House Wrecking - a developmental stage??

[ThreeofUs]

DS2 has spent the last couple of days bouncing off the walls. Almost literally.

He's fallen from the Learning Tower, down one stair (heart failure!), and walked into the dining room table. He's been throwing things, dropping things (like DS1's New Zealand snow globe, omg), throwing tantrums, etc. Really cranky and drooling like mad.

I know this must be continued teething or *something*. But he's driving me bananas!

Anyone have a BTDT or advice?

[DrSally]

I sure hope it is! We bought our dream house when we moved here--all natural cherry, shaker woodwork. It's beautiful, but I'm trying to think of the scratches as just character. Underneith DD's highchair is a lot of denting on the birchwood floor (prefinished, so you can't refinish it), much more than I remember from DS in our old house on the oak floor--they told me this white birch was as strong as oak. At least drywall can be patched and repaired, and carpet replaced. But, it kills me b/c we paid over $5k to have this house painted when we moved in. I keep thinking we'll get things repainted when they're older and maybe even replace the carpet 10-15 years down the line. Now with DS's recent throwing up incident, I wonder if I should buy one of those bissell carpet cleaners.

Anyway, we were over at a neighbor's home and it was much worse off. *a lot* of dark marks on the walls, kid's get to throw hard balls down the stairs, etc. I remember looking at a lot of houses when we moved here and all were under 5 years old, mostly 3 yrs old. Many were very beaten up already. I tell myself there's not much we can do about it, KWIM? I do wonder if they get less hard on the house when they're adolescents, but then they're bigger too. I remember my brother used to bounce the basketball or tennis ball off the garage door.

[K-Bear]

My two year old is a holy terror with regards to the house (you should see our basement playroom! such a mess and it's mostly her fault) but my 4 year old is much better about not causing such messes. I only have to look at my four year, remember how she used to be at 2 and know my two year old will outgrow this stage in another year or so;)

[JTsMom]

Anyone have a BTDT or advice?

The Bitching Post, and wine. :rotflmao:


If it's a stage, it has lasted 4 years, 9 months here. If there's anything you can do about it, I haven't figured it out yet. I detest flat paint b/c you can't effectively Magic Erase stuff without it showing. I buy nothing too nice b/c I know it will get trashed. My number one consideration when purchasing anything major is how well it stands up to abuse.

[Clarity]

When they start destroying the house, I get them OUT of the house. We shrug off the germs and go to the play area at the mall, hit the local bounce house to blow off steam, try the children's museum. Really, any place where they can run about safely without bothering anyone. Then I put them to bed early so I get a break! :) A little wine helps too (though it was actually Bailey's over ice for me last week).

[caleymama]

I think there is something to it. I also think it depends on the kid.

DD1 could have used sharpies from birth and been fine. She's extremely active but just naturally a rule follower.

DD2, on the other hand, finds a way to graffiti anywhere anyhow. On the walls, on the floors, on the counters, on the cabinets, on herself... Pencil, pen, marker, her fingernail, toothpaste, and on and on.

In terms of the crabbiness and dropping stuff/falling, I'd say it's teething or he's coming down with something. Poor kid (and poor you!). I do find that kind of stuff seems to come in spurts - just yesterday DD2 (age 5) slipped off a low step stool and banged her chin on the kitchen counter and then a couple hours later fell *up* the stairs and banged it again! She has a banged up elbow and shin from falling at school yesterday too. She left her gloves on the school bus on the way to school yesterday morning, the bus driver gave them back to her when she got on in the afternoon, and she left them on the bus again (I got them from him this morning, LOL). It just was not her day. She fell asleep early last night and seems to be doing better today, thank goodness.

I also agree with Clarity that a change of scenery can do wonders to break the unpleasant inertia.

[DrSally]

I didn't catch the clumsiness thing when I first read your post, I just assumed it was natural kid destructo behavior. I think PP is right, it prob comes in spurts--maybe related to some sort of developmental or physical growth spurt? Kids are developing so fast, I'm sure it takes awhile to get used to all the changes as they happen and feel comfortable/coordinated in one's own body. I'm sure tiredness/crankiness doesn't help a kid focus on their surroundings either. I hope this phase passes soon. As long as they get through it wo/major scars, I consider that a success!

[ThreeofUs]

Thank you all for your insights! Maybe he's going through a growth or developmental spurt along with the teething. Poor guy... but his little hands do seem everywhere nowadays.

I have two of these now and I'm afraid they're going to take the house down together. I think I need to invest in some good red wines.

[DrSally]

Some people I know purposely don't finish their basements, so their kids can go down there and ride trikes, throw balls, and wrek all the havoc they want to.