Friends Kids Ruined couch and cushions

[CatherineJHealy]

My friend came over the other day with their child (as they wanted to leave their place for a while due to estate agents coming over). It was all fine, but the child dropped food all over my white rug. (I said we should eat in the kitchen/dining area - but the child shouted at his father that he wanted to eat on the couch in my living room!) Dropping the food over the white rug wasn’t really a problem as it wasn’t ‘wet’ food. The parents then gave him an Easter egg that they pulled out from their bag. The child had it in his hands and was almost sucking on it etc… basically the chocolate had melted down/all over his hands. He then wiped his hands over my couch and on my suede cushions. I’ve not been able to remove the stains. At the time I used tissues - handed them to the parents and child - and in fairness; they told their child to use the tissues whilst he was eating food - but obviously it didn’t work. Am I being precious?! The suede cushion is ruined and the chocolate is now ‘embedded’ into the couch. I’ve tried to clean twice now and the fibres of the couch are coming loose. I don’t want to keep hacking away at it. Do I say anything to the parents or just leave it? Please don’t be cruel - just genuinely annoyed - but know it’s not the end of the world. Thing is; they are good friends so I don’t want to fall out with them.

@BoomBoomsCousin - ‘bright’ ‘airy’ ‘relaxing’ - except when chocolate is involved!! All I’m saying is there is some sort of civilised, designer chic that we all strive for - but why??

[quote Cogfarm]@BoomBoomsCousin - ‘bright’ ‘airy’ ‘relaxing’ - except when chocolate is involved!! All I’m saying is there is some sort of civilised, designer chic that we all strive for - but why??[/quote]
Some people just like white. It doesn't mean its "designer chic" or anything! Its quite a common colour choice. But sofas and rugs cost money, whatever colour they are.

I don't think the OP has children, so why you think she should decorate her home with dark coloured furnishings and toys for children she doesn't have, just in case they eat an easter egg and make a mess, is slightly baffling.

When you say ‘relaxing’ I actually think a white sofa would make me incredibly stressed.

@GreenlandTheMovie - it’s more a different of attitude I guess. If I took my children around to any house with a white sofa - I wouldn’t allow them anywhere near it - but I would be completely on edge. I’d be watching them like a hawk, and unable to engage in conversation. However, if I go to a house that looks more like a soft play - I immediately think ‘phew’ and am more likely to befriend that person.

But - I’ve also got an opinion that childhood is such an important stage. I’d much rather engage in ‘childish’ behaviour - than ‘adultish’ behaviour?

@Cogfarm, OP obviously likes the sofa, whether or not it would stress you out is immaterial, unless you are that parent who would hand a child a chocolate egg to eat while sitting on it.

So to me - a white sofa v’s a play tunnel with ball pit set up in the lounge with climbing and a chocolate treat - I’d go for the latter every time...

@KirstenBlest no - I’d fully keep well away from her sofa, as far away as possible.

Man alive, Cogfarm.

The OP has a white sofa because that's what she likes. For her it is practical, and suits her lifestyle. A lifestyle that does not generally include chocolate-coated children.

If your lifestyle does, then a more wipe-clean solution is obviously preferable. But this thread is about her house, not yours, and how to deal with rude and inconsiderate guests that seem to have little respect for her house and are too wet to either sort out their child or apologise for the damage.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

Don't be so ridiculous the parents should be the ones being firm ffs. It's their child!

Congratulations on completely misinterpretating my post . I meant what did the op want the parents to do post-fact. Of course the parents shouldn't have let it happen in the first place, no ones disputing this. It was still the responsibility for the OP, when seeing a child being given chocolate in their living room to be firm about her house rules. If the parents had given the child a bright red marker pen, I'm sure she would have been quicker to say no....

@herbaceous sorry!!! I do get it. I do accept that I’m weird. But I just think children are more important than white sofas. White sofas are a fashion choice which will change in 10 years time. The fashion might be to live in a way that accommodates children better - in ten years time. I completely agree that her guests should have respected her furnishings. Completely. But what I’m against is - white sofas.

No wonder they wanted to be out of the way when the EA are around.

Kids will only do as much as they are allowed to get away with, so I would definitely hold your "friends" directly responsible, especially as they were literally sitting next to him while he did it.

If they are as good friends as you say then surely you can say "I am quite pissed off that you were sitting next to him and let this happen. I am going to have it professionally cleaned" . I know that I can be this upfront with my friends and them with me. This is their cue to apologise profusely and offer to pay.

If they dont then they are not the friends you thought they were.

@CatherineJHealy, CogFarm has the answer. Bin the sofa and get a play tunnel with ball pit set up in the lounge with climbing and a chocolate treat.

Or at least - I’d put children as a priority above white sofas.

@Cogfarm

I dunno. I don’t quite understand what cream suede sofas and white rugs are ‘for’. Who are they for? What are they for? To impress others, to be fashionable? How do they make a nice home when you constantly have to worry about their cleanliness? To me - a lounge full of mess, toys - where children can learn is more functional?? So long as it’s clean. My DD loves drawing and has displayed all her pictures (with blue tac!!) above the sofa. But this is really meaningful for her - and to me, this is more important than a spotless lounge wall.

Well good for you. My lounge is also 'child friendly' and my sofas need replacing becauseof it. I'd love the type of lounge the op has, and I'd bloody make sure if I visited my children would leave it as they saw it. Actually, I'd expect my children to keep themselves civilised even in a house that looked like it belonged to Pat Sharpe.

However, not all parents think like this (evidently), that's why people like the op have to be hyper vigilant with sticky-fingered children. Just because parents don't care for a spotless lounge, doesn't mean others aren't entitled to have one.

I'd be furious but you should've been firmer. The parents should've been more careful too.

@KirstenBlest yes!! I love you!! We should all do this!! And OP needs to get herself crawling through the ball tunnel on a daily basis, install a slide in the lounge. This is so much more fun than a white sofa! And every surface wipeable. She’ll have more friends than she can cope with!

I wouldn't behave like this with my children at a friend's house but then I have standards.

They are foul, fancy treating your home like this. You suggested using the table they ignored you... some people have no standards.

Don't let them into your home again since they are unable to behave

OP invited the family and suggested they eat in a child friendly area of her home.
Child demands they eat else where and ruins furnishings.

Parents are wet lettuces.

@BrumBoo - yes I have said several times how jealous I am of a pristine, virginal, pure white sofa enshrined in a halo of light. And that I’d keep my children at the furthest point away possible.

@Cogfarm

When you say ‘relaxing’ I actually think a white sofa would make me incredibly stressed.

It's not your home though is it. It is basic manners to not allow chocolate covered fingers to be smeared over a house you are visiting....surely you realise that

@randomer

OP invited the family and suggested they eat in a child friendly area of her home. Child demands they eat else where and ruins furnishings.

Parents are wet lettuces.

Indeed the parents are wet lettuces .... there are many wet lettuces around when it comes to behaviour

@SpringTimeDream - but I’m saying the parents shouldn’t have let their children near the sofa?? They should have been strapped in a high chair. I’m just saying why I don’t like white sofas.

Wet lettuces and Selective blindness/deafness........

Here we go with the insults now.

Or rather - expressing my jealousy of white sofas.