Parenting
I’ve always had a peculiar attachment to my possessions. Early on in my relationship with my partner, we found ourselves at a drive-thru one evening. Our car was a chaotic mess; I had been staying with friends for a wedding. When the cashier handed my partner change, he casually tossed it onto the center console. It was like rolling dice on a table, but in the darkness of the vehicle, it vanished into the clutter. I was utterly appalled and lost my cool.
My partner quickly fired back, “Your car is a disaster; why do you care about the change?” I can’t recall my exact response, but I’m sure it was filled with attempts to validate his feelings, even if I was irate. What became clear from this exchange was that when he treated my things carelessly, regardless of their state, I felt disrespected.
As I entered my thirties, I thought I had matured in this area. I no longer micromanaged my friends when they borrowed my flat iron, no longer issuing warnings like, “Don’t close it too hard; you could break it!” It’s a miracle I graduated without losing all my friends. Perhaps what I mistook for growth was merely a change in circumstances. In adulthood, I didn’t have to lend my belongings nearly as often—until, of course, I had kids.
And that brings me to my current dilemma: my children are constantly getting into my stuff, and I can’t handle it anymore.
Just today, while I was upstairs folding laundry for a mere six minutes, one of my darling children decided my designer sunglasses only needed one arm. Seriously, what the heck!? When I questioned them, they just stared at the TV, engrossed in Cat in the Hat. I tried explaining how those were my favorite pair and how pricey they were, but they couldn’t care less.
My mom often says, “Put your valuable items out of reach.” Fine, I’ll try to do better at hiding the things I know will be wrecked. But tell me, how do I predict that they’ll hide the handles from the buffet in the dining room? Why would they remove knobs from furniture and then act as if it never happened? Where could those pieces possibly be? Every time I see that empty space, it brings me down.
I swear I have child locks and other safety measures in place, but nothing seems to deter them. Here’s a list of the things they have ruined in just the past month:
- My bronzer
- A full pack of Neutrogena makeup remover wipes
- Three packs of gum
- Every water bottle I was drinking when they decided to take a sip
- My nasal spray
- My hairspray
- One slipper
- A monogrammed wine glass
- A necklace I was wearing
- Two book covers
I struggle to accept that the fate of my belongings is always hanging by a thread. Maybe I need to consider a toddler insurance policy. Is it really too much to ask a 2 and 4-year-old to stop messing with my things? For further information on similar parenting challenges, check out this excellent resource on intrauterine insemination for those considering family planning.
In conclusion, navigating parenthood while trying to maintain some semblance of order with your possessions is a formidable task. Embrace the chaos, but let’s hope for a little more respect for our belongings along the way. For more insights on family dynamics, visit Modern Family Blog to learn more.