My 5yo destroyed the art project I was working on and I LOST IT

1w ago1 min read

Okay I need to vent because my wife thinks I overreacted. I was building this fairly detailed birdhouse with my older kids (10 and 8) - planning to stain it and everything. Left it in the garage for like 30 minutes and came back to find my youngest had taken it apart and covered it in markers. I yelled. I actually yelled. She cried, I felt terrible, whole thing was a disaster. The birdhouse is fixable but I was genuinely frustrated. Am I the only one who sometimes loses patience with this stuff or is this normal?

5 comments194 views

Comments(5)

SScott W.Regular1w ago

How'd your 10 and 8yo react? Did they get upset he wrecked it too or were they just watching the fireworks?

CCarl D.Regular1w ago

lol this is why my art projects now happen after 7:30pm behind a closed door. I feel you though, that sucks

BBob M.Regular1w ago

nah man you didn't overreact. that's actually a pretty reasonable frustration. you were doing a project WITH your older kids and this wasn't a case of him just being a 5yo in your space, he destroyed something you spent time on. understandable to lose it

TTerrence M.Regular1w ago

the birdhouse thing isn't even about the birdhouse though right? it's about having ONE thing that was just for you and the older kids that was special. your wife might be missing that this is about needing something in your own space

DDan M.Regular1w ago

I would've lost it too but real talk - kids that age literally cannot understand the concept of 'don't touch this' if it's sitting somewhere accessible. I've learned to assume everything left out is fair game and either put it away or accept it might get demolished