<p>I don’t have the time currently to be doing my laundry…I doubt I will in boarding school. And even if I do, I just wouldn’t want to in the first place lol.</p>
<p>I do my own laundry now and have been since I was about 11. (I even did my little sisters for a while becuase she is very irresponsible (she’s almost 13 so you would think she could be a bit more mature but alas, no)). Anyway my point is learning to do laundry is a skill that almost everyone is going to have to learn eventually, so why not now. Think about college they don’t have laundry service there. And isn’t part of boarding school to prepare you for college?</p>
<p>Well if you have to learn eventually why not learn in college? Which prepares you for life…where you NEED to do your own laundry (unless you’re living with your parents). </p>
<p>I don’t care if you do your laundry or not, I just don’t need someone telling me what I should do. And you act like learning would be such a hard thing, laundry is not really that hard. I do it once in awhile with my mom. I’d just rather not do it if all I have to do is pay a little but of money for someone else to do it.</p>
<p>a little? Laundry service is hundreds of dollars!</p>
<p>Umm excuse me but I didn’t tell you to do anything, I was stating my opinion which I thought was the point of forums. People ask a question and people give their opinions. Damn I hate when people jump on me like that for giving my opinion Do whatever you want with your money I could honestly give less of a sh it.</p>
<p>Chill, we’re talking laundry here. Whatever floats your boat, in this case, whatever washes your clothes.</p>
<p>“Anyway my point is learning to do laundry is a skill that almost everyone is going to have to learn eventually, so why not now? Think about college they don’t have laundry service there. And isn’t part of boarding school to prepare you for college?”</p>
<p>You stating an opinion…and I stated an opinion in relation to what you said. No need to feel like I’m attacking you, calm down. I answered the questions YOU asked in your statement. If you don’t want an answer don’t ask a question…make an obvious opinion statement and there will be no response.</p>
<p>We just registered for the service at Kent. The premium service is $750 annual, but there is a lesser option for $500. My goodness! I took care of my own laundry through eight years of college, professional school and then during postgraduate training after that. What is the world coming to?</p>
<p>The world is coming to, or should be coming to, the idea of telling kids “no” now and again. All these little things that are taken for granted like laundry, cell phones, internet connections, dish washing, cleaning up after yourself - insert your own activity - cost money and time. For the life of me, I don’t understand why some parents don’t “keep it real” with their kids from the earliest age possible. The excuse that the kids are already going to be busy with their boarding school work and sports and therefore shouldn’t have to worry about laundry, for example, seems nuts to me. But, maybe I’m just being an old curmudgeon.</p>
<p>I admire those few kids on this thread that take care of themselves and would not want or expect other people to do or pay for their laundry. It’s a little thing, but it’s telling.</p>
<p>For laundry, you could check with the school to find out what most new students of your child’s gender do and go with that, if you can afford it, for the first year. Remember that at most schools the machines and soap aren’t free, and depending on the housing situation may not be convenient. Sometimes there are few machines and everyone tries to use them at the same time on the weekends.</p>
<p>If I can afford to get the laundry service for my child why not. My child certainly is not a lazy kid. Obviously, she is hard working and respondsible that’s how she got into a HADES school. This idea that she is spoiled because she doesn’t have to do her laundry is crazy. I would like her to enjoy the whole experience. She has her whole life ahead of her to do her laundry. Should I make her get a job too because we are a full pay family and she should help pay some of the cost? Would that make her appeciate it more? I don’t want to open a big can of worms but it often appears to me on these boards that there is a lot of resentment from some people.</p>
<p>paralabane: My son actually offered to do his own laundry to save us money. He already helps me with the whole family’s laundry at home (he carries it up/down, washes and dries most of it, I fold and put away) It was our decision, based on the recommendation from the school, to pay for the service the first year. So it was not a question of him feeling entitled or above the task.</p>
<p>I didn’t have laundry service during my four years, and it’s been fine. Doing laundry isn’t that hard, and even if you/your kids don’t know how, upperclassmen or friends will teach you/them. People do laundry differently - some of my friends separate similar colors and whites, and I just bunch them all together (it’s much easier and my clothes don’t bleed) - so I feel like the “time consumption” aspect depends largely on that, although if you develop some kind of system or routine it probably would be about the same. Laundry is such a minor part of my life that I don’t think it would matter that much for anyone. But if you want half an hour more free time every week, and are willing to pay for the service, go for it.</p>
<p>I am not passing judgment on other people regarding the decision to pay or not to pay for laundry service, but I do know that most kids going to boarding school are able to adapt and resourceful enough to handle laundry. My d was 12 last summer at Exeter’s summer program when she started doing her own laundry. She continued once she returned home. Now her nine year old sister has asked to be taught how to use the washing machine so that she can do her own laundry, and I am more than happy to teach her. I know my d well enough to know that she will spend (waste?) far more time talking with friends than she will doing laundry. I see the laundry issue as a personal responsibility issue for my d. If she tells me it is a problem, I will happily pay for the service. Until that time the money will be reserved for more interesting activities, like trips abroad during the summer etc.</p>
<p>Protective Mom, I don’t mean to make you feel protective! I never used the word “spoiled,” although it could be inferred from my comment and I apologize. My children all went full pay too. You ask “should I make her get a job because we are a full pay family and she should help pay some of the cost?” I don’t think that option is available at most boarding schools, but “yes” is my philosophy. During high school summers or college etc, I think it’s a great for a child who is blessed with good fortune to see how hard it is to make a buck. Each to his (her) own of course!</p>
<p>both my boys got a roll or quarters and a bottle of laundry detergent when they started school. no big deal. another roll of quarters in their Christmas stocking. :^)</p>
<p>I’m delighted to do their laundry when they come home for the weekend. truly. no big deal.</p>
<p>much ado about nothing! :^)</p>
<p>I really don’t see why parents pay for pricey laundry service. Half of the time kids end up losing articles of clothing and complaining about how horrible the service. And honestly it doing laundry only takes like 30 minutes of your life ever week.</p>
<p>It’s not like it really takes much time, just run down to the laundry room during study hours and pop your stuff in (if you separate AS you wear the clothes), run up to your room, do homework for 40 mins, then come down and switch them to the dryer (or air dry). When it’s done, run down and get your stuff. It will also TEACH your kid about work, because i guarantee there will be some complaints about the laundry service.</p>
<p>I have no idea why this is turning into such a hot topic but IMHO you incoming BS students<br>
have no idea how busy you will be during the week.
I commend you for wanting to do your laundry but I think I will have my son opt for the laundry service. I think he should focus on studying, playing sports and enjoying the activities the school offers. There is time enough in life when one has to do his or her own laundry and I would rather he not stress out about that. Maybe as a soph or Jr, but not as a freshman.
And before you rag on an old Mom for being protective of her son, I was doing way more than laundry at 10 years old and it didnt make me a better person than anyone else.</p>
<p>My d has been doing laundry for years at home. We signed up for the laundry service mainly because of the dry cleaning and ironing that comes with it. Our d could easily launder sports clothes, bedding, and casual wear, but she has many items, which require ironing and dry cleaning. I’ll be comparing the price to figure out if we can just use a service for dry cleaning and pressing, and have her use the school’s machines for the rest.</p>
<p>Also, E&R is the main company laundry provider at d’s school, but other students use local companies, which provide the same service. You can find out from older students about different options.</p>