[Jonathan Leane]

Punishment: gone too far, or fair enough? Internet is divided on whether it is ever okay to make your child eat from dirty dishes​

This was the dilemma faced by one Reddit user, who found herself at her wit's end with her 17-year-old son's laziness.

“Our family rotates chores - cooking, dishes, cleaning common areas are all done by each family member on different days. My son hates chores and always tries to half a** it to get out of doing it. It’s been a constant battle. Dishes are the worst. He overpacks the dishwasher so the dish detergent can’t even get on the dishes. It just catches on whatever pan he shoved in front. He also doesn’t rinse the dishes at all, so they come out dirty and caked in food. If we want to eat the day after he does dishes, we end up having to hand wash them. He doesn’t care. Any attempt to talk to him is met with a little smirk and he would say, but the dishwasher sanitised it. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

The punishment a mum inflicted on her 17 year old son has divided the internet​

After constantly battling with him over his halfhearted efforts to do the dishes, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The next day, after he had yet again failed to do the dishes properly, she made him eat his dinner off of a dirty plate.

"He went pale and started protesting that it was gross," she wrote. "I quickly cut him off and reminded him that the dishwasher sanitised them."

The son eventually relented and found the least disgusting dish to eat off of.

"I felt bad - he looked so sick and grossed out," the mother said. "But I was sick of him wasting time and water and detergent."

Unsurprisingly, the Internet was divided on whether this was an acceptable form of punishment.

"NTA (an acronym for 'Not the A-hole). Actions have consequences, and your son learned he can't half-ass his responsibilities and get no consequence for it," wrote one user.

A second agreed: "He's almost old enough to vote and still acts like a toddler. He can't get away with being a disgusting, lazy slob and expect to be treated with respect when he disregards the shared tasks and responsibilities in the same household."

"Yep, it would be pretty gross to eat from the dishes. I guess it is possible that bacteria would make him ill. Not probable enough to be serious. Actions have consequences. Good and bad," wrote another.

However, not everyone was convinced that this was an effective or appropriate form of discipline.

"Little bit too far making him actually eat off the dish. But just a little bit. Yes your reaction was appropriate in leaving him out of dinner and not giving him dishes but going so far as to make him eat something that may still have had dish soap in it was just a wee bit over," wrote one user.

Another said: "Ummm, I feel like asking him to hand wash the dishes he was to eat off of would have been sufficient. But to make him eat off dirty dishes is unsanitary and as a parent, I feel like you have to be better than that."

"ESH. (an acronym for Everyone Sucks Here) I know everyone's saying NTA, and I do think harsh punishment is justified...but eating off dirty plates and watching your son look sick while eating seems too far. It would've been less of an a-hole move to punish him in a more humane way (grounded for a long time, removal of phone/laptop/videogames, etc)," wrote another.

So what do you think? Is this an acceptable form of discipline, or did the mother go too far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

 

[Heather joy]

Good on you, mum

 

[adorableagnes]

This was the dilemma faced by one Reddit user, who found herself at her wit's end with her 17-year-old son's laziness.

“Our family rotates chores - cooking, dishes, cleaning common areas are all done by each family member on different days. My son hates chores and always tries to half a** it to get out of doing it. It’s been a constant battle. Dishes are the worst. He overpacks the dishwasher so the dish detergent can’t even get on the dishes. It just catches on whatever pan he shoved in front. He also doesn’t rinse the dishes at all, so they come out dirty and caked in food. If we want to eat the day after he does dishes, we end up having to hand wash them. He doesn’t care. Any attempt to talk to him is met with a little smirk and he would say, but the dishwasher sanitised it. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

View attachment 4139

The punishment a mum inflicted on her 17 year old son has divided the internet​

After constantly battling with him over his halfhearted efforts to do the dishes, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The next day, after he had yet again failed to do the dishes properly, she made him eat his dinner off of a dirty plate.

"He went pale and started protesting that it was gross," she wrote. "I quickly cut him off and reminded him that the dishwasher sanitised them."

The son eventually relented and found the least disgusting dish to eat off of.

"I felt bad - he looked so sick and grossed out," the mother said. "But I was sick of him wasting time and water and detergent."

Unsurprisingly, the Internet was divided on whether this was an acceptable form of punishment.

"NTA (an acronym for 'Not the A-hole). Actions have consequences, and your son learned he can't half-ass his responsibilities and get no consequence for it," wrote one user.

A second agreed: "He's almost old enough to vote and still acts like a toddler. He can't get away with being a disgusting, lazy slob and expect to be treated with respect when he disregards the shared tasks and responsibilities in the same household."

"Yep, it would be pretty gross to eat from the dishes. I guess it is possible that bacteria would make him ill. Not probable enough to be serious. Actions have consequences. Good and bad," wrote another.

However, not everyone was convinced that this was an effective or appropriate form of discipline.

"Little bit too far making him actually eat off the dish. But just a little bit. Yes your reaction was appropriate in leaving him out of dinner and not giving him dishes but going so far as to make him eat something that may still have had dish soap in it was just a wee bit over," wrote one user.

Another said: "Ummm, I feel like asking him to hand wash the dishes he was to eat off of would have been sufficient. But to make him eat off dirty dishes is unsanitary and as a parent, I feel like you have to be better than that."

"ESH. (an acronym for Everyone Sucks Here) I know everyone's saying NTA, and I do think harsh punishment is justified...but eating off dirty plates and watching your son look sick while eating seems too far. It would've been less of an a-hole move to punish him in a more humane way (grounded for a long time, removal of phone/laptop/videogames, etc)," wrote another.

So what do you think? Is this an acceptable form of discipline, or did the mother go too far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

I am with the Mother, he is old enough to do the job properly and a bit of baked on food never killed anyone.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Ok I have 5 boys my youngest is 19 , I don't have a dishwasher it's all done by hand . He is the only one that would do all the dishes if asked. I say ask him what chore would you be willing to do? Eating of a dirty plate is asking for food poisoning, I feel this is actually abuse as it is something that has the potential to make him very sick.

I ask all my kids to do their rooms ( which I go over) and to pick one thing to help around the house. They also do their own washing except my 36 year old who moved back home .

Each and everyone of my kids will wash their own dishes

I have a sign over my sink you use you wash

If a child has been taught respect they will do what you ask of them

 

[podge]

Not far enough, if he's like that at home what is he like out in the population

 

[Singomate]

This was the dilemma faced by one Reddit user, who found herself at her wit's end with her 17-year-old son's laziness.

“Our family rotates chores - cooking, dishes, cleaning common areas are all done by each family member on different days. My son hates chores and always tries to half a** it to get out of doing it. It’s been a constant battle. Dishes are the worst. He overpacks the dishwasher so the dish detergent can’t even get on the dishes. It just catches on whatever pan he shoved in front. He also doesn’t rinse the dishes at all, so they come out dirty and caked in food. If we want to eat the day after he does dishes, we end up having to hand wash them. He doesn’t care. Any attempt to talk to him is met with a little smirk and he would say, but the dishwasher sanitised it. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

View attachment 4139

The punishment a mum inflicted on her 17 year old son has divided the internet​

After constantly battling with him over his halfhearted efforts to do the dishes, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The next day, after he had yet again failed to do the dishes properly, she made him eat his dinner off of a dirty plate.

"He went pale and started protesting that it was gross," she wrote. "I quickly cut him off and reminded him that the dishwasher sanitised them."

The son eventually relented and found the least disgusting dish to eat off of.

"I felt bad - he looked so sick and grossed out," the mother said. "But I was sick of him wasting time and water and detergent."

Unsurprisingly, the Internet was divided on whether this was an acceptable form of punishment.

"NTA (an acronym for 'Not the A-hole). Actions have consequences, and your son learned he can't half-ass his responsibilities and get no consequence for it," wrote one user.

A second agreed: "He's almost old enough to vote and still acts like a toddler. He can't get away with being a disgusting, lazy slob and expect to be treated with respect when he disregards the shared tasks and responsibilities in the same household."

"Yep, it would be pretty gross to eat from the dishes. I guess it is possible that bacteria would make him ill. Not probable enough to be serious. Actions have consequences. Good and bad," wrote another.

However, not everyone was convinced that this was an effective or appropriate form of discipline.

"Little bit too far making him actually eat off the dish. But just a little bit. Yes your reaction was appropriate in leaving him out of dinner and not giving him dishes but going so far as to make him eat something that may still have had dish soap in it was just a wee bit over," wrote one user.

Another said: "Ummm, I feel like asking him to hand wash the dishes he was to eat off of would have been sufficient. But to make him eat off dirty dishes is unsanitary and as a parent, I feel like you have to be better than that."

"ESH. (an acronym for Everyone Sucks Here) I know everyone's saying NTA, and I do think harsh punishment is justified...but eating off dirty plates and watching your son look sick while eating seems too far. It would've been less of an a-hole move to punish him in a more humane way (grounded for a long time, removal of phone/laptop/videogames, etc)," wrote another.

So what do you think? Is this an acceptable form of discipline, or did the mother go too far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Well done, Had 2 teenagers, one boy one girl, both very untidy, to the point of dirty clothes and clean clothes, were mixed to lazy to put clothes away or in dirty clothes basket. After constant arguments and dramas.,while they were at school, I went into rooms grabbed all clothes and dumped them in wheelybin, clean so no problems, it was a Friday they came home showered and went looking for clothes to wear to go out with friends. Needless to say it fixed a problem

 

[Robbo128]

Good on ya mum

 

[kangie 56]

This was the dilemma faced by one Reddit user, who found herself at her wit's end with her 17-year-old son's laziness.

“Our family rotates chores - cooking, dishes, cleaning common areas are all done by each family member on different days. My son hates chores and always tries to half a** it to get out of doing it. It’s been a constant battle. Dishes are the worst. He overpacks the dishwasher so the dish detergent can’t even get on the dishes. It just catches on whatever pan he shoved in front. He also doesn’t rinse the dishes at all, so they come out dirty and caked in food. If we want to eat the day after he does dishes, we end up having to hand wash them. He doesn’t care. Any attempt to talk to him is met with a little smirk and he would say, but the dishwasher sanitised it. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

View attachment 4139

The punishment a mum inflicted on her 17 year old son has divided the internet​

After constantly battling with him over his halfhearted efforts to do the dishes, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The next day, after he had yet again failed to do the dishes properly, she made him eat his dinner off of a dirty plate.

"He went pale and started protesting that it was gross," she wrote. "I quickly cut him off and reminded him that the dishwasher sanitised them."

The son eventually relented and found the least disgusting dish to eat off of.

"I felt bad - he looked so sick and grossed out," the mother said. "But I was sick of him wasting time and water and detergent."

Unsurprisingly, the Internet was divided on whether this was an acceptable form of punishment.

"NTA (an acronym for 'Not the A-hole). Actions have consequences, and your son learned he can't half-ass his responsibilities and get no consequence for it," wrote one user.

A second agreed: "He's almost old enough to vote and still acts like a toddler. He can't get away with being a disgusting, lazy slob and expect to be treated with respect when he disregards the shared tasks and responsibilities in the same household."

"Yep, it would be pretty gross to eat from the dishes. I guess it is possible that bacteria would make him ill. Not probable enough to be serious. Actions have consequences. Good and bad," wrote another.

However, not everyone was convinced that this was an effective or appropriate form of discipline.

"Little bit too far making him actually eat off the dish. But just a little bit. Yes your reaction was appropriate in leaving him out of dinner and not giving him dishes but going so far as to make him eat something that may still have had dish soap in it was just a wee bit over," wrote one user.

Another said: "Ummm, I feel like asking him to hand wash the dishes he was to eat off of would have been sufficient. But to make him eat off dirty dishes is unsanitary and as a parent, I feel like you have to be better than that."

"ESH. (an acronym for Everyone Sucks Here) I know everyone's saying NTA, and I do think harsh punishment is justified...but eating off dirty plates and watching your son look sick while eating seems too far. It would've been less of an a-hole move to punish him in a more humane way (grounded for a long time, removal of phone/laptop/videogames, etc)," wrote another.

So what do you think? Is this an acceptable form of discipline, or did the mother go too far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Do whatever you have to do to get through. He could have washed the dishes properly in the first place. Go mum.

Good on you, mum

I'm pretty sure he won't die from this lesson. Do whatever works. Go mum.

 

[loraines]

My husband does this exactly. Never washes up nor uses the dishwasher. So I just let his plates, glasses and cutlery pile up. He washes one when he needs it. Needless to say, I’ve moved out.

 

[Nugget]

He'll we ate dirt when we where kids never made us sick.So these parents saying he shouldn't be eating off a dirty plate need to wake up. Hopefully it might teach him to rinse and wash the dishes properly if not continue to give him a dirty plate. I'm with the parent on this, way to go Mum.

 

[Jan S]

All the parenting books say that the punishment should fit the crime … I think this Mum’s fits perfectly

 

[TomDevine55]

My kids when they were growing up complained about doing work around the house. Did not eat you food: it was there for breakfast the next day and cold, did not want to help iron: school shirt wrinkled, did not want to mow the law: you dont go out even for school excursions, plus many other examples. Punishment taught values, ethics and cosequences and funny about that no psychological issues as overblown pstchologists or lazy parents would have you believe.

 

[Mr Bean]

Good job Mum know the feeling

 

[Craftingnonna]

Good parents are the parents that teach their children that there are consequences to their actions.
Lesson learned here is, if you don’t help your self no one will.
If mum keeps up the way she is going, her son will grow up to be a good father, a responsible husband and an excellent example to he’s children. This is what good parenting is about, well done mum.

 

[Brennief]

This was the dilemma faced by one Reddit user, who found herself at her wit's end with her 17-year-old son's laziness.

“Our family rotates chores - cooking, dishes, cleaning common areas are all done by each family member on different days. My son hates chores and always tries to half a** it to get out of doing it. It’s been a constant battle. Dishes are the worst. He overpacks the dishwasher so the dish detergent can’t even get on the dishes. It just catches on whatever pan he shoved in front. He also doesn’t rinse the dishes at all, so they come out dirty and caked in food. If we want to eat the day after he does dishes, we end up having to hand wash them. He doesn’t care. Any attempt to talk to him is met with a little smirk and he would say, but the dishwasher sanitised it. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

View attachment 4139

The punishment a mum inflicted on her 17 year old son has divided the internet​

After constantly battling with him over his halfhearted efforts to do the dishes, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The next day, after he had yet again failed to do the dishes properly, she made him eat his dinner off of a dirty plate.

"He went pale and started protesting that it was gross," she wrote. "I quickly cut him off and reminded him that the dishwasher sanitised them."

The son eventually relented and found the least disgusting dish to eat off of.

"I felt bad - he looked so sick and grossed out," the mother said. "But I was sick of him wasting time and water and detergent."

Unsurprisingly, the Internet was divided on whether this was an acceptable form of punishment.

"NTA (an acronym for 'Not the A-hole). Actions have consequences, and your son learned he can't half-ass his responsibilities and get no consequence for it," wrote one user.

A second agreed: "He's almost old enough to vote and still acts like a toddler. He can't get away with being a disgusting, lazy slob and expect to be treated with respect when he disregards the shared tasks and responsibilities in the same household."

"Yep, it would be pretty gross to eat from the dishes. I guess it is possible that bacteria would make him ill. Not probable enough to be serious. Actions have consequences. Good and bad," wrote another.

However, not everyone was convinced that this was an effective or appropriate form of discipline.

"Little bit too far making him actually eat off the dish. But just a little bit. Yes your reaction was appropriate in leaving him out of dinner and not giving him dishes but going so far as to make him eat something that may still have had dish soap in it was just a wee bit over," wrote one user.

Another said: "Ummm, I feel like asking him to hand wash the dishes he was to eat off of would have been sufficient. But to make him eat off dirty dishes is unsanitary and as a parent, I feel like you have to be better than that."

"ESH. (an acronym for Everyone Sucks Here) I know everyone's saying NTA, and I do think harsh punishment is justified...but eating off dirty plates and watching your son look sick while eating seems too far. It would've been less of an a-hole move to punish him in a more humane way (grounded for a long time, removal of phone/laptop/videogames, etc)," wrote another.

So what do you think? Is this an acceptable form of discipline, or did the mother go too far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Well done to the mother. At 17 if he can’t be responsible, he needs a harsh lesson.

 

[Ricci]

Good job Mum, action, or indeed inaction, has consequences. That's a given in life. You have given him a very important life lesson. Hope he learnt from it.

 

[POG]

This was the dilemma faced by one Reddit user, who found herself at her wit's end with her 17-year-old son's laziness.

“Our family rotates chores - cooking, dishes, cleaning common areas are all done by each family member on different days. My son hates chores and always tries to half a** it to get out of doing it. It’s been a constant battle. Dishes are the worst. He overpacks the dishwasher so the dish detergent can’t even get on the dishes. It just catches on whatever pan he shoved in front. He also doesn’t rinse the dishes at all, so they come out dirty and caked in food. If we want to eat the day after he does dishes, we end up having to hand wash them. He doesn’t care. Any attempt to talk to him is met with a little smirk and he would say, but the dishwasher sanitised it. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

View attachment 4139

The punishment a mum inflicted on her 17 year old son has divided the internet​

After constantly battling with him over his halfhearted efforts to do the dishes, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

The next day, after he had yet again failed to do the dishes properly, she made him eat his dinner off of a dirty plate.

"He went pale and started protesting that it was gross," she wrote. "I quickly cut him off and reminded him that the dishwasher sanitised them."

The son eventually relented and found the least disgusting dish to eat off of.

"I felt bad - he looked so sick and grossed out," the mother said. "But I was sick of him wasting time and water and detergent."

Unsurprisingly, the Internet was divided on whether this was an acceptable form of punishment.

"NTA (an acronym for 'Not the A-hole). Actions have consequences, and your son learned he can't half-ass his responsibilities and get no consequence for it," wrote one user.

A second agreed: "He's almost old enough to vote and still acts like a toddler. He can't get away with being a disgusting, lazy slob and expect to be treated with respect when he disregards the shared tasks and responsibilities in the same household."

"Yep, it would be pretty gross to eat from the dishes. I guess it is possible that bacteria would make him ill. Not probable enough to be serious. Actions have consequences. Good and bad," wrote another.

However, not everyone was convinced that this was an effective or appropriate form of discipline.

"Little bit too far making him actually eat off the dish. But just a little bit. Yes your reaction was appropriate in leaving him out of dinner and not giving him dishes but going so far as to make him eat something that may still have had dish soap in it was just a wee bit over," wrote one user.

Another said: "Ummm, I feel like asking him to hand wash the dishes he was to eat off of would have been sufficient. But to make him eat off dirty dishes is unsanitary and as a parent, I feel like you have to be better than that."

"ESH. (an acronym for Everyone Sucks Here) I know everyone's saying NTA, and I do think harsh punishment is justified...but eating off dirty plates and watching your son look sick while eating seems too far. It would've been less of an a-hole move to punish him in a more humane way (grounded for a long time, removal of phone/laptop/videogames, etc)," wrote another.

So what do you think? Is this an acceptable form of discipline, or did the mother go too far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

His mother's action was appropriate and if the son did feel disgusted eating off the dishes he poorly cleaned, he should have got up and hand washed them, however, the fact that he ate from them as they were, goes to show how hopeless he is. Good on you mum.

 

[Sloopy]

If nothing else got the message across, I can understand. Not sure I would have done it myself, even if I had a dishwasher! My kids took turns with washing/drying dishes, and whoever was drying had the power to send things back for re-washing. Yes, sometimes they sent things back just to be nasty, but then payback happened to them and gradually they learnt to do it properly, and cooperated with each other.

 

[terri]

He may have to eat off a dirty plate, but that means so do the rest of his family. I f he doesnt like the idea, why should he make his family do it.

 

[TheBear]

Really? That's all? A dirty dish? And he didn't even eat from it? OMG people! Being a little disgusted certainly isn't punishment.