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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to love seeing mucky kids

77 replies

paradisechick · 09/07/2012 11:12

Ds has just came in with 2 other boys. They've been playing in the field building dens. They're proper grubby and I think it looks fab! It's nice to see kids with evidence of a good mornings playing on them!

OP posts:
Unlurked · 09/07/2012 11:14

Do you want to cone round to my house and look at my kids? You'd love them Grin

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 09/07/2012 11:17

I agree! :) if a kid walks in covered in paint glitter mud wAter felt tip etc then ya know a good time was had by all. I also love seeing babies covered in food cos ya know they have enjoyed their dinner and have loved picking it up and shoving it in their mouths whilst silmutaneously ending up wearing it! Always lovely to see :o

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 09/07/2012 11:17

Love seeking other peoples mucky kids Grin

No, I have boys and love seeing them have proper boy fun. Ds loves fishing for newts (with hands occasionally), climbing trees, nature walks, splashing in puddles and streams, I could go on.

Love the innocence and care free nature of it all.

WandaDoff · 09/07/2012 11:19

A mucky child is a happy child as they say Grin

GrimmaTheNome · 09/07/2012 11:20

ITA except for the characterisation of that list as 'boy fun' since I know plenty of girls to whom it applies in spades (or more probably, handfuls). Even now they're teenage.

Nagoo · 09/07/2012 11:20

YANBU.

Mine are regularly covered in pen and muck and food goodnessknowswhat.

But I like seeing tham fresh out of the bath more. I love them so much in that bit of time where they small all soapy and look angelically clean :)

iloveeverton · 09/07/2012 11:20

My dd(2) is currently covered in sand after the morning dog walk on the beach!

Later she'll have flour everywhere from baking.

My ds(5) is always filthy from school- they have a mud pit- brave teachers.

All good fun though.

AKMD · 09/07/2012 11:22

Other people's children - yes.

Mine - erm, yes but my first thought is probably not "Oh, he's had sucha lovely time" but "Clothes off, pick up stain remover, toddler in bath, rinse clothes in sink and apply stain remover, wash toddler, dry and dress and feed toddler, clothes in washing machine, I hope that stain comes out," Sherlock Holmes premonition style.

WorraLiberty · 09/07/2012 11:25

Really AKMD?

My first thought is they'll be alright til bath time

As long as they wash their hands before eating, job's a goodun.

Bunnyjo · 09/07/2012 11:30

YANBU. DD (4yo) comes home from school looking like she's been dragged through a hedge every day. It's a tiny village school with a massive outdoor area, all the kids have wellies in school and love playing outside. It's clear to see she's had a fab day at school. At home, DD loves playing in our garden; digging, watering and planting things and DS (13mo) loves following her around and getting equally as mucky and tries to eat worms at every given opportunity too. They love playing with paints and helping to bake, it's no wonder my house resembles a bomb site most days!

I agree with Nagoo, though. I love seeing them just out of the bath every evening; smelling gorgeous and squeaky clean for all of 5 minutes, anyway

SueHeck · 09/07/2012 11:30

ITA!
I always feel so sorry fo rkids whos eparents won't let them get dirty and fuss and faff over clothes.

Kids don;t care what they wear providing it keeps them warm . Buy cheap, chuck and don;t give a damn.

Stain remover? Confused.

We live on a farm so mud is de rigeour. I rarely see my lot in anything except wellies and jods. Couldn't give a fig about clothes! Smile

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 09/07/2012 11:30

I love seeing mucky kids when the muck is from playing outside or going overboard with paint/glue/crafty things.

I hate seeing children who are mucky with food. There are some children who seem not to be able to manage a meal without their cutlery handles being caked in food, (which i then have to touch) their faces and hands being caked in food, and the area where they were eating being caked in food. Ds's best friend is like this and I have to mentally prepare myself every time he comes over for dinner. It's vile.

Catsmamma · 09/07/2012 11:33

one of the worst ting to hear is someone in a park saying "don't get your shoes/dress/self dirty"

hate that!

Along with "don't touch the sand" "don't sit on the grass"

AKMD · 09/07/2012 11:36

Worra that is obviously for when he is absolutely filthy and/or soaking wet, not just for everyday grub.

Thinking of...

  • painting sessions.
  • anything involving glitter.
  • anything involving digging.

Aprons/all-weather clothes etc. seem to have no effect Hmm

SueHeck · 09/07/2012 11:39

Genuine question, why does it matter if little kids clothes are stained as long as they fit, do the job and are cleaned at the end of it?

AKMD · 09/07/2012 11:41

If I can get the stain out, I'd prefer to do that rather than have stained clothes. Same with my own.

bejeezus · 09/07/2012 11:46

catsmamma I hate that too...poor kids

Original poster
paradisechick · 09/07/2012 11:57

There's some mums at school and it seems that their first words to their children every day is 'look at the state of you' or something along those lines. Makes me :(

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 09/07/2012 12:00

None of that would bother me til bathtime AKMD, except the wet clothes.

Original poster
paradisechick · 09/07/2012 12:02

I also adore that litte window between bath and bed when they are shiney!

OP posts:
AKMD · 09/07/2012 12:02

It wouldn't bother me either if paint, glitter etc. didn't end up all over the walls and furniture :)

WowOoo · 09/07/2012 12:06

I'm the same as AKMD in that I want to strip my youngest down and put him in clean clothes so mud doesn't get everywhere and I get to the stains quickly.

I'd never say that to my son when he leaves school. I buy cheap uniforms as I expect they might get trashed and covered in mud, pens .

I have a lush photo of my older boy as a toddler covered in food, sitting in a huge laundry basket. He looks so happy Smile. But you would not have wanted to cuddle him!

But bogies and icky eyes? That's an other thread I suppose.

Vagaceratops · 09/07/2012 12:10

We went to Belton house the other week and it was like a mud bath. My kids were covered and it was so nice to see them without a care.

There was one little girl there in a pink party dress. You could tell she wanted to join in and have fun but her Mum kept saying 'dont get dirty' 'dont mess your dress up etc'

Snowboarder · 09/07/2012 12:11

If I'm totally 100% honest, I do feel a bit uptight about keeping DC looking clean and presentable. I am paranoid that people would see my grubby toddler as a sign that I am unable to cope and I KNOW my MIL in particular would see it that way.

I hate myself for feeling that way as I would far rather my DC enjoy themselves than worry about getting their stuff a bit dirty so I'm going to have to work on it. I know it's going to wind me up hearing comments from MIL and FIL along the lines of 'look at the state of you' though as if I were to blame. Ho hum.

SueHeck · 09/07/2012 12:14

It usually comes down to confidence, I think.

I had a friend who was obsessed with dressing her kids in Boden, Gap and Monsoon. And they could not afford it. Her house was awful, pigsty, she couldn;t cope at all but her kids were immaculate and she felt people would judge her.

I'm the opposite, spotless house ( cleaner!) and filthy kids!
It's hard to not give a damn what others think of you but when you get there, boy is it liberating! Grin