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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect after days of work and stacks of money my toddlers wouldn't trash their room?

109 replies

ItsAllTooMuch · 03/12/2008 21:10

I've cried about it. It doesn't help.

We spent ages decorating, got new furniture and toys.

Every day bits of the wall are chipped off, they somehow smuggle crayons in there, so the walls are covered in scribbles. Their beds end up in the middle of the room with the bed linen thrown off, drawers are emptied.

I'm sick of it.

OP posts:
georgimama · 03/12/2008 22:22

I think you should go and have a little lie down and stop taking out your angst about your lack of control over your children on perfectly innocuous posters who were actually trying to help.

And, just a suggestion, but getting potty mouthed with everyone who dares to suggest that if a 2 year old and a 3 year old misbehave it might be your fault, is indictadive of how you ended up in this predicament.

AmIWhatAndWhy · 03/12/2008 22:22

we don't have an upstairs (poor us)

the crayons/paints etc are always kept on a high shelf when not being used. Somehow they get them in (DD who is NT is the worst culprit, I forever find crayon stubs in her nappy or pocket so DS's problems are not really relevant)

Umlellala · 03/12/2008 22:24

Ok, what do you think you need to do?

AmIWhatAndWhy · 03/12/2008 22:25

georgimama

please read this, then have a good lie down yourself.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/657683-I-39-ve-cried-gotten-angry-and-now-I-39

Oh or maybe you would just agree?

juuule · 03/12/2008 22:25

I think you need to watch them more closely then,if they "somehow" manage to get the crayons. What if they "somehow" managed to get in the medicine cupboard, knife drawer etc?

Keep a limited number of crayons. Supervise their use and lock them away at other times.

I'm still puzzled as to how they are moving their beds....and without anyone noticing.

pushchair · 03/12/2008 22:27

I agree it is very frustrating and realising it your own fault for having crayons in the house just makes me feel even more miserable. Day after day tidying. But it is true that is what they do and will for some years to come.
Hopefully energy will return to manage the situation again.

AmIWhatAndWhy · 03/12/2008 22:28

They have toddler beds, on a smooth wooden floor, it's very easy to move them.

This is how they ripped down the posters, maps etc and tore them to bits. It doesn't take long.

georgimama · 03/12/2008 22:29

No, I won't read it. If that thread concerns you and it is relevant to your OP I would suggest in future you include any relevant details in this OP rather than referring people to other threads.

If you've got PND you've probably got better things to worry about than the interior design. Your OP was all about how soul destroying it was that your toddlers had wrecked your carefully decorated bedroom for them. Annoying for you, but hardly a crisis and pretty standard AIBU responses to the OP you posted.

Now you are making out you actually have massive problems and we are supposed to know this by a process of telepathy and are total bitches for not knowing that another thread, under another name change, is also you.

Self obsessed much?

morningpaper · 03/12/2008 22:31

I don't understand why you thought decorating would make any difference?

De-clutter massively - remove all toys and crap from their room? Or put in a lockable wardrobe/cupboard (tie to the wall!)

Get up and tell 'em off when you hear them getting up/moving beds?

georgimama · 03/12/2008 22:31

And you said your child AS had nothing to do with the decor problem, so not sure why you are directing me to that thread as evidence of your terrible lot in life.

morningpaper · 03/12/2008 22:31

Or buy them proper beds (or get off ebay) so they can't move them?

AmIWhatAndWhy · 03/12/2008 22:31

Who the fuck are you?

morningpaper · 03/12/2008 22:32
loobeylou · 03/12/2008 22:32

Have not read whole thread but if they are reaching high shelves then are they climbing/being dangerous? Can you LOCK them away somewhere (BTW, thats they crayons not the kids!)

I go for a mixture of sticker chart or reward / lose a toy or treat for good/bad days etc

Have no exp of SN though. You sound frazzled - do you have support from DP?

georgimama · 03/12/2008 22:33

Who are you talking to now? MP? Or me?

Could you possibly try to post a whole post without using the word fuck? It is rather limited of you.

AmIWhatAndWhy · 03/12/2008 22:33

Oh morningpaper I've tried that.

But please tell me how easy it would be to lock every toy away, when their bedroom doubles as the playroom?

morningpaper · 03/12/2008 22:33

You could just chuck out ALL crayons and paints

That's what NURSERY is for

ScottishMummy · 03/12/2008 22:33

having fun laydees?goading AmIWhatAndWhy about her troubles.nice

2AdventSevenfoldShoes · 03/12/2008 22:34

what an odd thread.
why the reference to a unrelated thread in sn?
I am getting very confused on mn tonight,

morningpaper · 03/12/2008 22:35

if they are trashing all their toys anyway then you could just put them ALL in one wardrobe and lock it?

All my kids stuff is in cupboards at the end of each day - I just throw most stuff away

BibiJesus · 03/12/2008 22:35

Oh my god. MN is obviously full of perfect parents who can fully supervise their children and MN at the same time.

FGS, the op wants a bit of sympathy, not a pasting. Sheesh.

Children do things behind our backs, they are sneaky little feckers sometimes and we aren't all 100% on our guard against their crayoning ways. I certainly am not.

It is disheartening after you've done something nice for your children and they don't appreciate it, but toddlers don't appreciate things, they just don't. Yet we keep doing nice things for them, it's just what we do.

georgimama · 03/12/2008 22:36

It's the OP 2shoes under another name change.

We were supposed to know from her fairly trivial OP about annoying toddlers wrecking pretty interior design (and I do sympathise with that to an extent, DS has no aesthetic sense at all) that she also has PND and daughter has SN.

morningpaper · 03/12/2008 22:37

well I can't keep up with all that

What about contacting Homestart?

Colditz · 03/12/2008 22:37

You need dog gates in all doorways. Do not allow them to be in a different room to you ever. this is soul destroying, yes, it is also necessary.

I'm afraid you are being unreasonable to expect toddlers not to be destructive. They don't care about money, they don't care about work, and they don't care about tears. My 2 year old and 5 year old (behavioral problems) brought me to my knees yesterday - but I would be unreasonable to to expect more of them than they can give.

AmIWhatAndWhy · 03/12/2008 22:37

That was my thread in SN. I said DD so anyone in rl wouldn't know.

Now I couldn't care less.

Georgimama I would really watch what you say, I for one am leaving mumsnet now. I hope you can think a little before you post in future.

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