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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

bronze · 09/07/2012 15:40

I say 'look at the state of you
But in an affectionate way.
I would be the first to roll down the hill and have been known to hose my children down in summer

Just this second ds2 has walked in cakes in paint. There goes another school t shirt

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 09/07/2012 15:41

Pious - we have washable sofa covers. Baby cakes is not quite 6mo, but we planned ahead!

And I think the poster only said 'boy fun' because she had boys... I hope so anyway, since I love climbing trees and puddle jumping even now!

VegansTasteBetter · 09/07/2012 15:53

Recently over heard:

Mum of little girl at park. "Don't play in the sand you know I feel about sand" the mind boggles... The whole play area was in the sand!! at the very idea that anyone has special feelings about sand anyway!

Jemma1111 · 09/07/2012 16:02

My kids come out of school looking like they need a good steam clean but I'm not bothered as they've obviously had a good time !

Mind you I bet others will agree that the one time you need them to stay clean if your going somewhere is the time when they always manage to get their dirtiest !

bronze · 09/07/2012 16:03

This would be a good thread to ask how on earth do you get white school polo shirts white again?
I've tried lots

Kellamity · 09/07/2012 16:03

If they are clean at the end of the day it's been a very dull day!!

TheEnglishWomanInTheAttic · 09/07/2012 16:03

Almost all my kids' clothes are 'play clothes' - ridiculous to ban a child from doing anything on the basis they'll get dirty, and like most of the local kids mine live outside most of the day in summer and most of the rest of the year too tbh. I wouldn't have it any other way but I have a mental barrier in my brain disconnecting this from the bottomless laundry pile and the amount of sand they manage to spread all over the downstairs despite the shoes off at the door rule. :(

Sirzy · 09/07/2012 16:04

Vegans - I hate sand, the texture and the way it gets everywhere its just horrible stuff. Doesn't change the fact I spent most of the weekend running around on the beach with DS but still hate it and know we will find sand everywhere for weeks

CelticRepublican · 09/07/2012 16:08

OP you would love my DS today, he has been merrily puddle jumping and has mud up to his knees

His wellies are too small so his good shoes are soaked, but he had fun!

solidgoldbrass · 09/07/2012 16:15

I do tell DS to keep out of wet grass and muddy puddles on the way to school as I don't want him in wet shoes/trousers all day. But other than that I am very much of the 'bit of dirt never hurt anyone' type, too.

timetosmile · 09/07/2012 16:15

There's something about primary school aged muddy knees at 3.30 that lifts my spirits!

And that tide mark of grime at the top of the wellies on little children in shorts.

And the smell of DSs hair when he comes back from making a campfire at Scouts.

And a freckly DD with mud splodges on her cheeks don't know why the freckles make it cuter, but they do..

And the deep-in-the-cuticles soil after 'gardening'

School tops go in a 'heavy soiling' 90* wash with DHs work shirts and bio powder. Works for most things.

RuleBritannia · 09/07/2012 16:17

Jemma1111

You are right. I specifically remember being 3 or 4 and we were going out. Mother got me ready first and I was wearing a light blue coat. I went to stand on a footbridge over the railway line under which I knew that steam trains would travel. I still love the smell and I expect some of the older MNrs will, too. I went home in a black coat with my mother desperate because she didn't know where I was......

NoGoodNamesLeft · 09/07/2012 16:19

It has taken me a loooooong time to convince DP that, yes, it is ok if DS (2.2 years) gets mucky from time to time. DP had a horror of cleaning up after him and I suspect he still wishes that children existed in a sort of self-cleaning, minimal-maintenance required state.

I, on the other hand, delight in filling our old baby bath with jelly and flinging it around as a game.

kat1885 · 09/07/2012 16:36

I would love to be like this. Unfortunately I have an anxiety disorder around picking up illnesses. I am waiting to have counselling as I really need to let ds1 (4) get mucky etc but I just can't help following him with hand sanitizer.

I don't mind the actual being dirty its just I get intrusive thoughts such as the soil will have toxoplasmosis in it, sand pits harbour norovirus etc. It's horrible (and irrational).

Chandon · 09/07/2012 16:53

My oldest DS is happiest when he is dry and clean. He plays outside a lot, but rarely gets dirty. It also bothers him to be dirty. Or wet. He is like a cat.

timetosmile · 09/07/2012 17:10

Chandon but I also have a 'take-that-off-in-the-kitchen-and-please-wash-your-hands-NOW' as they step over the threshold

ThePathanKhansWitch · 09/07/2012 17:16

YY , I love to see children mucky. My daughter often goes feral, knots in hair, mud everywhere.

I too went on holiday with a anal fastidious friend, it was a nightmare. Her dd was petrified of getting a speck on herself.

Original poster

paradisechick · 09/07/2012 17:23

I will make ds strip of in the hall and straight into the bath if it's really bad. Then we'll have lashings and lashings of ginger beer!

OP posts:

camdancer · 09/07/2012 17:39

Kat I'm a bit like that with sand. In fact it could have been me at the playground that vegan overheard saying please stay out of the sand. Just everything about sand is just wrong and nasty.

Other mess I have no problems with. DS came out of school today with a mud stain that looked like it had a great story. It came complete with a grazed elbow and very cheeky look on his face! Still haven't quite got to the bottom of the story. And I always know that DD1 has been painting at preschool by the colours on her clothes.

ThisIsNotWhatIWasAfter · 09/07/2012 19:46

I'm loving taking DS out for walks in our summer weather There are few things as simply joyful and life affirming as a toddler playing in mud and puddles. It's what makes tantrums worth the grief.

Floggingmolly · 09/07/2012 20:18

Oh God, Kat1884. I also have an irrational fear of toxoplasmosis which started during my first pregnancy. It's so awkward, I have no objection to mud itself, but am terrified it may contain that parasite that causes blindness.
It was so bad I actually had a course of CBT sessions; and I never let it affect how my kids play, but inside I still shudder unless I know dogs and cats haven't been any where near. (and I love dogs)

CamperWidow · 09/07/2012 20:23

I run Cubs and Beavers and I always say if they go home shattered and filthy it's been a good camp! Several of my parents are now wise to this and if the campsite is a bit of a drive away they turn up with towels for the seats and pillows for sleeping in the car! :o

Original poster

paradisechick · 09/07/2012 22:48

My son is going on his first beaver camp in a few weeks. Can't wait to see the state of them all!

OP posts:

Ozziegirly · 10/07/2012 06:37

My DS seems to be an absolute magnet for dirt, but I buy all his clothes in Target and Kmart and mud and paint washes out anyway. It's way more work to try to keep him clean.

But I love bathing him at the end of the day, washing off all the grime and having this lovely little soft warm clean boy curled up in my lap before he goes to bed.

fuzzpig · 10/07/2012 06:56

I agree! DD is always sent to school (reception) reasonably immaculate but never comes out like that - if she's a complete mess, which she normally is, I know she's had a fun day :o

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