Crying over spilt milk

[mamaofthree]

I feel as if I am going to go mad. My ds#1 spills something everyday. I try really hard not to get upset, but it is maddening. I am about to ban him from all fluids. I know I am beginning to handle it poorly. I am just about to loose it. I am not sure what to do short of giving him sippy cups again. (he is 6 1/2 years old). But even that wouldn't help with ceral or soup. And it doesn't have to be liquids either, he will step on a bowl of nuts and fling them across a room, and say "sorry" and then half-*ss pick themup. Or step on the cats water dish and splash the water across the kitchen floor, and when I almost slip he tells me!
I love him so much, but I feel like I am pissed at him a part of the day for this stuff. Which I know is silly, I know it is his age and he is distracted a lot, kind of doing 20 things at once in his head, but I DON'T CARE!!!! I am sick of all the spills!

HELP!

H

[mountain]

Can you offer drinks, food, only at a specific place. I just think it's easier to clean up spills in the kitchen...I have ds get the towel himself.

Some days I am SO annoyed by this too! But I do remember my mom flipping out about this, so I am trying to learn to calmly say (don't give too much attention! Or they'll spill on purpose just for your energy) "Please be careful, I don't like wasted food. The towels are in the drawer".

We don't eat in the living room any more. There's too much chance of nuts on the floor, LOL. They're way more likely to get spilled than on the kitchen table.

Someday he'll be 30 and won't spill as much

[miss_sonja]

We have rules (pretty casual, but still) about food. Certain foods must be at the table, open cups only at the table (for kids, grown-ups can have them). I still give my 4.5 year old cups with lids for any drink but water if she's not going to sit at the table with it.

How about one of those water bottles with the pull-up cap? Not as babyish as a sippy cup, but if it drops, it won't all spill out.

If he's having problems, there's nothing wrong about making rules or requiring a cup with a lid. As long as you don't do it in a punitive way (i.e "You're such a baby/klutz/whateve") but in a respectful educating sort of way ("I see you're having problems with xyz, let's do abc to help you learn").

Good luck!!!