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AIBU?

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Original poster

What's the worst thing your kids have done to make you want to break down?

426 replies

Burnt0utMum · 06/04/2021 16:56

I'm working from home and kids are off for Easter holidays. Ages 6 and 5. I'm working downstairs and they were quiet for a while upstairs. I went upstairs to check on them and they had locked themselves in the bathroom. I told them to let me in but they refused to open the door. Eventually they opened it and they've used every single product in the bathroom. Soap and water everywhere to the point it's leaked through to the dining room ceiling (which is brand new plasterboard and skim only painted 2 days ago). My new make up that I hadn't opened yet and Lush gift set from my sister that I hadn't used yet have been opened and emptied. I've dried the floor and just had to walk away because I'm just so upset. They know they weren't supposed to touch any products in there and they know they shouldn't have done it but it's done now. I don't even know what punishment to give because I just feel so spent with trying to work while that's going on. DH will be moving the lock out of their reach when he gets home later and I've said they're not allowed their ipads or any of their Easter chocolate. Feeling like a failure. Please tell me I'm not alone having kids causing so much trouble!

OP posts:
Mumofsend · 06/04/2021 16:59

Oh what horrors. Try and make sure you also include natural consequences too, ie if they like bubble baths "uh oh you can't have a bubble bath as you used all the bubbles" etc just to reinforce the message.

Don't beat yourself up too much, just stand firm and clear on the consequences.

My two both have sen, they push me to the limit far too frequently!

Getover2021 · 06/04/2021 17:09

Oh god. I am so sorry and that’s my worst nightmare! My children can be absolutely terrors at times esp when they go soooo quiet.
My husband painted the radiator today and my daughter went and sat against it so all her hair is now covered with white paint. Probably will have to shave her long hair. So upset at this

SimonJT · 06/04/2021 17:30

Used a rock to draw a picture on the passenger side doors of my brand new car. I spent a lot of money getting it repaired and for an extra kick in the teeth it was stolen less than a week later.

Playing with my wallet in the car and threw it out of the window, we were in a small coastal town in Wales on a Sunday, no apple pay, no banks open. Not enough petrol to get home/buy a snack. I had to approach strangers until one agreed for me to send her money via paypal so she could draw it out of a cash machine for me. I now have an emergency £60 in my car at all times.

Threw a toy car and smashed a pane of glass in an internal door of my partners parents house, it was the first time we had met them.

TedTookVows · 06/04/2021 17:39

What a nightmare OP I really feel for you!

Family child hacked into my Apple ID off a device and sent obscene messages under my name on iMessage. Luckily (or unluckily for them) they were immediately caught by targeting precisely the wrong contact (my DM) and no damage was done. But I mean OBSCENE I was furious.

ColourMeExhausted · 06/04/2021 17:40

DS (age 3) just broke our 4k telly screen by chucking a doll at it. It was DH's 40th birthday gift and his pride and joy, not even had it a year! I didn't feel it was the time to point out I'd warned him this very thing might happen...was pretty gutted too as I've got used to it!

Encouraging to read we are not alone in this...

Northernsoullover · 06/04/2021 17:45

My son broke his laptop because he lost his temper with it. He was 12 at the time. It still upsets me because I was so hard up at the time.

Charlottejade89 · 06/04/2021 17:50

Drew with marker pen on the wall of my newly painted kitchen. And also had a massive tantrum because we had to leave the park resulting in me having a physically try and carry her out kicking and screaming while everyone just stared. I was almost 9 months pregnant at the time so it wasn't an easy task and I literally wanted to die of embarressment

notacooldad · 06/04/2021 17:50

I would be really angry in your shoes op. At 5 and 6 they knew what they were doing.
I was thinking about ds1 getting pissed at 16 or when ds was 3 knocking ver a tin if matt paint by accident on the landing carpet but yours is worse.

ConnieCaterpillar70 · 06/04/2021 17:51

Poor DD had got a new carpet in the living room and was so proud of having a room all finished and decorated - about 3 days after it was fitted, her toddler got hold of a massive tub of sudocrem. Carpet and sofa had to be replaced under insurance and had to be lived with for quite a few weeks in between.

She's the most tolerant person I know but this nearly broke her.

Beetlewing · 06/04/2021 17:55

Nightmare! You poor thing, maybe it's a full moon because I've just found out dd has racked up a few hundred £ on various in app purchases - the latest news is she hacked the family sharing so I wouldn't find out about it. I'm half outraged and half in awe of her skills.

As for punishment, at that age you have to do a swift telling off and then forget about it. They dont have the capacity to think about consequences while they're up to their elbows in expensive bath stuff - I bet they smell lovely though!

Ilikeviognier · 06/04/2021 18:00

Feeling this. Almost 5 year old and 6 year old boys here. Constant fighting in the holidays. Is it time to go back to school yet? I just opened the wine!

Original poster
Burnt0utMum · 06/04/2021 18:10

These replies mean so much to me. I'm at absolute breaking point but reassured I'm not completely alone. Honestly don't know how I'm going to cope until they're back at school. Just finished work and can't face going in the bathroom but know I'll have to face it soon. Just trying to stay calm.

OP posts:
PembrokeshireDreaming · 06/04/2021 18:13

DD drew all over the cream leather sofas with red lipstick when she was 2.............I don't even wear lipstick, it was a free gift on the front of a magazine I had been given!

DS has autism and severe learning difficulties ..........it nearly broke me when he used to smear shit everywhere.

aquashiv · 06/04/2021 18:15

Well done for walking away op...when mine are quiet that usually meant they were up to something..

Let me see the list is long...
Locking car keys in car and locking car we were abroad in the middle of no where...
DD slammed her door open and the handle went through the plaster board.
DS brand new settee took his nail and drew a large scratch across it..

PivotPivotPivottt · 06/04/2021 18:21

Loads of things but one that stands out was during the first lockdown. I was really struggling as a single parent, my just turned 3 year was an absolute nightmare and every day was living hell. I was having a really bad day and went upstairs to find she had put lipstick all over my freshly painted walls, door, new bed and bedding. I just cried and cried and cried.

I can't imagine how hard it must be working from home while looking after 2 young children I hope you feel better soon.

orgustuz · 06/04/2021 18:22
  1. DS1 and friend, age 4, poured blue paint into a saucer, put their hands and feet in it, then ran up two flights of stairs in his friend's newly refurbished home, making foot and hand prints as they went. The other mum was 8.5 months pregnant too! We paid £1000 towards repairing the carpet damage.
  1. DS2, age 5, ran up to his older brother's school teacher, who was wearing a very tight pencil skirt, and slapped her on the behind! (And before you ask, this certainly wasn't modelled on behaviour seen at home!).

The boys are now 16 and 14 and near-perfect angels, so they do grow out of it.

Daleksatemyshed · 06/04/2021 18:23

Sorry @Burnt0utMum, that's really upsetting for you. It's not the naughtiness so much as the total waste of your nice products. You're very patient, I'd have screamed so loud the neighbours would have come running- one of the many, many reasons why I never became a parent

BrownEyedGirl80 · 06/04/2021 18:25

Totally unacceptable behaviour.Id go mad if ds 7 did that

autumnboys · 06/04/2021 18:27

My older two got penknives for Christmas one year and used them on my then new coffee table, their bedside tables, the end of the sofa and one solitary stab mark in the interior upholstery of the car. In that particular instance, my wrath came down on myself for being so stupid as to suggest them as a present and being grateful they hadn’t tried to reinact a knife fight.

FlowersGin this too shall pass x

SignMyStookie · 06/04/2021 18:30

Aw OP, you have my sympathies.

Mine are teens now but (mostly DD1) has

  • sudocremed herself, couch, walls and carpet.
  • poured glue all over the kitchen floor.
  • used a marker to scribble over the new cabinet doors in my brand new build kitchen (thankfully it came off).
  • pulled the bathroom sink off the wall.

And many, many more but you get the gist I'm sure!

TiggerTiggerBounce · 06/04/2021 18:31

@Burnt0utMum

These replies mean so much to me. I'm at absolute breaking point but reassured I'm not completely alone. Honestly don't know how I'm going to cope until they're back at school. Just finished work and can't face going in the bathroom but know I'll have to face it soon. Just trying to stay calm.
What a nightmare! Is it worth checking if any local schools have availability for holiday clubs to keep the kids entertained rest of the holidays? Most of them are on around here for Easter holidays
SignMyStookie · 06/04/2021 18:32

Oh and joined the dots on my dalmatian with permanent marker.

thebear1 · 06/04/2021 18:32

Thankfully no damage but one that made me angry was 5 year old ds not wanting to leave the park so when he got in the car he very purposely opened the car door straight into the car parked next to us. I felt sick when looking for damage.

gallileofigaro · 06/04/2021 18:32

Slashed throat with a six inch knife and almost died from the attempt. ...you asked!

That was my first and honest response to your post title.

When I read your post though I have the utmost sympathy for you as I think it's impossible to work from home and parent children at the same time, something has to give as concentrating on both at once is difficult, if not impossible.

At least the DC have come to no harm and I think you've suitably punished them and hopefully they won't do it again.

Parenting is bloody hard, tell yourself you're doing your best xx

JackieTheFart · 06/04/2021 18:33

Oh @Burnt0utMum I proper feel for you!

Some stuff my kids have done:

  • when my twins were toddlers, they absolutely hated my book lights that I would buy to read with at night. I went through at least 8 of them, and then I bought a kindle with a lighted case (before the front lit kindle came out). I'd had it for a DAY before the little link things in the case were bent sidewards by a child, when I tried to bend them back they snapped off. £45 down the drain as I'd bought it second hand even though it was only a fiver cheaper!
  • my third son was OBSESSED with my make up as a toddler. If I didn't make sure to put everything away properly, he'd find some way to sneak in my room and put his fingers in my blushers and eyeshadows. Three Benefit blushers later Hmm we put bolts on the outside of all the doors, at the top so they couldn't reach! Grin

They do get better, I promise. This too shall pass Flowers