Ironing: Under Pressure

I have to confess that ironing isn't my all-time favorite activity, and even less so when I have to teach my kiddos the art of manipulating a scorching, hot mechanism-of-doom. *slight sigh*

This one I don't start teaching too young for obvious safety reasons. At 6 or 7 we start with pillowcases or cloth napkins. But by the time my kids turn 12, they should be able to iron the trickier items in their closets. For example, this spring break, on our “ironing day” my 12 year old boy practiced ironing his Sunday dress shirt.

 My 9 year old daughter practiced ironing a dress (and judging by the stress level of that attempt, I dare say we jumped the gun a bit – ironing pleats and a gathered skirt are a bit beyond her coordination capability). 

 Next year we'll stick with a more basic shirt or just a skirt for her to practice on. Afterward, they both wanted to iron a few cloth napkins, because after dress-shirts or Easter dresses, it is almost as therapeutic as mindless coloring in a coloring book. 

Of course, every “ironing day” we review the safety issues with an iron:

•  Never leave a hot iron unattended
• Always turn off and unplug
• Taking care with steam
• Never let the iron 'sit' in one spot
• Heat level selection
• Basic, bodily burn avoidance

We really emphasized the use of pressure in 'pressing' or ironing this time. Also, for some reason, ironing leads us into a natural discussion on repentance as we discuss the kinds of wrinkles (sins) we have to work out and how some just need a quick pressing with a dry iron, others may need steam, and some need major spraying and lots of elbow-grease to work them out. Draw whatever analogy you like, but hey – you've got to talk about something while you supervise your kids ironing. *wink & a smile*