O.M.G...help...they dumped every food out in the living room.... - Page 8

[~Nikki~]

Originally Posted by vbactivist

Co sleep....

Ha! We do! And one of the biggest messes DD made was when she snuck out of our bed in the wee hours of the morning, snuck into my washroom (which I left open in my sleep-deprived, dealing with a new baby haze in the middle of the night), and made up her face with the makeup I had recently purchased for an up-coming wedding. Do you have any idea how hard it is to wash mascara off the walls?

Oh, there was also the time that I gated DD into the playroom with me, and fell asleep on the floor (I was 9 months pregnant and exhuasted all the time). I woke up covered in marker.

I'm another one that needs my sleep. So after a night of getting up 8 or 9 times between the needs of the two kiddos, and then having my daughter spring out of bed at 3am expecting breakfast, I've been known to snooze on the sofa while she plays beside me.

But the worst messes have happened when I was wide awake and doing other "mom" things like cooking or washing diapers. My daughter went through a phase where she needed to rub creams and ointments all over herself, and everything around her. Diaper cream, moisturizer....whatever. Within 3 minutes, she could cover a room with it. I can't even count the amount of times it happened. Kids can make messes at lightning speed.

I think the only reason we haven't had a disaster like the OP's, is that the shelves in the pantry are too high for them to reach, even with their stools.

Those photos are priceless!

[lisac77]

You're not the only mother to experience this... my father has four brothers and one day they were making hamburgers in the kitchen. My grandmother left the room for a couple of minutes, during which one brother said to another brother, "Hey, toss me a hamburger!" A hamburger fight of epic proportions ensued and when my grandmother came back into the kitchen mere minutes later, it was covered in hamburger. The walls, the ceiling, the light fixture, the stove... everything. She lit into them and made them clean it up. They laughed and had a fabulous time cleaning the kitchen and it is a family story that has been told hundreds of times.

I would have flipped, and I think you handled it really well.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by ~Nikki~

But the worst messes have happened when I was wide awake and doing other "mom" things like cooking or washing diapers. My daughter went through a phase where she needed to rub creams and ointments all over herself, and everything around her. Diaper cream, moisturizer....whatever. Within 3 minutes, she could cover a room with it. I can't even count the amount of times it happened. Kids can make messes at lightning speed.

You know...I'd actually forgotten. DD was doing that about a year ago. She loved "lotion" and anything she thought was like "lotion". Toothpaste all up and down the bathroom door, and the carpet outside the bathroom...when I thought she was still napping. My lovely lavender lotion all over my sheets, comforter, pillow and bedroom carpet. And, I'd forgotten all about it. Wow...

[dillonandmarasmom]

Originally Posted by lisa49

Um, I think there was obviously dry cereal available Sorry, couldn't resist.

Now this got me

[Sharon, RN]

Eekkkk!

Ok, that just sucks.

Flame me at will, but I'm sure swear words would have come bubbling up pretty fast!

My son saw the pic, and he said, "Well, they are young." My "gentle parent" in the making!

There never seems to be an end to some things. Today, I found out my son had cut his pants with a pair of scissors. Several times. He said he liked the "look." (His teenage years are flashing before my eyes now!) Well, since he does have an understanding of money now, he'll be buying another pair of pants for himself tomorrow.

To the OP: Deep breath in, deep breath out. I think you've done a great job with this.

Sharon

[crayon]

We have a very small apartment- but Rainey (almost 4) gets up often and I get up get her an apple or something and then go back to my room with the door open- this could so happen to me too... Don't let anyone make you feel bad about sleeping in your own house. Gosh. Sometimes Breeze even gets up and they cuddle in the big chair and watch a movie.

I am sorry- that really had to suck- not to mention the money- agh.

[gurumama]

I'm really glad neither child got hurt--if they were pulling food off shelves they could have been injured. I know how hard it is to balance getting enough sleep with being a healthy SAHM, but leaving a 2 yo and a 4 yo to roam yields the "natural consequence" of this mess.

[Sharondio]

You are not alone. This was my DD (now 5) when she was not yet 3. FWIW, I was home, awake and in the other room cleaning for the holiday while she was...I thought...watching TV.

Why there will be no homemade pie at our house this year.

I entered the room to my daughter throwing flour in the air gleefully and saying, "Mama, come play with me."

http://members.aol.com/odoverachieve...ella_flour.jpg
http://members.aol.com/odoverachieve...lla_flour2.jpg
http://members.aol.com/odoverachieve...lla_flour3.jpg
http://members.aol.com/odoverachieve...lla_flour4.jpg
http://members.aol.com/odoverachieve...bella_feet.jpg

[Malva]

Originally Posted by PumpkinSeeds

I let my 5 yo look at that picture and I asked, "what do you think happened?"


He said, "Those kids(pointing to the legs on the couch) were hungry."

That made me laugh so hard!:

[True Blue]

Seriously, please stop criticizing me for what happened.

The food was on the lowest shelf in a tall pantry cabinet. Right at their level. No one could have gotten hurt pulling the food out.

It's like people think I'm stupid because my kids made a mess!!!! Sh*t happens sometimes!!!!

FTR, I have always had one of the best child-proofed homes of everyone I know!!! And just because I won't put a lock on my pantry closet does not mean I want to put my kids in danger!!! That cabinet has nothing dangerous in it (just messy)!!!!! I shouldn't be shamed for not wanting to put locks on my food cabinet.

I am SO sure that the people making comments have children who have NEVER made a mess, or gotten into something they wish they hadn't!! And if they haven't yet....watch out!!

[True Blue]

Sharondio...

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by True Blue

While I slept this morning, my kids dumped out about 3 bags of flour, 6 boxes of (new cereal), the (new) big bag of oatmeal, my coffee, and who knows what else all over my living room floor. WTF??? I don't even know what to do with them let alone where to start cleaning it! : They obviously have to help, but there have to be other (logical/natural) consequences...WWYD? They honestly have wasted close to $100 in food.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...Uy=775aq3&Ux=0

Oh no!

[LouCostello]

Originally Posted by True Blue

Seriously, please stop criticizing me for what happened.

The food was on the lowest shelf in a tall pantry cabinet. Right at their level. No one could have gotten hurt pulling the food out.

It's like people think I'm stupid because my kids made a mess!!!! Sh*t happens sometimes!!!!

FTR, I have always had one of the best child-proofed homes of everyone I know!!! And just because I won't put a lock on my pantry closet does not mean I want to put my kids in danger!!! That cabinet has nothing dangerous in it (just messy)!!!!! I shouldn't be shamed for not wanting to put locks on my food cabinet.

I am SO sure that the people making comments have children who have NEVER made a mess, or gotten into something they wish they hadn't!! And if they haven't yet....watch out!!

Of all the posts on this page, that was probably the most loaded and most offensive.

The reason there's such a focus on logical consequences is because logical consequences are not limited to children. They continue to occur throughout our lifetime. Consider the mess (and the clean-up) your logical consequence for not supervising your children more closely.

[northcountrymamma]

Originally Posted by LouCostello

Of all the posts on this page, that was probably the most loaded and most offensive.

The reason there's such a focus on logical consequences is because logical consequences are not limited to children. They continue to occur throughout our lifetime. Consider the mess (and the clean-up) your logical consequence for not supervising your children more closely.

Whoa...I'd say take it easy...this mamma was getting flamed and sticking up for herself. As a pp stated, messes happen even when you are in the next room. Kids are just impulsive, curious creatures. The OP had her logical consequence, she spent the day cleaning it up and lost $ in food. Your guilting her is not a logical consequence and as I see it kinda rude.

[LouCostello]

I think it's pretty unrealistic to post pictures of a mess and say it occured when you were asleep and not expect people to suggest that she not sleep when her kids are awake.

[chfriend]

Hi aquadaughter. It's nice to have an 8 year old among us. Welcome to MDC!

[FillingMyQuiver]

BIG HUGE s mama!!! I cannot imagine waking to that!!! I completely understand needing some zzz's AND not putting locks in some things. We live in an apt and are not allowed to put child locks on our cabinets. We have had to be very careful in our planning of the kitchen space b/c of this. Everything below counter is unbreakable (or at least would take some HEAVY duty abuse to break), non-toxic, and okay for kids if they get into it. We have a tall closet that is our pantry and DS (33mo) can open the door and realistically get into MOST of what's in there.

Here are some suggestions I have (coming from a similar standpoint of food being accessible to the kids. I know you said you want o preven this and while keeping the kids in the room w/ you is a start, we all know what escape artists they can be. Wouldn't want this happening while you went to the bathroom or anything.)~

*could you put the bags of stuff (flour, sugar, etc) on top of your fridge? This is where we store our flour and sugar so the kids can't get to it (easily at least... )

*maybe rearrange your food cabinets so that things are in a different place? I've found that it's easier for me to put cans and airtight, kids-can't-open-it-without-the-jaws-of-life stuff towards the bottom so that it's the first thing they reach for instead of the boxed stuff like cereal.

*if the above doesn't help, maybe try and find some sort of container that's harder to open than a cereal bag?? The 5yo may be able to get it open, but it may take a little longer or be a deterance (sp)??

This is all I could come up w/ for help in the prevention aspect. It sounds like you handled it as well as you could, mama WTG

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by aquadaughter

Ebay some toys. They probably have some toys they're bored of anyway. I mean, the treat thing was pretty gentle... But that's just like... to teach a lesson. But the toy thing... it would probably be for the better. Get rid of the toys that the kids don't want so they don't take up space, but sell the toys on ebay so you do not waste money.

That is my advice.

Charlotte....the only thing is they might feel like they are being "punished" over what happened. KWIM?

Love your name by the way

[mamaSun loveMore]

Sheesh!

I'm glad you made it through that one sister!

What a mess! But it sounds like you have some pretty free and creative kids.

That reminds me of a classic from our book of family lore:

When my older brother was a toddler (4-5 maybe), he had a similar episode with Comet cleaner (this is over 30 years ago) at our grandmother's house. Apparently he had spilled something and wanted to 'clean' it up, so he dumped the cleanser all over the floor. When our G-ma returned and said, with alarm, that he would have to clean the mess up, he pulled out the liquid dishwashing soap and poured the entire bottle out over the Comet. He was honestly trying to clean up his mess. Needless to say, her kitchen looked like someone had thrown a foam-party there for days (I'm told).

My brother is now one of the most meticulous men I know. Clean, tidy and extremely successful. So take heart!

[Snowdrift]

Originally Posted by LouCostello

Of all the posts on this page, that was probably the most loaded and most offensive.

The reason there's such a focus on logical consequences is because logical consequences are not limited to children. They continue to occur throughout our lifetime. Consider the mess (and the clean-up) your logical consequence for not supervising your children more closely.

Without agreeing with your original point, I'd like to say that you seem to have taken the honor of the most offensive and loaded post.

My sympathies to the OP about the incident, the frustrations of trying to get enough sleep, and the bash-fest that some of this thread has become.