When you visit friends.....

[caramelalb]

And your kids make a mess with toys do you make them or you if they are too little clean up before you leave? We have friends who come ver alot andwhen they leave I have Legos and Hotwheels all over the house. They just get up and leave. I'm really thinking about just dropping the friendship with them. They treat my house like their house but not in a good way.

 

[RoseRed]

And your kids make a mess with toys do you make them or you if they are too little clean up before you leave? We have friends who come ver alot andwhen they leave I have Legos and Hotwheels all over the house. They just get up and leave. I'm really thinking about just dropping the friendship with them. They treat my house like their house but not in a good way.

 

[kom526]

Just say, "Hey (insert other child's name here) could you help (your child here) clean up his toys before you go? Thank you very much, that was a very grown up thing to do." Then reward both kids with a popsicle or something.

The kid learns a little social responsibility and if the parents aren't total dolts they may get the subtle hint.

 

[luckystar]

And your kids make a mess with toys do you make them or you if they are too little clean up before you leave? We have friends who come ver alot andwhen they leave I have Legos and Hotwheels all over the house. They just get up and leave. I'm really thinking about just dropping the friendship with them. They treat my house like their house but not in a good way.

ask them politely if they would mind picking up after their kids before they head out.

Or maybe bring it up kids' messes in conversation and hope they get the picture?

 

[luckystar]

Just say, "Hey (insert other child's name here) could you help (your child here) clean up his toys before you go? Thank you very much, that was a very grown up thing to do." Then reward both kids with a popsicle or something.

The kid learns a little social responsibility and if the parents aren't total dolts they may get the subtle hint.

I like this idea better.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

And your kids make a mess with toys do you make them or you if they are too little clean up before you leave? We have friends who come ver alot andwhen they leave I have Legos and Hotwheels all over the house. They just get up and leave. I'm really thinking about just dropping the friendship with them. They treat my house like their house but not in a good way.

You would drop a friend because their children play with toys and don't clean up the mess?

Before they leave, gather the kids and tell them to pick up. It should take all of two minutes. :shrug:

 

[caramelalb]

You would drop a friend because their children play with toys and don't clean up the mess?

Before they leave, gather the kids and tell them to pick up. It should take all of two minutes. :shrug:[/QU
The thing is they are little....10 months and 2. They live in a mess and I think the last straw was sharpie marker from their mother's purse all over my oak Amish table while mom just shrugs her shoulders and says oh well.

 

[aps45819]

The thing is they are little....10 months and 2. They live in a mess and I think the last straw was sharpie marker from their mother's purse all over my oak Amish table while mom just shrugs her shoulders and says oh well.

After I smacked the kids hand while saying NO, it would be Mom's decision as to weather or not to return.

 

[vraiblonde]

Before they leave, gather the kids and tell them to pick up. It should take all of two minutes. :shrug:

And it's that simple. :shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

The thing is they are little....10 months and 2. They live in a mess and I think the last straw was sharpie marker from their mother's purse all over my oak Amish table while mom just shrugs her shoulders and says oh well.

Well, you didn't tell us this part.

Kids that young shouldn't even have Legos and Hotwheels to play with, let alone be digging in Mommy's purse for Sharpies. Anything else you want to tell us before I give my opinion about this friend of yours?

I broke my rule about not posting advice or commentary until I hear the whole story, and bad on me.

 

[morningbell]

And your kids make a mess with toys do you make them or you if they are too little clean up before you leave? We have friends who come ver alot andwhen they leave I have Legos and Hotwheels all over the house. They just get up and leave. I'm really thinking about just dropping the friendship with them. They treat my house like their house but not in a good way.

I make my son clean up before he leaves his friend's house. If it was the kid making a mess over here when kid's mommy says let's go I'd interject with an, "ok Johnny, before you leave you need to clean up over here" Mom will probably not say anything about it.

 

[RaspberryBeret]

YouTube - Yo Gabba Gabba! - Pick It Up (GOGO13)

 

[poster]

The thing is they are little....10 months and 2. They live in a mess and I think the last straw was sharpie marker from their mother's purse all over my oak Amish table while mom just shrugs her shoulders and says oh well.

Before they leave check the play area and say "lets get this cleaned up, what a mess" help and ask all the kids to participate in helping. Clearly say, "at Ms. (whatever they call you) we make sure we clean up our messes". If Mom doesn't get the hint and pitch in, or at least make the kids, I wouldn't invite her back. A visit shouldn't turn into work for you or your children.

With the marker on the table, I'd have clearly said "No! we don't write on our furniture" to the child and to the mom, "please don't let her/him do that".
If mom can't respect your home then it'd be over for me, friend or no friend.

 

[getbent]

I always make my kids pick-up at other people's houses. I also make sure they know (at our house) that whatever you pull out to play with, you will be putting it back later. Then I remind them when it's time to go to finish cleaning up.

 

[puggymom]

Just say, "Hey (insert other child's name here) could you help (your child here) clean up his toys before you go? Thank you very much, that was a very grown up thing to do." Then reward both kids with a popsicle or something.

The kid learns a little social responsibility and if the parents aren't total dolts they may get the subtle hint.

I would not expect their kids to clean up 100% of the mess since my kids definately would have helped but I think before kids leave all the kids should clean up together.

 

[Sweet 16]

Kids that young shouldn't even have Legos and Hotwheels to play with, let alone be digging in Mommy's purse for Sharpies.

I agree 10 months and 2 are too young for hotwheels but 2 is definitely old enough to learn to clean up toys. And how is it no one was watching them that they had time to get a Sharpie out of mommy's purse and write all over the table with it?! If this is a recurring problem (the Sharpie more than the toys I mean), maybe you should cross them off your list or at least meet at a "neutral" location from now on.

 

[Cowgirl]

I agree 10 months and 2 are too young for hotwheels

Why?

 

[Nanny Pam]

You would drop a friend because their children play with toys and don't clean up the mess?

Before they leave, gather the kids and tell them to pick up. It should take all of two minutes. :shrug:

Hi Chasey!

 

[ITS ME]

Why?

small parts, i.e., wheels/tires

 

[meme]

I wouldn't cut off a friendship just because the kids leave toys out (or even wrote on your tables with a Sharpie.) The kid is 2 years old. Apparently this kid was left alone way to long. Anyway, I would expect my kids to clean up their mess, but you are talking about a 2 year old and unless you or the mother says something, they aren't going to do it.