Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

129 replies

Clipclack · 05/12/2025 02:54

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!!

OP posts:
Motnight · 05/12/2025 07:22

Pandorea · 05/12/2025 06:48

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!

I agree with this!

theonlyonestillawake · 05/12/2025 07:31

I think they sound lovely! Totally normal to feel irrational rage at the time of chaos, but now it's over they have immediately realised they fucked up and made up for it. Bravo on bringing up a lovely lad!

Tryingatleast · 05/12/2025 07:32

Op From here on in this has to be known as ‘Mallowgate’ in your house 😉

Staybymw · 05/12/2025 07:35

Wrong thread

Barney16 · 05/12/2025 07:35

On the plus side you now know that no one is going to be hurt in a fire because you have an incredibly effective smoke alarm. You sound lovely and so do DS and his gf.

Holluschickie · 05/12/2025 07:38

Once more I am glad- yes smug even- that I don't allow my young adult children to have partners stay the night.
That said, if I did, I would be muttering a bit but not raging.

Iwiicit · 05/12/2025 07:39

Ha ha, this made me laugh to be honest. It's happened in my house - two nights in a row. The offenders were my two sons who were burning toast after returning, slightly tipsy, from the pub. They were mortified and very apologetic too.
On the plus side, I did discover that my smoke alarms are terrifyingly loud and extremely effective!

hididdlyho · 05/12/2025 07:43

I bet they won't make that mistake again! I'd definitely be annoyed at the time, but they sound sweet to offer to sort the kids and buy a new microwave. I don't think I could stay mad at them for long.

coolcahuna · 05/12/2025 07:43

They both sound like good eggs making amends this morning. He defo needs to make you breakfast in bed as well :-)

RampantIvy · 05/12/2025 07:45

Mumdiva99 · 05/12/2025 05:41

I can't believe the kids all woke to the alarm (not that indisbelieve you I am just suprised). My kids sleep through - there is evidence that the sounds don't register to them. I want your alarm because i worry in a fire they won't be alerted.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/49648867 mine are teenagers and silly didn't get woken a few months ago when ours went off.

Our fire alarms are loud enough to wake the dead. They are designed to be very loud.

Being woken up in the middle of the night like this would enrage me TBH, especially with such a huge family to placate.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 05/12/2025 07:45

Wellstonethecrows · 05/12/2025 07:19

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.

Of course they are, but it's MN.
OPs son could have burnt the house into a pile of ash (with them not in it, obviously) and some people would still claim that they'd see it as a good thing because they don't like their house that much anyway.

I also think the OPs reaction at 2am was completely normal. My neighbours car alarm sometimes has a spell of going off randomly in the early hours and the rage is real.

moredoing · 05/12/2025 07:47

Nope one time offence. Have a laugh about it. Next time there should be an earful and a kitchen ban

Bungle2168 · 05/12/2025 07:53

Does one not usually melt chocolate in a saucepan with a dash of water…?

Owly11 · 05/12/2025 07:53

CheeseIsMyIdol · 05/12/2025 03:46

I wouldn’t be allowing dependent teens to have lovers overnight to begin with.

You’re in charge. New rule: kitchen not to be used after 11pm or before 6am.

I agree with this. Using the kitchen at night is too disruptive and noisy with or without smoke alarms going off.

Bloozie · 05/12/2025 07:55

Fire alarms ARE ear splitting and scary but it was an accident. I'd be pissed off, but amusedly, not beyond raging. It's just one of those things. And good that your fire alarm works.

Bruisername · 05/12/2025 08:02

Your poor neighbours too!!

DS set the alarm off at 2am one night trying meat of some sort. It does get the adrenaline going and I was livid once the initial ‘action stations’ attitude wore off. We laughed about it the next day though

rwalker · 05/12/2025 08:02

Whilst it’s obviously never great been woken up

but was all the drama really necessary they had an accident ( I’ve only had a microwave smoke once because it was faulty nothing to do with what was in it or who was using it)

BunnyLake · 05/12/2025 08:05

At least you know your alarm works. My alarm was going off at random times when nothing was wrong (and didn’t need new batteries).

I don’t think there is anything wrong though in saying no forms of cooking during the night, have a sandwich if you're hungry.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 05/12/2025 08:05

In the heat of the moment, of course you were raging. Anyone would be, especially when you have really young children to settle down again.

I’m glad you’re feeling better, now.

Leopardsandcheetahsarefast · 05/12/2025 08:07

CheeseIsMyIdol · 05/12/2025 03:46

I wouldn’t be allowing dependent teens to have lovers overnight to begin with.

You’re in charge. New rule: kitchen not to be used after 11pm or before 6am.

Just say dressing gowns to be worn if not fully dressed and
kitchen and showers / baths out of bounds 10pm to 6 am.

Go easy but you are on being cross - they probably freaked themselves out and everyone else.

DuchessDandelion · 05/12/2025 08:11

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 05/12/2025 05:39

It’s just a mistake? Do you often find it hard to get over things like this? Seems a massive overreaction

Oh give over. Over tired with children ' including a tot - women due to an alarm in the middle if the night, her reaction was entirely normal. She said she couldn't think straight due to exhaustion and the disorientation.

Alwaystired23 · 05/12/2025 08:18

Bungle2168 · 05/12/2025 07:53

Does one not usually melt chocolate in a saucepan with a dash of water…?

Yes, but you can also melt in the microwave. You need to do it in 30 seconds intervals, take out every 30 seconds and stir and back in for another 30. I did it last week. It doesn't take long at all. You just need to be really careful to not over do it. Or you burn it and the fire alarms will go off!

Katemax82 · 05/12/2025 08:31

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 05/12/2025 05:39

It’s just a mistake? Do you often find it hard to get over things like this? Seems a massive overreaction

I'd be raging in the moment too

Crinkle77 · 05/12/2025 08:32

Going against the concensus here but they shouldn't be faffing around at 2am making chocolate and marshmallows. It's not necessary. It's different if they are thirsty and need a drink or got in from a night shift but otherwise it's unacceptable and selfish to potentially wake up the rest of the house.

Nevernonono · 05/12/2025 08:37

Crinkle77 · 05/12/2025 08:32

Going against the concensus here but they shouldn't be faffing around at 2am making chocolate and marshmallows. It's not necessary. It's different if they are thirsty and need a drink or got in from a night shift but otherwise it's unacceptable and selfish to potentially wake up the rest of the house.

It’s not really a big crime is it?

You know, young people having chocolate and marshmallows?

Lots of things aren’t necessary, but still enjoyable.

Don’t be a fun sponge.