How do you explain to your twins how much damage they did?

[Shuli]

This is for MoM's with older children. I'm not sure if this is a twin question or a "dicipline" question, but I'll post here anyway.

We moved into our house a few years ago and then I lost my job and haven't been able to find another one. Long story short, we didn't have the money to do the front yard, so it's been left muddy and weedy until we can get it done. There is an open standing sewage pipe in the front yard that I didn't realize was open and on Thursday night we had a little flood in the bathroom. In comes the plumber and we do some investigating and realize that the boys had been throwing things down into the pipe (after being repeatedly told not to, I didn't realize what the pipe was for) and had blocked the sewage line into the house. He had to crawl into the man hole and removed all the rocks, sticks and toys from the line and charged me $750, more than our monthly grocery bill.

So my question is, with their limited understanding of money, how would you explain to two four year olds how much damage was done by a game they were told not to play, or do I just leave it? I'm not really sure what to do with this, so I'm asking for help. This is the first time that we are dealing with this much damage, writing on the wall doesn't really bother me as much as paying for something that could have been prevented.

Any suggestions welcome.

Shuli 

[eirual]

Cap the pipe? And let them know it was a "big job" to fix, so no more things down it.

[Shuli]

Yes, the plumber capped the pipe. I feel like I need to impress upon them so they don't do something like this again to another part of the house. They can be quite destructive without meaning to be. There must be a balance.