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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:
Boomer55 · 05/12/2025 08:43

I’d have probably done my nut, at the chaos, at the time, but laughed about it pretty quick.

We all do daft things at times. 🤷‍♀️

Your lad and his GF sound a lovely couple 👍

MyrtleLion · 05/12/2025 08:54

Clipclack · 05/12/2025 05:39

Great idea!
Nothing like a crying toddler and a 2am wake up to get your blood boiling! I feel bad for being so angry at the time but gosh fire alarms really are an ear-splitting sound, I couldn’t think straight for it and coming down the stairs to see DS on a step ladder in his boxers trying to reach the alarm was not what I expected!

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Good to know you could get out in a fire.

dailyconniptions · 05/12/2025 08:57

Pippa12 · 05/12/2025 04:44

Being woke in the night evokes irrational rage! None of this was intentional- midnight snack gone wrong. Go back to bed. You’ll of calmed down by tomorrow and be laughing about it by Xmas!

You'll have.

Crazybigtoe · 05/12/2025 09:03

Clipclack · 05/12/2025 05:33

I’m feeling better this morning as DS has told me to stay in bed and he will get the children ready for school and nursery as I work from home on Fridays and he feels bad.
His girlfriend has also apparently ordered us a new microwave “incase they broke it”.

You have a wonderful son there and his girlfriend sounds great too.

It can be stressful when woken at night, but it was a mistake- which you know.

On another positive side, the fire alarm did it's job and work. And did wake up the whole house. Think if it as a fire drill...

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 05/12/2025 09:06

I thought you were going to say they were smoking weed....

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 05/12/2025 09:08

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.

You need a new alarm, I reckon. Ours is also ear-splitting.

ComfortFoodCafe · 05/12/2025 09:08

I would ban them from the kitchen between 12-6am. Grin

Good of your son to help you this morning though! You’ve raised him right, just needs to work on his cooking skills lol.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 05/12/2025 09:09

dailyconniptions · 05/12/2025 08:57

You'll have.

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It's very rude to correct another adult's grammar unless you're their teacher or their employer.

IWFH · 05/12/2025 09:12

Why does this sound like the plot of a bad 1980s sitcom episode?

SparkleSpriteDust · 05/12/2025 09:12

My young adult sons and their friends and girlfriends (often in little attire) cooking late at night has always been quite a regular occurrence at my place because they all have pub and hospitality jobs and finish work late.

I would have laughed and asked them where my hot chocolate was.

But appreciate it's not ideal when you also have little ones in the house.

SparkleSpriteDust · 05/12/2025 09:13

Clipclack · 05/12/2025 05:33

I’m feeling better this morning as DS has told me to stay in bed and he will get the children ready for school and nursery as I work from home on Fridays and he feels bad.
His girlfriend has also apparently ordered us a new microwave “incase they broke it”.

They are a credit to you, OP!

user1471538283 · 05/12/2025 09:15

It's the adrenaline that got you and I understand it. It was a mistake and he sounds like a sweetheart.

In our apartment neighbours were setting off fireworks in the street at midnight right by our bedroom windows on the ground floor. They were lucky my bf didn't kill them.

GAJLY · 05/12/2025 09:19

ArtichokeSurprise · 05/12/2025 03:16

Young adults dressed for bed have a late-night snack and accidentally set off the smoke alarm. Fair enough to be annoyed, but unless it's a regular thing, YABU to be beyond raging.

Agreed 👆 I'd class it as annoying but not a big deal. Unless it happened regularly!

LBFseBrom · 05/12/2025 09:26

Get over it, nobody died.

Cucy · 05/12/2025 09:29

I hate being woken up so I would have been grumpy too.
Its also the panic of worrying that the house was on fire that made you so much more heightened.

It was a genuine mistake and they would have been mortified.
They have apologised and I would apologise for my overreaction.

They will definitely have learnt their lesson!

Needingtoanewjob · 05/12/2025 09:30

They all need the broom handle lesson though!

zingally · 05/12/2025 09:39

"Beyond raging" is a bit OTT... These things happen.

Bookpage · 05/12/2025 09:43

As a one off I think it's a mistake from people in the learning phase of life. Disturbed sleep doesn't bring out the best in us, but I do think you've over reacted, and it sounds like they've handled it well now.

researchers3 · 05/12/2025 09:49

Lostsadandconfused · 05/12/2025 04:38

I don’t think the melted chocolate was intended for marshmallows.

But yes, tell them to keep the sex games for her place.

Also what i was thinking!

RB68 · 05/12/2025 09:52

Sounds like it also wasn't exactly their fault if MW faulty - it happens so nothing to give them an earful about. Good Fire test to be honest - at least everyone woke up and went running

Grammarnut · 05/12/2025 09:53

Clipclack · 05/12/2025 03:47

He is 24 not a dependent teen, he does pay rent and he’s been with his girlfriend for 3 years.

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Why were they doing a daft thing like melting chocolate in the microwave? Late night snack? That's a cheese sandwich. Is the microwave ok?

MyOliveCrow · 05/12/2025 09:54

Frustrating yes but its a one off, accidents happen. Not worth being furious over.

Mischance · 05/12/2025 09:56

Mishaps happen - I am sure you have had a few of your own. You are over-reacting!

KetchUpWithEverythingPls · 05/12/2025 09:57

ArtichokeSurprise · 05/12/2025 03:16

Young adults dressed for bed have a late-night snack and accidentally set off the smoke alarm. Fair enough to be annoyed, but unless it's a regular thing, YABU to be beyond raging.

I never understand why people simplify things so much. There is so much more to the situation than "2 young adults having a snack and setting off the fire alarm" ffs

2 selfish adults in a house full of sleeping children, putting them at risk by using a microwave they obviously are incapable of using. Then waking up a whole family with their stupid actions and the real adult then having to cope with the situation and calm everyone down. The OP and children then having to try and sleep and having to get up in a few hours to cope with the day.

I would be raging too. Idiotic behaviour

noidea69 · 05/12/2025 10:02

No one should be up doing anything at 2am whilst the kids are asleep in bed.

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