Hi there, I’m new here. I’m reaching out because I’m concerned about the behaviours of my two children. Son 6 and daughter 5.
we moved into a lovely home last year and invested in a new fridge. It cost a small fortune (well, for me anyways) and the children often admire it and its gadgets, they love having an ice machine and an electronic shopping list to add things to. It’s Matt black and would show up the slightest scuff so when one of them comes near with random potentially damaging items I have made a point of firmly saying. No, not by the fridge please. It’s potentially a few times a day. No bikes by the fridge please it may scratch it. No sandpaper on the fridge please (my son does junior carpentry) then the other day my son went zooming up to The fridge on his sisters old balance bike and before I could say (for the hundredth time) “not near the fridge” he dropped it against the fridge and dented it to the point it’s almost a puncture. He shrieked sorry and ran away very upset. My husband and I now have a major disagreement over how this should have been handled. I see it as massively defiant he says it’s an accident. Flash forward to today and my daughter did almost exactly the same thing again, but this time the bike fell to the floor and scratched the entire front (about a foot long scratch) I firmly told her how upset I was. More so because I said as she rode in “not near the fridge”and immediately, bang. We then all went into the living room where I served them some supper on trays, once eaten I said 5 minutes and we’ll head to bed, I’ll just throw the dishes in the dishwasher. But as I left the room my son stood up and was pretty much pressing his face against the tv. This also has been a regular conversation. I explained (yet again) you’re too close to that it will hurt your eyes or you will bang the screen and break it. I did the dishes and returned and my daughter said she needed a wee. I followed her to the loo (she gets scared going alone) and my son had his face to the tv again. I repeated what I’d said. About 1 minute later I hear and shriek and he’s broken the tv screen. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong here. They are busy active children and have a very nice life full of clubs, activities, play dates and park trips. They aren’t bored and stuck in side that’s for sure. I suffer from anxiety but control it well with medication. Am I overreacting. Are these things not actually a big deal, it’s just my anxiety telling me they are?! I never had huge tvs and lovely big fridges growing up so to me these things should be looked after. Thanks in advance