I’ve always had a bit of a thing about my belongings. It’s not just a quirk; it’s practically a personality trait. Early in my relationship with my partner, we had a memorable trip through a drive-thru. Our jeep was a disaster zone, thanks to my temporary couch-surfing for a friend’s wedding. When the cashier handed my partner a handful of change, he tossed it carelessly onto the console, like throwing dice at a game night. In the dark confines of the car, it vanished without a trace. I was horrified and, honestly, I lost my cool.
My partner immediately defended himself, pointing out, “Your jeep is a mess. Why do you care where the change lands?” I can’t recall my exact response, but I’m sure I tried to remain calm while validating his feelings. What emerged from that not-so-graceful exchange was a realization: when my things aren’t treated with care, I feel disrespected.
As I entered my thirties, I thought I had grown in this area. I stopped micromanaging how my friends used my flat iron—gone were my panicked reminders, “Don’t close it too hard; the ceramic will break!” It’s surprising I left college with any friends at all. Maybe what I saw as maturity was merely a shift in circumstances. In adulthood, I didn’t have to share my possessions often—until I had kids, that is.
This Brings Me to My Current Dilemma
My little ones are constantly getting into my things, and I’m at my wit’s end. Just today, I was upstairs folding laundry for a mere six minutes when one of my “cherubic” children decided that my designer sunglasses only needed one arm. Seriously, what the heck? When I confront them, they just zone out, fixated on the TV behind me. I try to explain how precious these sunglasses are, how much they cost, but they couldn’t care less.
My mother offers sage advice: “Put your valuable items out of reach.” Sure, I’ll make an effort to hide the things that could potentially get ruined. But tell me, how do I predict that they’d remove the handles from the buffet in the dining room? Why, for the love of all that’s holy, would they take the knob off my furniture and then completely forget about it? Every time I see it, I feel a little sad.
I swear I’ve childproofed every possible area, but it doesn’t seem to help. Here’s a rundown of items they’ve managed to destroy in the last month:
- My bronzer
- A full bag of Neutrogena makeup remover wipes
- Another bag of Neutrogena makeup remover wipes
- Three packs of gum
- Every water bottle I had open when they decided to take a sip
- My nose spray
- My hairspray
- One slipper
- A monogrammed wine glass
- A necklace I was wearing
- Two book covers
It’s hard to accept that my belongings are always at risk. I think I need a toddler-proof insurance policy. Is it really too much to ask a 2 and 4-year-old to just leave my things alone? For tips on navigating life with kids, check out our post on the home insemination kit. Also, if you’re on a fertility journey, consider visiting this resource on infertility or our guide for couples’ fertility journeys.
Summary
As a parent, the struggle with children constantly meddling with personal belongings is very real. From designer sunglasses to make-up and household items, the chaos of parenting leaves many of our possessions at risk. Navigating this while maintaining some semblance of order can be frustrating. The article discusses the challenges faced by parents and offers resources for those on similar journeys.
Keyphrase: Stop kids from breaking things
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