Anonymous wrote:There's a great book published in the US about how the "McMansionisation" - even small scale - of the American family has led to a sense of dislocation, disassociation and disappointment on the part of kids. Kids with access to computers and TVs which compensate for a lack engagement with their families who are busy providing but not listening. Mom's successful, Dad works all hours. For what? Own room. Own bathroom. Own issues. Good college, cosmetically-sound resume and everyone's happy. Or are they?
When I was growing up we had to litigate access to the bathroom and argue about what to watch on TV. Both my parents worked - including my dad who was a prominent surgeon on call a lot - but there was never a time when we didn't have family dinner when we were all at home and my parents lived in a modest house where we just jumbled around each other.
OP's post strikes me as articulating affront because a child uses "her" space. Crossing the line. Encroaching on her facility. I find this incredibly sad. She doesn't ask why the child wants to be in her space or whether it's normal for her to want her kids to stay the hell out of her territory because she assumes they have no right to use her stuff - like someone at the office who is trying to outrank her. It's desperately dismal and such a horrid indictment on some American families. Where did the love, humor, fun and engagement go?
Here's my advice to OP - keep a packet of cards in your pocket. And next time your D(?)C annoys you, play a game. On the stairs or at the kitchen table. There's loads which don't involve screens. And while you're playing and spending some time, ask about friends, tensions, why your bathroom is coveted. It's mazing what you find out when you engage.
This is one of the most depressing posts I've ever read on DCUM
Anonymous wrote:growing up, our whole house was for everyone. If someone was in a room, I would knock, but if no one was in there, I could go in there. I can't imagine a house not like this. I think it would felt really cold if there were certain places in the house I wasn't allowed to go.
This is the way we are raising our children. It is our home. Sure we all sleep in different places, and our things are contained in our own space, but my shampoo is my daughter's shampoo, and if she wants to use it, she can use it! And she can get it for herself.
Anonymous wrote:growing up, our whole house was for everyone. If someone was in a room, I would knock, but if no one was in there, I could go in there. I can't imagine a house not like this. I think it would felt really cold if there were certain places in the house I wasn't allowed to go.
This is the way we are raising our children. It is our home. Sure we all sleep in different places, and our things are contained in our own space, but my shampoo is my daughter's shampoo, and if she wants to use it, she can use it! And she can get it for herself.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It bugs me when our middle school son uses our bathroom because he leaves the seat up. For this reason, I have told him he can't use ours. He and his sister have their own bathroom.
--lesbian mom
That's kind of funny. Poor sister though, dealing with the seat up.
Blah, blah, blahI am the only chick with 4 dudes in the house. This just doesn't bother me any more. I automatically flip it down and truthfully I'd prefer its up so they aren't peeing all over where I have to sit.
I'm not a lesbian, I'm a single mom and my son is also the only male in the house. I have trained him to not leave the seat up, its selfish and lazy. I don't understand why this behavior would be tolerated
Anonymous wrote:There's a great book published in the US about how the "McMansionisation" - even small scale - of the American family has led to a sense of dislocation, disassociation and disappointment on the part of kids. Kids with access to computers and TVs which compensate for a lack engagement with their families who are busy providing but not listening. Mom's successful, Dad works all hours. For what? Own room. Own bathroom. Own issues. Good college, cosmetically-sound resume and everyone's happy. Or are they?
When I was growing up we had to litigate access to the bathroom and argue about what to watch on TV. Both my parents worked - including my dad who was a prominent surgeon on call a lot - but there was never a time when we didn't have family dinner when we were all at home and my parents lived in a modest house where we just jumbled around each other.
OP's post strikes me as articulating affront because a child uses "her" space. Crossing the line. Encroaching on her facility. I find this incredibly sad. She doesn't ask why the child wants to be in her space or whether it's normal for her to want her kids to stay the hell out of her territory because she assumes they have no right to use her stuff - like someone at the office who is trying to outrank her. It's desperately dismal and such a horrid indictment on some American families. Where did the love, humor, fun and engagement go?
Here's my advice to OP - keep a packet of cards in your pocket. And next time your D(?)C annoys you, play a game. On the stairs or at the kitchen table. There's loads which don't involve screens. And while you're playing and spending some time, ask about friends, tensions, why your bathroom is coveted. It's mazing what you find out when you engage.
This is one of the most depressing posts I've ever read on DCUM
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It bugs me when our middle school son uses our bathroom because he leaves the seat up. For this reason, I have told him he can't use ours. He and his sister have their own bathroom.
--lesbian mom
That's kind of funny. Poor sister though, dealing with the seat up.
Blah, blah, blahI am the only chick with 4 dudes in the house. This just doesn't bother me any more. I automatically flip it down and truthfully I'd prefer its up so they aren't peeing all over where I have to sit.
I'm not a lesbian, I'm a single mom and my son is also the only male in the house. I have trained him to not leave the seat up, its selfish and lazy. I don't understand why this behavior would be tolerated
Agreed. My DH has never, ever left the seat up in our 10 years of marriage. He was raised by a single mom with two brothers. She clearly trained them well.
Explain please? Why is it rude for him to leave it up but not rude for you to leave it down?
Please shut up and go away.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ha ha ha, this is hilarious. My kids LOVE our master bathroom. No idea why. They bathe in the hall bathroom, but heaven forbid they actually use it for any other purpose. Even if they wake up in the middle of the night to pee, they walk right past the hall bathroom (door open, light on) and into our dark bedroom, to open our master bathroom and turn on the light and use the toilet in there.
That would annoy the sh1t out of me.
OP, I'm a woman, and have no porn or embarrassing things to hide in the master bathroom, but I like that as my own adult space (and DH's), too. If all bathrooms in the house are full and it's an emergency, of course it would be OK for DC to use it, but otherwise, just because? No!