Oh this is a good one. A few nights ago I was telling my daughter that back when I was a teenager living on my own, I used to have to pay 50 cents to wash and 50 cents to dry my clothes and I had to buy my own detergent and fabric softener. I told her since she’s moving into her own apartment in July that I thought it would be a good idea if she started paying me the going rate to wash and dry her clothes and she should start buying her own laundry detergent and fabric softener. Or even better yet, she could take her dirty clothes down to the laundry mat and do a few loads just to see what it feels like to pay hard earned money to wash dirty clothes. She didn’t like that one bit and quickly shot down the idea.
Then her father told her, “Those Doritos you are eating they cost money too, what are you going to do about buying food so you can eat?” Wow, that little question got her fired up. She yelled back, “Well I’ll deal with being able to afford food when the time comes!”
Can anyone that’s reading this believe this comment came from a 17 year old getting ready to live on her own?
The girl has a WHOLE lot of growing up to do. It also sounds like she’ll be going on a crash diet come July.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Sallie's Niece 05.20.08 at 11:02 am
Oh man, does she have some learning to do. Laundry is the bane of my existence. My landlord charges two bucks a cycle so it costs me 16 quarters to wash a small basket of clothes. I take them to the laundromat when I can get a ride but it’s not too much cheaper there either. AND detergent can be so pricey. Wait til she sees for herself!
Michelle 05.20.08 at 1:22 pm
She sounds like I did when I was that age. Sad thing for me is that it took be 23 years to snap out of it.
Denise 05.20.08 at 7:01 pm
She reminds me of myself at that age. I’m only 28 but I still need that lesson from my mother! Good for Mama! She may not like the things you are telling her but she’ll eventually get it! Reality will hit her like a ton of bricks and she will thank you later! Good luck to you and Best WIshes to her! ;o)
louise 05.21.08 at 6:17 am
lol…too funny. @ 21 I am living @ my parents house, I do the grocery shopping every other week, for about 60 bucks, the food last maybe a week, my mom does it, and it last 3 weeks. Laundry cost me about 5 bucks, with detergent, I learned to hand wash…so come next august I think I still would not have learned enough to be on my own…she trully is 17…
Tina 05.29.08 at 9:42 am
Actually, both sides sound a bit absurd. Just have her start doing her own laundry (since it sounds like she currently doesn’t).
Does your daughter have a job? Will she have a job in July? If so, then yes, in fact, I expect she’ll be able to afford food when the time comes. Maybe not tons of Doritos and other junk food, but yes. Food of some variety. It isn’t *that* hard.
In fact, given that you two are the parents and should know better, you come off as a lot more immature and petty than she does!
messy 05.29.08 at 11:57 am
Tina - WOW!
Considering the fact that my daughter wasn’t able to afford the rent on her apartment, all the expenses that come with living on her own, and the fact that she flat out refused to put together a budget, yes I was concerned about her being able to afford food, college, and paying to use the washer and dryers to do her laundry. According to my calculations she was going to be spending in EXCESS of her wages every month by at least $500+. With a few thousand dollars in an account she can’t touch until November and a big whooping $400 in her savings account that wouldn’t even last her a month!
Thankfully she’s now changed her mind. She’s realized she can’t afford to live on her own. To tell the truth I’m sure my little laundry talk had something to do with it.
For the record - My daughter does her own laundry and has for years. I was wanting her to start paying me for the use of my washer and dryer so she could see what it feels like to pay to do laundry and buy detergent and fabric softener, things she takes for granted currently. My daughter has had the same job for 1.5 years and she starts another part-time job as a waitress on June 14th. She’s very responsible yet very naive as I’m sure a lot of 17 year olds are.
Even my 12 and 10 year old daughters do their own laundry (they choose to).