel 50-100 times in a row without stopping.

My girls would not hang up the hand towel no matter how many times they were told. So I had them take turns 50 times each hanging it up.

Had them do the same thing with the toilet paper. Couldn't get them to put the new roll of toilet paper on until I made them take turns putting it on 50 times.

As they would roll their eyes at me I would compliment on what a great job they were doing.


My son use to slam the bathroom door so hard that I thought it was going to come off the hinges. I had him open and shut the door 30 times (he was younger so 30 was enough).

Problems solved. They are now 21,17 and 10.

They turned out ok, LOL.

 

[Antonia]

Give him hair dryer and let him blow dry himself - no need for towels ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha

 

[Pooh's Pal]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
Another option would be to start having him do his own laundry now. Start with sheets & towels!

My DD...a two towel a DAY kid!!! One for her head, one for her body. Make her do her own laundry now....she does a load every other day of just towels!!!...
She is heading off to college in the fall & I keep telling her she'll have no time for fun at college, cause' she'll be doing laundry all the time! (maybe this a good thing!! )