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

[Burnt0utMum]

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!

Every mealtime with my youngest as he has sensory issues and it's torture every single time.

God I’m so pleased to read this. I started typing a thread called “Is this the menopause or are my kids just twats?”

@notacooldad

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.

5 and 6 and they knew what they were doing?

Of course they knew what they were doing was wrong. They locked the door so they wouldn't be interrupted and they caused havoc. Young children do know things - they can walk, talk and go to school and they generally know when they are misbehaving.

There have been a few incidents over the years, but one stands out... I had a friend over with her two kids, same age as mine, 6 and 7. We were sitting outside enjoying the peace when I noticed my daughter chucking a bowl of water (why did I assume it was water?) out of my bedroom window onto the glass roof. I ran upstairs and told her off... they were all giggling and being a bit furtive but I just told them to keep out of my room and didn’t probe.
So later on, I notice the glass roof looks really mucky with great blobs of what I assume is bird poo. My husband gets home from work and leans out the window to clean it off as it looks awful. There’s a distinct odour of toothpaste... and something else.
Apparently the 4 kids had decided to conduct a science experiment. What happens when you mix wee from 4 different children together? And then add toothpaste? Let’s get a mixing bowl from the kitchen and find out! Interesting results... let’s chuck it over the roof! And slosh some over the edges, onto the carpet, on our way there. (Oh, Mum’s coming, better hide the bowl and it’s lovely dregs under the bed.... )
Suffice to say, my friends’ kids had never committed such an act in all their born days... though my kids still swear blind they weren’t the ringleaders!

@gallileofigaro

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

The must have been terrifying. I'm Very glad your LO is okay.

That doesnt sound normal behaviour at 5 and 6 tbh, that’s the kind of thing a toddler does. Do they do things like that a lot?

Youngest DS took his nappy off and threw his poop around.

Teen ds - took my credit card and bought stuff online. Bought a heap of shit on my Apple account once too.
Opened my brand new car into a tree.

Oh god, so much. Jumped out of a first floor window age 9 because we wouldn't let him walk to the shop on his own. Scaled the gates at primary school and ran away because he was punished for something another child did wrong. Ran away from home at night aged 10 - the police helicopter had to be sent out to search for him. Called Childline on me and told them I'd hit him with a plate (!) after an argument. The first I knew that he had called them was when the police turned up at our quiet cul de sac with blue lights flashing.

When I used to confiscate his things he didn't understand behaviour=consequence so he used to try to confiscate my stuff and would try to take my phone/laptop etc.

He has ADHD and thankfully he's mostly a lot calmer now but ages 9-11 were pure hell. Very nearly broke me.

Mine cost me £400 yesterday

Dd when she was about 2 locked me out of the house. I’d gone out to hang up the laundry in the garden, and without thinking lifted the handle up. Dd turned the key and would not turn it back for any amount of begging and bribing. I had to phone the fire brigade because I was in a terrace at the time and couldn’t get back round the front, and even if I could, the chain was on the front door. I can laugh now!

More recently while I was in the shower (single parent, so needs must!) Dd helpfully washed the tv with milk. It broke. It was annoying, but I didn’t screech, sat down and explained electronics can’t get wet, please don’t do it again. Dd of course nodding “yes mummy” etc.

2 weeks later did the exact same thing with the new tv. I did go completely mad over that one.

Thats awful. But who was looking after them, if you are working and husband is out?

Assuming you've missed the part where this is what most parents have been managing for the last year?!

@Getover2021 once the paint is dry it will gradually all flake out.

Back to the question- my DC are a bit older now and I've probably blocked past incidents from my mind for the sake of sanity but what breaks me now is the constant arguing. It starts from the second they open their eyes and is just so wearing. When I say older my youngest is just turned 8 so I'm not that out of touch and agree at 5 and 6 they absolutely knew what they're were doing albeit maybe hadn't considered the full consequences. I'd be making sure they played a big part in cleaning it up.

notacooldad

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.

5 and 6 and they knew what they were doing? shock

At that age they know that is wrong. That's why they locked the door and refused to open it.
If they were younger I would still be angry but blame myself for not knowing what they were up to ( although it is really almost impossible to work from home and look after toddlers)
5 and 6 year olds would know not too touch mum's things,let alone trash them.

Not nearly as bad as some on here, but....

I nipped out to see a local friend shortly after dh got home from work and told me he’d invited some couple I’d never met for a quick drink.

OK, sez I, I won’t be long.

But I was a bit longer than intended.

Got home to find this random couple comfortably installed with G&Ts, crisps, etc, dh ditto, all merrily chatting.

Meanwhile, a dd of just under 2 had taken her wee-sodden nappy off - in full view of dh and others - and had busily pulled the soaked filling to bits and spread the widdly bits all over the carpet. Was still at it, and dh was still chatting, apparently oblivious!

And the random couple were evidently pretending they hadn’t noticed!

Talk about cringe - they were lovely, though.

Yeah they definitely knew what they were doing. Apparently they were trying to "clean the bathroom" but clearly it got out of hand. I've removed their ipads and will only give them back when I feel it's been long enough. I left them with DH last night and went to bed early and watched a crap film to just decompress. Had the heating on all night and the ceiling seems better this morning thankfully. This is not a regular occurrence but I do think it's worse when they're together. When they're on their own they're perfect kids. They'll only be allowed upstairs one at a time from now on until I can be sure they'll behave. All these stories have cheered me up no end so thank you.

Locked us out of the house, panicked, lied and said she didn't have the keys. Then buried house keys in the back garden and denied all knowledge. Had to break back into our house and get all the locks changed. I dug them up a year later when gardening.

DD massaged my sourdough starter into our curly haired dog. It dried solid, and I had to shave the poor dog as it was during lockdown 1. Then she cried because I'd stopped her dog being fluffy, and called me horrible. My DH bought me my dog as a pup when we first moved here. It took everything I had no to scream at DD that she was ruining my joys in life.

Mine threw a new expensive digital camera in the bin because it was "broken" (out of charge). Sadly, the bin lorry had already been that week.

[quote user1473878824]@EarringsandLipstick Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I hope you really, really punished them for this because I can’t see a single funny bit about it.[/quote]
I didn't find it funny at all either, believe me! Because I know my kids, I knew they'd planned it out - that was the bit that upset me.

Others in the family thought it was funny, and if they'd just picked up the phone without thinking, then it might have been.

Also my mum was on edge already & she was very annoyed so it just added to the whole stress.

I'm not a great fan of meting out punishments for things like this - I mean there are consequences of course, but I spend more time explaining why it was unacceptable. They did get it & we're sorry.

They've done some other stuff of this ilk & it's always been the hardest thing, more than the destruction / fighting stuff, which happens plenty.

I never realised the emotional toll of parenthood; I expected that it would be physically draining. But the emotional toll...

(I will counter by saying they are usually kind, empathetic & emotionally aware to others!)

Oh god it happens op I have three one of mine has ADHD and the other is showing symptoms now of it too, they've flooded downstairs about 3 times now. Flushed whole toilet rolls down the loo and blocked the loo.
Painted my rug and carpet "by accident" broken of door handles and then got locked in the kitchen! Nearly put windows through the list is endless. Drew on walls when they've just been painted.
I can't think of any bad bad ones atm but there's a long list!
Oh and when I did have my tv stand my son drove into it and smashed it into a million pieces I have the photo somewhere. Standby.

Oh nooooo! My children with SEN do shit like this. Once my eldest threw all my cosmetics and jewellery out the upstairs window onto our front garden (which is on the street) including a very sentimental ring, which took hours to find. I was so upset.

@Foxglovesandlilacs

That doesnt sound normal behaviour at 5 and 6 tbh, that’s the kind of thing a toddler does. Do they do things like that a lot?

Oh for goodness sake 😡

It's normal. It's not good behaviour. OP will deal with it.

Stop being an arse.

I was still making mud pies and potions when I was well past 5-6. It's most definitely normal.

Tbf I did end up becoming a chemistry teacher so I say it was just me exploring my passion!

When they're on their own they're perfect kids.

I think this is true of every situation with siblings!

Glad you're feeling a bit better OP.

My youngest is now 9, so this is easier for me to say: 5 & 6 are still quite little. They absolutely knew what they were doing of course & it's wrong but I would keep the consequence proportionate but really talk to them about the impact on you.

Looking back, I've sometimes had expectations of my kids that were a bit beyond their years. I didn't see it at the time tho.

There've been a few things but one that mortified me was when my eldest was 2. We were in a restaurant and she had a major tantrum and was screaming so much that she puked all over the table and then head butted it and cut her lip a bit. She was smacking and kicking me and looked like she was possessed. It was awful.

There was vomit and blood on the table and people were just staring.

@PembrokeshireDreaming

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.

@PembrokeshireDreaming oh yeah, the shit smearing is the WORST! We still have this, soul destroying. My youngest once fished a poo out his nappy and then I realised what he was doing so started running towards him and he ran off with the poo and put it behind a radiator. Nightmare. I have so many poo stories.