Are all 3 year olds akin to a tornado?

[loveday]

Seriously. I just went into her room to make up her bed, and I stopped dead in my tracks. EVERY toy was out, she released all the stuffed animals from the net, and then took all the plastic food out of the play kitchen. And then made one big toy mountain in the middle. It has just taken me 40 minutes to put it all back. I love her, but god help me when she's a teenager if she's like this now.

:-|

[bj08]

DD does that too. But refuses to play with shit IN her room so it is taken all over the house. Most days look like Toys R Us and Target exploded in my house :@

[Deleted]

Yes.

[loveday]

I'm having heart plapitations looking at that room.

[drrn04]

1) yes. They are complete destructors. As CK Lewis wisely said "tape the windows, it's a fucking hurricane."

2) It took you 40 minutes to clean it up? No. No no no no no. She helps you clean it up. And I don't mean dances around the room occasionally putting a book on the shelf. We started a thing where unless Natalie actively helps us clean up, anything we put away is actually put into a trash bag and put into the closet for at least one full day. Longer if she continues to refuse to help/freaks out. It will cause a complete meltdown the first time it happens, but I guarantee you that she'll get her rear into gear the next time.

[EmilieMadison]

That's a relatively accurate analogy, yes.

[wedbliss5]

And why is it worse when DH is left home with said 3 yr old tornado??? If mine stay home together, I can follow a trail of what they've done all day - from pajamas in the living room, to juice boxes on the coffee table, to wet pants in the bathroom and on and on.

[loveday]

Aug 23, 2012 16:01:11 GMT -5 @drrn04 said:

1) yes. They are complete destructors. As CK Lewis wisely said "tape the windows, it's a fucking hurricane."

2) It took you 40 minutes to clean it up? No. No no no no no. She helps you clean it up. And I don't mean dances around the room occasionally putting a book on the shelf. We started a thing where unless Natalie actively helps us clean up, anything we put away is actually put into a trash bag and put into the closet for at least one full day. Longer if she continues to refuse to help/freaks out. It will cause a complete meltdown the first time it happens, but I guarantee you that she'll get her rear into gear the next time.

Number 2 is happening next time for damn sure. I am in the midst of packing and being neurotic about tomorrow. Oy.

[EmilieMadison]

Aug 23, 2012 16:01:11 GMT -5 @drrn04 said:

1) yes. They are complete destructors. As CK Lewis wisely said "tape the windows, it's a fucking hurricane."

2) It took you 40 minutes to clean it up? No. No no no no no. She helps you clean it up. And I don't mean dances around the room occasionally putting a book on the shelf. We started a thing where unless Natalie actively helps us clean up, anything we put away is actually put into a trash bag and put into the closet for at least one full day. Longer if she continues to refuse to help/freaks out. It will cause a complete meltdown the first time it happens, but I guarantee you that she'll get her rear into gear the next time.

My kids are evil geniuses. They dont give two shits if we do this (oh, and we've done it!). Sometimes they even say "Yeah, I dont want that...just throw it away." :@ We've donated lots of things through this method and they do.not.care. It's infuriating.