DD’s friends have absolutely destroyed my carpet.

[MyOwnBestFriend1989]

I don’t even know the point in posting this but DH is on a business trip and all my friends are probably watching the England match so have got no one to rant to.

my DD (12) had her friends over today and they went to B&M or wherever it was (honestly couldn’t care less at this point) and bought some of those stupid stress toys. They’re the ones filled with fluorescent, possibly radioactive, liquid and you squeeze them. when they came back they were instantly playing tug of war with them, jumping on them and just stretching them beyond their limits. I said, in no unclear terms, “if one of those pops and goes all over my carpet I’m going to hit the roof”. Obviously I got the whole “we’ll be careful!” reassurance, and please don’t ask me why I didn’t confiscate the toys off them because I honestly don’t know!

i was downstairs catching up on Eastenders and one of the girls comes down looking guilty and sheepish and disappears into the kitchen. She comes out clutching my Zoflora and I instantly ask her “what do you think you’re doing with that”, she claims the girls were “just making potions”. My response was “not with my Zoflora you’re not now what’s the real reason.” Cue her bursting into tears shouting “we didn’t mean to!”. My stomach dropped.

I’ve marched upstairs and there it is - a, what can only be described as marinated, ocean blue stain clearly smeared into my cream carpet. Not only that, there was also some scrunched up bits of toilet paper in it which had a faint blue tinge to it meaning they had obviously rubbed it in in an attempt to get it out.

i have to give myself credit for I didn’t scream or shout at the girls: I said “girls, you have half an hour to ring your parents and get them to collect you.” There were no arguments and rightly so.

it is now 11pm and I’m yet to receive an apology text from one of the parents - not that a “sorry” WhatsApp message will pay for my carpet to be professionally cleaned.

don’t know what the point is in posting this but just deflated to be honest. Unless of course anyone has any advice on how I can get this stain out or indeed on how to passive aggressively message the parents to imply that I do indeed want to be indemnified for a professional clean.

Sorry to hear that. Do the parents know? Did your DD take part or did she try to stop them?

You should have told them to play outside or taken the toys off them. They are children. You shouldn’t be expecting for the parents to pay for cleaning the carpet. You were there. It’s your responsibility.

You can't do that
claim on your house insurance
why on earth didn't you tell them to go outside to play?!

I don't think you can get the parents to pay for the clean, it was at your house and your daughter was involved too. You were in charge. It's just one of those things. I'm sorry about the carpet though.

None of that could have been avoided by their parents. It could have been avoided by you, your daughter, or the other girls. You most of all, as you're the adult and saw it coming.

Don't try to deflect blame.

You can’t expect them to pay. You should have told them they couldn’t play with them upstairs.

At 12 they should know better..

No more friends round.

Does dd get pocket money sje can contribute to getting a carpet cleaner in ? If nobody chips in they simply don't come back at all.
A bracelet once went missing from my dm when I had a party at around 14...changed my friendships for good tbh..

You definitely can’t expect their parents to pay. Maybe the kids haven’t even told their parents. Your daughter was involved too, you knew they were playing with the toys in a way that could break them and didn’t stop them. That’s not on the parents. I think you’ll have to claim on house insurance. Accidents happen. They are kids.

I said to the girls “you can explain to your parents why you have been told to leave”. Maybe I am relying too heavily on the girls’ honesty as I really don’t have the energy to argue with the parents tonight so I’ll tell them tomorrow

You were in charge and saw what might happen and let it continue. Happened on your watch. Sorry, but this is on you.

Your daughter was part of the problem

Why should the other parents pay? Your kid was involved too!

I hate to break it to you but you were the responsible adult that knew what they were doing and where, and didn't stop them or move them, why the hell should anyone else pay?

The children were at yours, playing with your DC, your responsibility. It's annoying but we've all been there. Don't message the parents and absolutely not in a passive aggressive way.

Try your home insurance. We had melted crayon on our carpet and they replaced it. We did have accidental damage cover though. If not do you have any carpet underneath furniture that a carpet fitter could cut out and swap with the damaged piece. You'd be amazed at how well a good fitter can join carpet.

Shame about your carpet but YABU to think this has anything to do with their parents. You were the supervising adult, and your DD was the organiser.

Cream carpet is the most impractical thing ever!

Yep, it's on you, as the adult and carpet owner. You should have made them go outside or taken the toys away.

obviously you’re upset, but your DD was presumably involved in this as much as the others and you were the adult in charge. You knew these toys were a potential problem and you didn’t put a stop to it. I’m afraid you made an expensive mistake, it’s not the fault of the other parents.

I can see you need to vent, but to be honest, you were the responsible adult and so this is down to you to pay for

I would have told them outside or taken them off them

Sorry about your carpet.

But you were the parent supervising the children. You knew there was a risk that one of these toys might burst but you let them go ahead and play with them in a room with a cream carpet.

I think the responsibility is yours - not the other parents‘.

Sorry, but I agree with this. You're clearly very stressed, but you were the adult in charge and instead of TAKING charge, you decided to threaten the children and allow them to crack on while you caught up on more important things.

This is why my toddler isn't allowed to play with play doh outside of the kitchen table under supervision. And I hide it when he's all done.

You were the adult in charge so this one is on you I’m afraid. Why would you expect the other parents to contact you and offer to pay?

Op I think
I’m on the opposite side of the fence than you, that girl cried, it’s coloured goop and it’s annoying and awful but not worth crying over or sending people home for.

It’s just a carpet. These things happen with children.

Have you tried just using some vanish carpet cleaner and a brush?

Carpets want shampooing occasionally so I don't think it's reasonable to charge the girls parent's, it's just regular maintenance