Do you easily get upset when spills happen by your children?
By hdjohnson
@hdjohnson (2981)
United States
June 11, 2009 7:10pm CST
My 7 year old daughter dropped my water bottle last night on the floor. It was full of cold Crystal Springs water. She became upset and started crying. Although I wasn't happy that she did it. I know it wasn't her fault. My 3 year old didn't know she was coming into the our bedroom with it as she was about to make a quick dash out trying to stay away from the tickle monster. ~ LoL!
All of a sudden thump, she bumped into her older sister and my cold water was dranked immediately by my carpet. Whenever my daughter is upset or really excited, she turns into a news reporter and proceeds to tell all of the eventful details of what happened to either my wife and I.
Basically, the accident happened because I was tickling the younger kids. So I wasn't upset at all. I didn't even mind having to put down the towels down to soak up the spill. I even had to move the television cabinet. So how would you handle this situation?
2 people like this
9 responses
@leyisa (486)
• Canada
12 Jun 09
I think Ia tendency to get upset easily, which i shouldn't. Sometimes I feel as though my daughter does things to to get attention or to see how far she can....for examole, she knows that she is not allowed to bring soda or juice upstairs to drink b/c we have carpet. Well, sometimes when i'm not home she'll do it anyways and a few weeks ago she spiled orange juice all over the carpet......the minute the juice spilled she started crying b/c she knew that it was bad...I know it was an accident but it would not have happened had she listened to me and not brought it up....I got mad at her, but again, there wasn't much I could do b/c it's an accident..I think she learned her lesson though b/c ever since then, she has not brought juice up again ..
3 people like this
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
12 Jun 09
awww, she sounds sweet. Now the accident happened because of not listening to previous instructions, you betcha they would have had to clean up the spill themselves and would have gotten the appropriate chastisement over it. We don't tolerate disobedience, but we don't over do it either. Some chastisements are simply their toys are taken from them, etc...
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
12 Jun 09
Gosh! I think children are just children. They have their own story boards and play their roles as they grow up into the world. They cry to get your attention and invite you to their make-believe. If you are up to it, why not. If not, tell them that they can only cry when their pets die. Lay down the ground rules and children easily adapt to adult eccentricity. Have fun parenting!
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
12 Jun 09
That certainly is a interesting point of view. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157917)
• United States
12 Jun 09
I would calm down anyone who was upset and reassure them. I would say "Get a towel" as I myself went to get a towel. Any child who felt responsible for a spill feels relief by doing something about it, like getting a towel. They learn how to respond to something like a spill by seeing me do what is appropriate.
2 people like this
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
14 Jun 09
They know how to clean up behind themselves already, but it happened just before bedtime, honestly it was more so my fault for tickling them than my oldest daughters fault.
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Kids and kids and spills and messes happen no matter what you do, unless you raise a robot and I really dont like even watching those type of kids. I think you handled it right, along with the fact that it wouldnt have happened if the "Tickle Monster" hadnt been after her! LOL!
I can tell you raising 8 kids, there isnt a place that I dont think something has been dumped on. LOL! You just clean it up and move on.
1 person likes this
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
14 Jun 09
You're right~ WoW 8 huh? I'm the one with lots of things to still learn from you! That was the reason I didn't get upset, because I knew that I was ultimately the cause of the spill and not my oldest. She of course didn't understand it and was just relieved that it didn't result in a spanking. To spank her or to chastise her in that sort of a situation would have meant I myself (as the Tickle Monster) would have needed to have been spanked or chastised. It's been a long time since I've had the unpleasure of such a treat and I wouldn't want it for anyone of my kids, unless the situation deems it necessary. And fortunately this time didn't.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
12 Jun 09
I don't get excited about spills..kids will be kids. I do things to help prevent them in places that might excite me..lol..I limit food and drinks to the diningroom table and if there is a spill my children know to clean it up. I don't get upset or crazy because accidents happen. Even to grownups.
1 person likes this
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
14 Jun 09
Here...Here... JenInTN
I concur to that. They are not allowed to eat/drink anywhere except in the kitchen. They got a treat one time, by being allowed to eat popcorn in the livingroom while watching a movie. My wife explained the consequences for spilling any popcorn and that if any did get spilled to clean it up right away. They are so smart and well behaved, and they didn't spill any except in their stomachs...LoL! 
@eighternity (363)
• Philippines
12 Jun 09
Sometimes, but I want to avoid that because my daughter is my only princess that I have. I feel sorry when I do upset on what she did.
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
14 Jun 09
You'll do better as time/age and more wisdom sets in. It won't rub you the wrong way as much.
@ZeldaRose (25)
• United States
12 Jun 09
I used to get upset, especially if I was under stress. It just depended on what was spilled and where. Now, not so much. With age came some wisdom. I'm evolving a bit with my parenting and I don't get angry much anymore. If they spill something, no biggie. We get the paper towels or dry cleaning rag and mop it up :D
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
14 Jun 09
That is really the only KUDOS that age will probably get nowadays isn't it? The wisdom aspect. Thanks for your response.
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
12 Jun 09
It's natural for her to cry since she's afraid you might smack her for that. It's not easy to be not upset to but you still need to show her she's responsible for her act. Not by smacking, at least tell her to get a towel to clean the mess and explain she need to be more careful in the future. You really have lots of patience dealing with your kids.
1 person likes this
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
14 Jun 09
Smacking her or spanking her wouldn't have been the appropriate response in this situation simply because I was the cause for my youngest daugther running out the room to escape from me tickling her. She didn't know that my oldest daugther was coming into the room with the water bottle for me. Neither did I know for that matter. It all worked out in the end.
@cbantly (236)
• United States
12 Jun 09
I think one of the reasons that children cry when they make mistakes is the fear of getting in trouble. I remember as a kid that if I broke something I would begin to cry, and I think it was probably more a reaction of not knowing if it was bad or not.
1 person likes this
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
14 Jun 09
My oldest didn't know how I was going to respond to her spilling it. This wasn't the first time and the first time; I didn't respond correctly, more or less I reacted, which didn't make the spill get cleaned up any quicker.
