DS and his GF set off the fire alarm at 2 in the morning

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I’m beyond raging but I have no idea if it’s rational. DS claims they were melting chocolate in the microwave to have with some marshmallows and that it hadn’t been in for long when the smoke started coming out. It was 2am, now my 2 year old and 4 year old are both wide awake, my 13 year old was panicking and my 15 year old was woke up as well. They did handle it and open the windows, took me telling them to grab the broom to get the alarm in both the kitchen and hallway off though, as they were trying to do it on the step ladder but our ceilings are high. To make matters worse neither of them were completely dressed, his gf was in what I can only describe as lingerie and DS in his boxers so my teenage sons were also faced with that!

AIBU to be beyond raging and give them both an earful tomorrow? They are 24 and 23, she has her own place so I’m not even sure why they are staying here!!

I find this quite sad, you have five kids so are clearly overextended and then don’t have the patience to deal with normal situations. It is such an OTT reaction for something simple. I would expect a mother of five to be well used to deal with the unexpected without flying into a rage. Also what is the problem with your son being in boxers and the girlfriend in nightwear? What is so bizarre about this that you had to mention it twice?

All I can think of is how cold they would have been scantily clad at that time of night in my house!
I’d have been cross too.
Glad you can see the funny side this morning.

How is it a normal situation, exactly?

I have a very ear splitting fire alarm as well.

very sensitive as well unfortunately. My DD is in the habit of taking showers at 2am and the steam often sets it off.

she apologises.

It is a normal house hold occurrence and easily done. Happens daily in thousands of house holds during all hours. People don’t just use the kitchen during the day, plenty of people have a more nocturnal life style.

They're not dependent teens, they're 23 and 24.

I'd be annoyed and grumpy, but we've all made mistakes so think you're overreacting a bit.

Your DS sounds amazing (in terms of getting everyone ready so you can have a lie in). You obviously did some great parenting with him!

Raging is over the top op. It was an accident.

Young people do stupid things. More news at 11.

Our interlinked ones (a requirement in Scotland) are piercingly loud when they start, that would definitely wake us up too, rightly so.

You’ve got a good son there! If daft on occasion as we all can be.

Always good to have your fire alarm tested as well 🤣. Maybe suggest next time that 2pm might be a better time to do so though.

Well, at least you have working smoke alarms! Imagine if that had been a real fire and you were all tucked up asleep in bed…………they made a stupid mistake, no one died.

I think anyone woken up by an alarm to find it was set off by someone making chocolate would be raging for a couple of seconds because the adrenaline would be pumping.
Glad it wasn’t an emergency and that they’re trying to make up for it today. Maybe a lesson in melting chocolate in a bowl over hot water might be in order!

Missing the point of the whole thread but 23, 15,13, 4 and 2…what possessed you to start all over again when your youngest was 9!? YABU 😂😂

It’s perfectly normal to be raging when woken from deep sleep by the prospect of a fire.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The noise, the fear of a fire, then dealing with scared children as well- what an adrenaline surge, over a marshmallow!

I bet they’ll be very careful about late night snacks in future, it probably scared the pants off them, too!

And the oldest, 20! Bet it keep her young, though!

The OP said they were 24 and 23....what on earth are you talking about?! 🙄

Gosh good question! I was 40 and broody and thought another wouldn’t hurt! Then I remembered how much easier I found having 2 close in age so thought one more at 42! wouldn’t trade any of them for the world but having had a baby in my 20s, 30s and 40s I can confirm no age is best, they are all difficult and you’ll never time it perfectly!

I am slightly hopeful my broodiness that seems to appear every decade will be met with a grandchild and not a baby in my 50s though! Then again DS did manage to burn chocolate so maybe they should wait a while before jumping into parenthood!

I'd definitely tell them to stay in the bedroom, no noise after 10/11pm (whatever passes as overall bedtime in your house). Otherwise they need to go to her place.

Waking up a whole family including younger children is 100% not on at that time of night. Let alone the neighbours!

They're bloody adults, not irresponsible teens. I would also be raging at having to settle down a whole household at that time of the morning due to such childish behaviour.

I’m glad you found your sense of humour OP. Not surprised it was hard to locate at 2am!!!

You are incredible and sound like a really lovely mum
burnt chocolate stinks 😷

All credit to you! I couldn’t do it. I’ve just hit 40 and my youngest is 10. I’m definitely done 😂

Glad you're feeling more rational this morning OP.... at least now you know your alarms work though! Every cloud 😃

I think the pp who are saying they wouldn't have been annoyed at having the whole household, including small children, awaken in the middle of the night are being disingenuous.

I think OP's reaction at the time was quite normal.