<p>I do my children’s laundry while they are home; this is my choice. Each child lived a plane ride away while in school, so they usually would get their laundry done before they came home, but I washed while they were home.</p>
<p>My daughter called me days before she was due home after exams. She wanted to know if it would be ok to bring home dirty clothes as with four papers, exams and bad weather she really was behind on laundry. I thought it was cute that she really thought she had to ask; I knew she was overwhelmed with all her work and of course didn’t care!</p>
<p>I think my kids just liked the clean big (and free) laundry areas at their colleges. I never said don’t bring home dirty laundry but they didn’t and son still doesn’t. Isn’t it nice to nit pick about this silly issue instead of arguing about the advantages of private colleges vs. big universites :)</p>
<p>We don’t have hard and fast ‘rules’ for these things. She does her laundry for the most part, if I’m doing some, I’ll wash some of hers. And she’ll wash mine. If a large amount, we fold together, as it’s companionable and efficient. She has a very large volume right now, and is gradually getting it done, mixed with my laundry on occasion. </p>
<p>Over parent’s weekend, she was strapped for time, as busy with tennis matches and participating in events with me and her dad. When she asked, I brought her laundry home, washed and folded when I returned home to sleep at night-college an hour or so distant. </p>
<p>I try to foster an attitude of us all helping each other, and it goes various ways depending on need.</p>
<p>My son didn’t have time to do his laundry before coming home for break – he was studying and doing finals until right before he left. So most of his clothes were packed dirty. He brought them home and…washed them himself. Just like when he was living here. </p>
<p>We have a high efficiency low water use front loading washer, and usually combine dryer loads. However, because we all have different kinds of laundry and wash preferences, everyone does their own. We don’t do “light loads” for the most part – people save up until they have full loads – and each have usual laundry days. (I wash on Mondays, my sweetie on Tuesdays, like that.) </p>
<p>I have no problem with my son bringing dirty laundry home during his one holiday visit a year, as long as he does it. :-)</p>
<p>Been there and done that regarding the D doing her own laundry back when I was “training” her during her high school days. Now I want to launder full loads at a reasonable time of day rather than have her wash her 1/2 load - usually tossed in at 10:00 PM. I just put her stuff in with ours. It is not a big deal and she is only home for a few weeks a year anyway. </p>
<p>And because when I ask them to take out the dogs, they do that for me.</p>
<p>I’ve said this elsewhere: we have a family where mutual aid is encouraged. I really like knowing that if I need help with something, I’ll get it. Last night I invited a group of my dog friends (read: not my husband’s friends, not my kids’ friends, MY friends) over for dinner. My son replaced the front door light bulbs (all but one burnt out) and helped my husband with the new kitchen lights (poor design, we ordered new, and they came in Saturday). My daughter made cookies and set the table. My son carved the roast (I love watching him carve–he does a beautiful job). </p>
<p>And I did their laundry in the morning–along with mine and my husband’s. All four of us folded.</p>
<p>What’s the big deal? Why would I care who does the laundry if all the jobs get done in a reasonably friendly manner?</p>
<p>I’m not sure about the rest of the parents that don’t do their kids laundry but it’s really not a big deal around here. Just because they do their laundry doesn’t mean that there isn’t alot of cooperation and give and take with life in general. Yes, of course I would do their laundry if time was short and they really needed me to do it. If I have room for an extra pair of jeans, no biggie, I’ll throw it in. But all my kids have so many clothes they can easily go 10 days without needing to wash anything and then can do a load or two with just their own stuff. </p>
<p>I don’t care if anyone does their kids laundry, it’s just one of those things I don’t like to do, it doesn’t mean that we don’t work together as a family. Not sure why those of you that do your kids laundry feel you have to justify it, it’s all about what works for our families isn’t it? :)</p>
<p>My folks are real glad they don’t have to do my laundry. There is no way I could bring all my clothing back home. I am super lucky, my building has free drop off laundry and dry cleaning service for all tenants that’s managed by the concierge. I tend to change clothes at least twice, and never wear anything twice without washing, so my folks would most likely have a heart attack if I bring home my laundry.</p>
<p>Oh my gosh, I do not really give a crap about environment and saving money — I just wanted to understand the mentality of parents who do their kids laundry for them. Interesting replies, either way.</p>
<p>Well she wasn’t questioning morality, just questioning as to why you do what you do. (perhaps her parents are unwilling to do laundry for her and she’d like an understanding of why folks don’t mind if the child is perfectly capable of doing it on their own.) Not everything is a question of morality, sometimes the person just wants to know the reasoning behind it to get a understanding of how parental figures function. There’s no reason to be condescending or cynical.</p>
<p>Often youngsters don’t have a comprehensive understanding of why a parent wouldn’t mind doing their baby’s laundry. It seems far fetched but I can understand why a parent wouldn’t mind. Heck, I’d understand why a parent would want to. Ahh youngsters these days!</p>