to expect other peole and their children to treat my home with respect.

[Joash]

I am totally fed up of other peoples kids being pains in the bloody arse when they come to my house.
For example, in the past month, I have had a set of three siblings, and another pair of siblings, who, (no matter how much I tell them not to) use my sofa and footstool as a trampoline; constantly climb on and stand on the dining table; pull books off the bookshelves and either rip the pages or throw them around, twist around in the curtains until them pull the poles down; pull the hold-back thingymabobs out of the wall,throw CD's around; empty the cupboards onto the floor, deliberately break GS's toys (to the point that when he knows they are coming, he takes all his stuff upstairs); shove enough loo roll down the toilet to repeatedly block it, or just unroll complete rolls and leave it all over the bathroom, will not keep out of my desk or filing cabinet drawers, etc etc.
These are not babies or toddlers - they are all between 5 and 8 years old. It's getting to the point where I am seriously considering telling their parents to stop bringing them around.
Tried talking to one the mums about the sofa-trampoline thing one of them answered "well, thats the advantage of paying so much for it - at least its guaranteed for another few year yet" IT'S NOT F*CKING GUARANTEED AGAINST BRATS JUMPING UP AND DOWN ON IT!!!!!!!!
I just want them to have some respect for my things.

You are a saint Joash.I have friends with children who behave badly,but they do not do it in my house.I have no qualms in saying what is or isn't allowed & so far,it has worked.However,when I've been out on day trips with them,it has been truely hideous,children jumping on furniture,climbing on tables,racing around restaurants screaming,scaring animals,breaking toys.I have never seen anything like it.When their mothers whimper ineffectually 'oh x,don't do that' or deny them anything,the little so & so's scream & yell at them & even hit them.

After one episode with a friends child last week,DD1 said in an amazed voice 'X doesn't do THAT at school!'The dd's have already started avoiding one child who is verey boisterous & has broken their toys before.

Anyway,your house,your rules.Don't let them get away with it.

Are these children left on their own for a long period of time without adult supervison?

Sounds to me like you should have stopped this a long time ago. I would have laid the ground rules after the very first breakage. "Sorry, but you don't behave like that in my house. You either calm down, or go home." Don't see how the parents can object to this, if they're into self-expression.

clam - perhaps I readit wrong, but your post seems patronising. The point is that I have attempted to put a stop to this from day one, they do not care, are not interested and that goes for their mums too.

FuriousGeorge I to have no problem saying what dos or does not happen, my point is that nothign works, I have gone from stagint the 'rules' calmly - to ranting like a mad woman. Nothing works - looks like it's going to be a complete ban. And the mothers to these five don't even see that it is a problem, so they don't even bother telling their brats to behave.

Araldia - I like the idea of the sign lol

I'm sorry Joash. Didn't mean to be patronising. But I'm truly baffled as to how the list of appalling behaviour can have got so long without you going mad. And if you have told them, then how on EARTH can their mothers still condone what they're doing? I suppose it begs the question: how much are they respecting/valuing you as a friend if they think this is OK in your house when you have clearly stated you're unhappy about it? Time to ditch them?

Joasah.I've read the rest of the posts now & see what you are saying.You have to wonder what goes through the heads (or doesn't) of their parents,don't you?Hard as it may be,I think a ban is spot on.You shouldn't have to tolerate this destruction,especially in your own home.Plus,it can't be a good influence on your GDS.

Best of luck!