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Original poster

Well. That went well, didnt it.......

494 replies

TantrumsAndBalloons · 14/09/2013 07:56

So I am looking after my friends 3 year old for the weekend.
I'd just like to point out, before I post the wonderful things that have happened since yesterday, that I do actually have children.
3 in fact.

I point that out because after reading this, you might be forgiven for thinking I have no clue about children what so ever Grin

So...she arrives at 5pm. Lovely, lovely girl. Lovely mum who for some reason thinks I am trustworthy, drops her off without a fuss.

Oh dear god.

All is well for a while. We eat dinner, she eats it all up. And dessert. I am cleaning the kitchen, I turn around and she is eating the dogs food out of his bowl.
And then told me the doggies dinner is very tasty Grin

We are watching tv later on and I ask my ds1 to keep an eye on her while I make a cup of tea.
I come back, she is in the dogs bed.

She wants to play hide and seek. So she hides.
Can I find her? No.
Can the DCs find her? No.

Im about to call the fucking police because clearly she has disappeared when she pops out from a bush in the garden covered head to foot in mud.

We give her a bath, got her pjs on. I go to make her a hot chocolate. I turn round and find her sitting in a cupboard. Of course, I notice she is in there the very second I shut the cupboard door. On her head.

I put her to bed on the little bed in my room.

I go to bed as well because I know if I am not sitting there looking at her, something will happen.

I wake up, an hour ago. She is asleep in the dogs bed.

She just said to me "I had so much fun auntie tantrums. I are doggies dinner, you lost me, I got very dirty and sleeped in the doggy bed. And you shut me in the cupboard"
She found it all hysterically funny.

She's going to go home and tell her mum all of that isn't she??
Is there any way at all I can put a positive spin on this??

I very doubt my friend is ever going to talk to me again, let alone trust me with her child.

OP posts:
Chubfuddler · 14/09/2013 12:38

Go up the soft play with her. I did. Brilliant fun and beats going to the gym.

Salmotrutta · 14/09/2013 12:39
Grin
WhisperMen · 14/09/2013 12:49

she sounds so entertaining Grin

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 14/09/2013 13:03

Dd who is 15 and really did not want to come with us, had to be bribed, in fact is in the soft play thing with her

She is loving every minute of it.

She did make me promise not to tell any of her friends though Grin

Friends dd was quite disgusted that she had to take her shoes off and told one of the boys that his socks were dirty and smelly.

We had a little chat about how we don't always have to say everything out loud because it might hurt someone's feelings which isn't very nice.

She said "oh but my mum says I always have to tell the truth and his socks are smelly so it's the truth"

Cue another little chat about being nice. I think she got it because she just came and whispered in my ear that "that boy over there needs tissue, his nose is yukky. But I didn't tell him auntie tantrums because I didn't want to hurt his feelings" Grin

OP posts:
JaneEyresHeir · 14/09/2013 13:26

She's quick on the uptake! Grin
Am going to miss this thread when she goes home - so you'll need to get your friend to keep us up to date with DD's antics Wink

Sparklingbrook · 14/09/2013 13:30

There is a Reception teacher out there somewhere that will be getting this child at some point. Shock Grin

I think teachers call it 'spirited' Wink

HoneyDragon · 14/09/2013 13:34

I'm only ever calling you AuntyTantrums now.

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 14/09/2013 13:40

Ok now I have a new problem.

I am pretty sure she is going to fall asleep in the car on the way home. Because she went to bed late and got up early and she is running about at a hundred miles an hour.

That's bad, isn't it?
If she sleeps at 2:30pm she is going to be up all night isn't she?

Shall I try and somehow keep her awake? Or is that a wicked thing to do?

We have all got to be up by 7am tomorrow for ds1 football match, I really don't want to be trying to entertain a 3 year old at 2am because she slept this afternoon.

help. Please

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 14/09/2013 13:42

You must keep going. How about swimming?

WhisperMen · 14/09/2013 13:42

squirt her with a water pistol every time she starts to fall asleep?

GibberTheMonkey · 14/09/2013 13:43

I can only laugh at this because ds1 is now the and can be kept entertained in other ways (and no longer runs out of school)
She sounds lovely, I think she's going to go far in life.
Good luck

GibberTheMonkey · 14/09/2013 13:45

You'll probably find that if she's falling asleep now she won't stay awake until bed time. Better to let her have twenty minutes now and a slightly late bedtime than her conking out at 5.

QuintessentialShadows · 14/09/2013 13:45

Let her have 15 minutes, or half an hour. You dont want her grumpy the rest of the day. At 3 a small nap now should be fine.

I am hoping your friend is not at a ..............wedding....

HoneyDragon · 14/09/2013 13:46

Let her have have and hour in the car and make sure you wake her up at the house. She'll wake up quick as she's somewhere exciting.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2013 13:47

Play "Who can scream the loudest" in the car on the way home.

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 14/09/2013 13:48

Ok, if she is still awake at 3am because I let her sleep this afternoon, I am holding you lot personally responsible Grin

OP posts:
PartyOrganisor · 14/09/2013 13:56

Anywhere that is a bit dry. A museum, shops, a ride in the train?

JugglingFromHereToThere · 14/09/2013 13:59

Only a quick nap Aunty Tantrums as you'll all need a good nights sleep after today. Good luck !

RibenaFiend · 14/09/2013 14:01

This thread has made my day! Thank you!!!
shamelessly marking place
Smile Have you tried playing indoor hide and seek?

SoleSource · 14/09/2013 14:01

Are you available to look after DS next Saturday?

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2013 14:04

Nooooo don't let her sleep! Seriously, DS is only 21mo and if I let him sleep after 1pm that's IT - two hours standing in the dark over the cot, desperate for a piss, intoning "Bed time now" and occasionally swearing loudly

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 14/09/2013 14:07

ribena it was supposed to be indoor hide and seek yesterday. I am never doing it again, I thought she had run away. I was 10 seconds from calling the police Grin

Anyway, she doesn't want McDonalds. She wants to eat here at soft play.
So, fine. It means I don't have to move just yet.

Why is the food in these places so expensive??

She just asked what we are doing next.

Going home, I said. And what will we do then??

I suggested something like drawing or coloring or play doh

Nope. She wants to take the doggies to the park and play with them.

Dear god, where is she getting all this energy from?

OP posts:
Chubfuddler · 14/09/2013 14:09

Dd cannot be allowed to sleep after 1pm. It's a disaster. If she hasn't had a nap by then she doesn't get one.

You need a cold wet flannel.

Chubfuddler · 14/09/2013 14:10

YY to doggy wellie walk after lunch. She will be asleep by 6.30pm. Bliss.

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 14/09/2013 14:10

Do you actually forget how tiring this is, as your DCs get older?
Because I am shattered. Honestly, I am so tired.

I must have blocked this stage out of my mind

My friend texted to see how we were doing. I texted back we were in soft play.
Her response was..
? Are you mad??

OP posts: