I heard myself talking with my sister about some things going awry on my days at home with the kids, and it struck me that I am experiencing KID SABOTAGE from time to time.
What is Kid Sabotage?
The best way to define kid sabotage is a time when your own, adult plans are abruptly derailed due to your kids’ behavior. It’s a reality of being a parent – your time is not 100% your own anymore with kids who need your attention, care, and love. And I’m okay with that…though I can’t help but get annoyed when I’m victim to kid sabotage.
Examples of kid sabotage:
- I sit down after lunch to quickly pay some bills online. My dear son manages to press that big round button next to the green light and turn off the computer.
- I just replaced the bathmat only to have my son “miss” the toilet. Laundry is a constant in our house…oh well.
- My daughter shows me an unwrapped gift that I JUST bought an hour earlier for a friend. At least it was a gift bag & ribbon, so I could re-assemble it without anyone knowing.
- Any phone conversation interrupted by, “Mom, Mom, hey Mom.” You know the drill!
- Freshly folded stack of laundry being “attacked” by my son. No idea why he likes messing up laundry so much!!
- My son refusing to wear a pumpkin costume that his grandma & I spent a lot of time making. I told him he HAS to wear it at least once!
- This one is part kid / part mom sabotage – the ONE TIME I forget to pack a change of clothes my son pooped his pants at the park. I did have some wipes and a spare diaper to help us through that situation. As the saying goes, sh*t happens!
I love my kids dearly, and I try not to react too harshly to moments of kid sabotage. They are just KIDS (ages 3 and almost 5) after all. More often than not (as in the unexpected computer shutdown) I know they just want to be by me and are too young to understand needing some space and time to oneself. HOPEFULLY I can teach them that and establish a quiet-time in lieu of the now-extinct nap-time.
What are your favorite kid sabotage moments?
go mama o. 