A mum has been branded as “controlling” for a “ridiculous” rule she sets in her home. People in her home must be dressed and “moderately” groomed before heading downstairs.
The rule is in place even at weekends and holidays. And while it doesn’t apply to the children on schooldays this is only to protect their uniforms from being covered in food.
Posting on Mumsnet, Porcell asked what people thought of the rule saying: “What do you think of this family house rule?
“People in the house are not allowed to come downstairs in the morning without being fully dressed/clean and moderately groomed. This does not apply to school kids during the week.
“But at the weekends/school holidays members of the household are not allowed to be in pyjamas. They can veg out on the sofa but they have to be groomed and in clean clothes.”
She added: “Trackies are allowed.” The poster explained the reasoning saying: “The mum of the house (not saying if it’s me or not) hates the teens slobbing around in pyjamas.
“She thinks it encourages people to start the day off right and creates a nicer home environment. She doesn’t mind the kids lazing around just not in dirty pyjamas with bo.
“Everyone just needs to be dressed with hair not a mess and clean clothes. 5 min job.”
However other posters were not impressed with the rule. Answering a poll on whether it was unreasonable 88% of the 2331 voters said she was.
One poster asked: “Why do you have harsher rules during days off work/school? Totally unnecessary in my book.” Another said it was “controlling” and a third asked: “Why? Home is the place you should feel most relaxed.”
Eggsley said: “Ridiculous” and Roseymoira said: “Sounds like a nightmare”. Another poster said: “I think people should be able to wear what they like in their own home. I do tell my kids to get dressed at some point during the weekend days but that’s usually so that we can go out.”
HippeePrincess said: “Doesn’t everyone in the whole world go and make coffee in their dressing gowns before they do anything else? No way I’d be dressed before coffee, especially on a weekend.”
And another added: “That is insane, and controlling if an adult in the household is insisting other family members obey this rule.”
Some questioned the choice of clothing allowed with one saying: “IMO tracksuits are worse than pyjamas. Tbh, I feel sorry for any kids in the house. In the grand-scheme of issues…this is not the hill that I, as a parent, would die on.”
And another posted: “It sounds like an American tv show where everyone has been up for ages, appears in the kitchen dressed and ‘groomed’, run some errands and been for a run and had a chat with the neighbours, before whipping up some pancakes. All before school and work. What if you’re up and hungry, but someone else is in the bathroom?!?”
And Susuki76 said: “The mum is a control freak whose kids will be moving out the second they turn 18.” However the poster defended the rule saying: “Is that not the goal? Independent kids?”
They questioned: “How is being in a clean hoodie and tracksuit bottoms at the breakfast table any less cosy than pjs? The kids are not expected to be in a morning suit with top hat.”
Some could see the point. Gundogday said: “In our household, people gave breakfast in their pyjamas, and then get dressed.
“We’ve never had a hard and fast rule, as such, but we’ve never. Been a household where pyjamas were day wear (unless ill) so I don’t think it’s bad at all. I presume when you say groomed you mean washed, teeth brushed etc.”
Another added: “Horses for courses I suppose. I do normally feel better if I get up washed and dressed before coming down. Just do what suits you.”
And Homer28 said they could see both sides. They said: “Depends on the definition of ‘rule’.
“If this is set up so people get up and get dressed and “ready” for the day and it creates good habits – fine as I certainly have a “pj mentality” if I start the day off too long in PJs and I am less productive lol. So is it about creating good habits for kids/teens? If it’s strictly enforced in some sort of seriously over the top way then I would say, no – not good.”