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.

You were the adult in charge
You actually foresaw the risk and chose to do nothing about it

The parents knew nothing about the B&M purchases or how this toys were being misused, you did

Sorry your carpet is damaged, but it is 100% on you. Hopefully a professional clean on your insurance will sort it out.

Don’t embarrass yourself contacting the parents. Be honest your frustration is with yourself for not taking action earlier, we are all human, it’s done now.

There are so many things wrong with this take.

You are the parent in charge. It’s your responsibility.

You weren’t supervising them.

You threatened that you would hit the roof if there were any accidents. What is the point of this from a parenting perspective?

You are blaming everyone and taking zero accountability. If you texted me as one of the other parents I would laugh.

I don’t fancy your chances much at getting any of the parents to pay anything. Your daughter was amongst them, doing exactly the same as their daughters were. More importantly, you saw what they were doing, you knew what was likely to happen, you know children are generally stupid and you didn’t stop them.

I completely understand why you’re so angry. I’d be the same. I think part of that anger is probably knowing that you could and should have stopped them, but didn’t. I think your best option is if you have accidental damage on your home insurance. If you don’t, ask them if any of them own a carpet cleaner you can borrow and hope their consciences kick in.

But youre the adult.. you dont suggest, you can tell

Really feel for you OP but I don’t think you can expect other parents to pay. You were there and knew the risk of them playing this way and didn’t put a stop to it. It was an accident although a very frustrating one!

I wouldn't have told my mum at that age what had happened! I think they've probably made some excuse and the parents didnt think twice about it.

Before you get a professional round can you borrow a mates spot cleaner to see if that shifts it? My VAX platinum thingy was £120 and its amazing, you'd pay at least £80 for a professional one off clean.

You need to deal with your grumpy demeanour. Everything you describe PRIOR to the incident reminds me of an old school nanny.

If you dont want accidents on cream carpets, be the adult and manage that risk. Send the children outside when playing with things that might stain your carpet.

If you want somebody to pay - that would be your DD. But she is a child and probably doesn't have a job...

Really? Mine youngest twins are now 14 but at 12 they would have walked to the shop (supermarket 5 minutes with light controlled crossing) with friends to buy sweets etc

This, I suppose.
These things do happen when you've got kids, even really good kids.
Cream carpet. It's a risk you take.

This. We've all heard terrible stories about them popping and causing an awful mess. I've also read stories about the stuff inside causing burns to children's skin but I don't know how true that one is.

You shouldn't of let them play with them in the house. It was an accident waiting to happen.

YABVU - accidents happen and you weren’t supervising them

suck it up

OP, carpet cleaner here. Get some of this...Stain remover it's really good at sticky stuff. Try not to let it fully dry in the meantime.

Also you need to accept that kids are not adults and they do stupid things. You saw the issue with their behaviour and you didn't deal with it, the consequences are yours to own too.

It's not a disaster, it's a mistake.

Your post title says DD's friends have destroyed my carpet. What about your DD? You seem to have completely overlooked that she was there too. You saw the risk but let them continue.

You need to arrange and pay for a carpet cleaner. Hopefully the mark will come out.

should have taken them off of them or made them play outside. IMO it’s partially your fault.

If it happened in your house while you were supposed to be supervising all those girls, all the cleaning and expenses are on you.
You are lucky that one of the children you were meant to supervise at your home did not end up in a hospital after ingesting or getting burned by touching the liquid- as you would be responsible.
Don’t expect other parents to pay for your carpet.

We have accidental damage on our house insurance so I’d try carpet shampoo then claim if unsuccessful. You were the parent in charge and your daughter allowed the play to continue so the friends are not at fault imo.

What happens in winter, when it’s muddy and wet, to the hall carpet? Swap it for more suitable floor covering!

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.

You give yourself credit for not screaming or shouting at your 12YOs and her friends. Am I the only one who finds this statement bizarre?

supermarket 5 mins walk away for sweets would be ok here

our b&m is in town, and hell no would I let 12 year old (she's older now) go into town with her mates unattended. so many creeps and all it takes is one. I may live in a skanky area!

I doubt that the girls told their parents exactly what happened - it would be easy enough to play it off as your daughter being ill, some family issue coming up, etc. Some parents won't even ask. If you want something from the parents you'll likely have to explain the situation from scratch.

You'd be best off focusing on the carpet for now; if the stain is removable it'll be a lot easier before it's fully dried and bonded. The filler in these toys can vary - do you still have the packaging or can you find out the exact brand and type? Composition of the carpet makes a difference too. Repeated blotting and oxy cleaner (or diluted peroxide, but test that it doesn't strip the base colour of the carpet) may be your best bet but if the liquid is oily you may need something additional like soap or dish liquid.

You were the adult in charge and this was obviously an accident.

I think you've been overly harsh really.

Though I fail to understand how anyone has cream carpets and expects them to stay pristine.

You should have insisted they took the toys outside.

Gobsmacked at the replies here blaming you op!! They are 12 not three, confiscate their toys? What?!! 12 is far old enough to know better, it’s secondary school age!!
also you can have a cream carpet in your house, they should have more bloody repeat. I’d be furious too. Hope you manage to get it cleaned

You sound like you’ve taken a really bad mood out in a group of children. You were supervising, you could see what was going to happen and just waited for the inevitable rather than being an adult.

your attitude tonight is going to cause issues for your daughter and her friendships.

Yep!! Totally on you. You knew what might happen and didnt stop it. If I was one of the other parents I would tell you to naff off

I think because you've let them go spend money on their own in b&m on whatever, you've got it in your head they are responsible and capable.

But they are 12

You should have taken them away or insisted they go outside

Chalk it up to experience.

Your OP makes you sound really unfriendly - I'll hit the roof/where do you think you're going with that - loosen up a bit?