Toddlers: The Mumsnet Guide - advice and experiences from parents who have been in your position and lived to tell the tale!A tube of Pringles similar to the tin a Mumsnet user found in her son's bedroom filled with urine Messy teenage boys' bedrooms... they're the stuff nightmares are made of. But a mother on the parenting website Mumsnet has now clarified just how gruesome it can get when clearly out the room of an adolescent, after discovering a Pringles tube full of urine.The mum, who goes by the username 'myotherusernameisbetter' revealed she made the discovering while cleaning out her son's room this weekend. She wrote: 'Today [my second son] (13) was away for the day and I was waiting on hospital visiting time as my Mum is very unwell, I needed something to keep me occupied so I decided to do [his] room as a treat. 'Apart from the dirty laundry I found: 2 empty juice bottles, 1 empty smoothie carton, 1 empty milk shake carton, 6 empty crisp packets, 3 apple cores, a pile of orange peel, a pile of sweet wrappers, some bits of popcorn, 2 plastic bowls, 2 plastic cups......and a Pringle tube full of urine.'We are going to have to have a talk when he gets home.
The lid was on - I reached out to pick it up expecting it to be light.....it was heavy, and full of liquid - i opened and sniffed.'It's just as well he keeps his windows open and heating off.' The revelation caused some shock to other users on the forum, with some saying that they would be serious consequences for such behaviour in their households. But other mothers, often of teenage boys, were sympathetic, with many sharing their own horror stories of items left to rot in their children's bedrooms. One user called SoupDragonwrite: 'I did [my son's room] whilst he was away over half term. 'I filled 4 kerbside recycling crates with paper, 2 with bottles and cans, 3/4 of the landfill bin and did approximately 47 billion loads of laundry which mostly consisted of odd socks.'I was a little surprised not to find a dead rat.'Another called BellMcEnd said: 'I mucked out [my eight-year-old son's] bed today. 'Under his pillow I found: 4 books, 52p, a medal from sports day, a weird piece of felt he'd been doing something with at school for art, a lego man and a lip salve.'I only changed it ten days ago.'
Teenage boy in messy bedroom (posed by model)One disgruntled mother is so fed up with her son's untidy habits that she has given up attempting to tidy his room. Faithope said: 'My [son] is 16 and a slob when it comes to his room. 'Dirty pants and clothes continue to lay on the floor- the pile of clean and ironed clothes are piling up as I just add to it. T'The fact that [my son] thinks he has run out of clean pants and has helped himself to his dad's so he has a pair to wear...if only he looked in that lovely pile of laundry on his bedroom floor, he would find the 20 pairs that are clean and ready to wear.' The Mumsnet discussion about disgusting items found in teenagers' bedrooms The forum debate took on a similar tone to a conversation on the site in 2012, when one user asked a question about a 'penis beaker' that almost crashed the site. The person, called SaraCrewe, wrote: 'We have a dedicated post-sex cleanup area on the bedside table. 'A box of tissues, a small bin, and a beaker of clean water for temporary cleaning/dunking while the bathroom is occupied by me.'Apparently our penis beaker is strange and not the done thing.'It was met with more than a thousand comments from mumsnet users who called the beaker 'disgusting.'
Those who live in the postcard-perfect county town of Devon are so spoilt for choice that it can be hard to know where to point your feet. Steeped in history, Exeter is part olde-world England, part hip University transition town; ancient Roman city walls harbour its stunning Norman cathedral alongside shiny new shopping outlets and bijoux boutiques. With Dartmoor just a few miles to the west and the seaside a stone's throw to the south, it's no wonder visitors flock here for a little taste of what we lucky Exonians call home. The redeveloped (and completely free to visit) Royal Albert Memorial Museum, 2012's Museum Of the Year, prides itself on engaging young visitors, and adjoins the buzzing Phoenix Arts Centre in the heart of the city. Budding historians can spend a day in the life of a Tudor at the hands-on St Nicholas' Priory, or don their hard hat for a trip through the city's underground passages. Don't stay indoors too long, though – the glorious setting calls out to be explored, and there are
plenty of activities for the more adventurous. Water sports and a climbing centre nestle beside craft and coffee shops down on the Quay. Hire a bike or take a boat down the Exe to visit canal side paths and playgrounds. Round it all off with comfy chairs and a well-deserved cream tea in a cosy, country pub - you're never far from one of those in Devon. Do you always have a stock of avocados in the fruit bowl, shop at Waitrose and possess a National Trust membership?If so, then congratulations, you are definitely middle class according to Mumsnet users who have been listing the boxes you need to tick in order to define your social standing. The debate was started by a user called Kpo58 who explained that a few years ago her husband told her he felt middle class because they had a garage. Mumsnet users who have been listing the boxes you need to tick in order to define your social standing, including always having at least one avocado in the fridge'I'm wondering, what makes you feel middle class?' she asked.
The subject clearly caught people's imaginations as they rushed to share their lists of the essential features of middle class life. Papayasareyum was the first to reply with the confident declaration that one thing sums up being middle class: avocados.'Every single time I see an article about being middle class or a quiz about what it means to be middle class the avocado rears her creamy green head. 'If you have an avocado in your fridge or have eaten one in the past fortnight, you're middle class.'RobinaRedbreast chimed in saying: 'Knowing more than one recipe that involves Pomegranate and always having one in your fridge. Eating avocados, owning three types of cooking oils, knowing recipes involving Pomegranate and having a vegetable match were all mentioned as markers of being middle class by Mumsnet users'I also love Avocado and as such always have at least one in the fridge also.'BrandNewAndImproved also felt the that the proof lies in the kitchen, saying: 'Three different types of cooking oils.'Skala123 was eager to know if having started her first vegetable patch counted.'Partridges have eaten my cauliflower plants.
Surely that makes me middle class?' she asked. For MrsLeighHalfpenny the main characteristic was 'not eating in the street', while for Trickydecision it was a matter of having 'no family members or close friends with tattoos.' Lack of tattoos and a strong regional accent were also mentioned as signs that you're middle class, as well as saying loo instead of toilet and ketchup instead of tomato sauce BrandNewAndImproved claimed not to be middle class, but is doing a good impression. 'My National Trust membership, avocados, breton top and lentils make me seem it to my friends. I'm actually a reformed Vicky Pollard and I still like big hoop earrings and lust after a Golf,' she said. The pronunciation of quinoa was key to another user who admitted her two children love black olives and chorizo, and fight over who gets the last persimmon. She added: 'My mother shops in Waitrose. My aunt has a Volvo. My father went to Eton.' Children with sophisticated tastes in food and owning a slow cooker and a tagine could indicate you're middle class JeffreyNeedsAHobby also has children with middle class taste in food who as for 'mussels, calamari, smoked salmon and olives' in the supermarket.
LittleMissChangeMyName's, who eats two avocados a week, revealed that her children also have certain refined tastes in food. 'I buy brioche as snacks for my children,' she explained. 'We often eat hummus.'One Mumsnetter was so middle class she had the Middle Eastern dip in her username - EssentialHummus. Not eating on the street and shopping at Waitrose are essential if you want to be considered middle class 'I alternate Waitrose with Aldi, see a psychotherapist and work in a profession,' she said. 'Also live in a naice part of London with knock-off Eames furniture, but obviously won't mention that it's an ex-council flat.'Shopping at Waitrose featured several times, and was high on PugMummy's checklist.She also added that someone who is middle class shops at Joules and Boden for clothes, but is happy to buy clothes from a charity shop or eBay. Sparechange has found herself discussing buying a holiday home in France with her husband NotQuiteSoOnEdge had a long list, which included her children wearing second hand clothes from Boden, while she wears 30-year-old clothingThey may also purchase food that they're not too sure what to do with, including quinoa, coconut oil and malt extract.
She added: 'Has job title that no-one understand what that is, including them.' Waitrose, Joules and John Lewis were also on the list for Dizzybintness who added that being a guide leader and owning a pasta making machine were sure signs of a middle class household. BonnieF had a different set of criteria, which included listening to Radio 4 and reading The Guardian. For TheRealBarenziah it's all down to education while EssentialHummus thought seeing a psychotherapist was a middle class indicator BonieF listens to Radio 4, likes the taste of red wine and owns a Magimix BrandNewAndImproved doesn't consider herself middle class but is doing a good impression She continued: 'Drinking red wine because I actually like the taste of the stuff. Posting stuff like this on an Internet forum.'However, Eyebrowse felt the clincher was 'not having either a strong regional accent - unless one is Scottish - or an extremely posh accent.' Eating avocados regularly Eating hummusKnowing pomegranate recipes Not eating in the street National Trust Membership Being in a wine clubChildren who like olives, chorizo and seafood Shopping at WaitroseBuying clothes from John Lewis, Boden and JoulesBeing happy to buy second hand clothing from charity shops and eBay Having 'a place in France'Saying loo not toiletSaying ketchup not tomato sauce No tattoosWooden bunk beds for children Owning a tagine
, pasta maker, slow cooker or MagimixDriving a large estate car Wearing Birkenstocks A shabby sofa from Laura Ashley or Duresta For TheRealBarenziah it's all down to education. 'When I refer to "college", I have to hastily clarify whether I mean my old Oxford college, or my medical royal college,' she explained. 'Not bad for a comprehensive kid from Liverpool.'Sparechange's middle class benchmark was 'having friends with a place in France'.She admitted she'd been having genuine conversations with her husband about 'how it would be wise to also get a place in France so we can go every summer and children will grow up fluent in French, eating everything and knowledgeable about wine.'LuluJakey1 had a specific list of criteria including saying loo not toilet, ketchup instead of tomato sauce and sitting roomShe also added that a car should be a subtle colour. AuntDotsie explained that her husband had declared them middle class once they owned both a tagine and a slow cooker.'We've now bought a bean to cup coffee maker that does frothy milk too, so presumably he now reckons we can invite the Queen round,' she said.
NotQuiteSoOnEdge had a long list, which included her children wearing second hand clothes from Boden, while she wears 30-year-old clothing. She was also educated at boarding school, has a post graduate and has a posh voice according to her friends. The family live in their country style kitchen with a big table in the Victorian terraced house and have old, battered Laura Ashley sofas and a piano. WakeUpFast had a long tick list including cycling everywhere despite owning a car and wearing BirkenstocksThe children sleep in oak bunk bedsThey had a big seven seater that's constantly filthy, for camping, hiking or surfing trips and accommodating everyone's bikes.There's one TV in the house, which is rarely watched but they have 1000 books and a National Trust membership.The entire family has 'long swishy hair', including her son.BeverlyGoldberg defined her middle class markers as being in a wine club and driving a Mercedes. Shopping at Waitrose is essential for anyone who wants to be considered middle class 'I currently don't have a handbag in circulation that cost me less than triple figures,' she said.