OCD Action

tizzkins
Member

Hi all i was just wondering if anyone does what i do and gets into a state of tying themselves in knots over what they have said. My teenager son is at uni at the minute but home for the xmas break. Typical teenager and i suppose i am the typical naggy mum (well sometimes anyway) me and my son were talking about him doing his laundry at uni and i said that things like his bedding and towels still needed to meet up with the washing machine now and again and then i said without really thinking and meaning no bad intention but i said "if you dont sort your washing out you will be getting known as Mr Smelly. As soon as i had said it i thought that really wasnt a very nice thing to say but i knew it was only in jest so i tried to put it out ot my mind, later on i couldnt get rid of it then the ocd kicked in with all the what ifs it could think of. Not sure if i should have given into the ocd but i did and i apologised to my son and said i was only messing. He then said he hadnt heard me say anything. I am just in knots now about what i said and what my son now thinks of me. Am i just getting this all out of proportion. I feel like such a bad mum.

Tizzkins

Sun Jan 2 2011 18:54:39 #
Truddles
Member

Hi tizzkins,

I frequently get my knickers in a twist about what I've said, but thanks to one of my Consultants I'm learning to have faith in what I say.

I'm not a mum, but I can remember my mum telling me as a teenager to change my bed (I'd forgotten to change it earlier in the week) and to put my clothes out for washing. I wont repeat what she said in polite company She didn't have OCD, it's what caring mum's do. An uncaring mum wouldn't care about their child's welfare.

He then said he hadnt heard me say anything.
There's your answer if you'd upset him he'd have let you know in no uncertain terms as is the way of all teenagers. I know it's what I'd have done if I thought my mum had upset me (answering back got me into trouble on more than one occasion with my parents, when all that they were doing was show that they cared about me )

I hope this helps

Trudy

Sun Jan 2 2011 19:47:33 #
Jerama
Member

Hi Tizzkins,

I think you are a good mum. The washing and smelly advice is good and the sort of thing that if mums don't teach their children then nobody will. I've spent a lot of time at college/university both as a student and as a lecturer etc and believe me it can smell. The advice you gave is essential to make the world, especially halls of residence, a more pleasant place - so well done you.

Just to put the record straight; it's not just the boys that can pong a bit, it is the girls too, although not usually so bad! As I open the door to a lecture theatre I can tell if the students are mostly boys or girls just from my nose. After the break at this time of year it can be a bit tricky as lots of the students will have brought with them their Christmas present "smellies", or to be more descrpitively correct "chemical warfare gifts".

J

Sun Jan 2 2011 20:00:35 #
playthoseblues
Member

Hi Tizzkins

I don't think your son would take anything seriously. If you had said something awful, he probably would have been angry with you. My mum's always calling me 'bird-brain', and I take no notice of it! It's only a joke!

Don't Worry!

Jon

Sun Jan 2 2011 20:48:48 #