Well, first in was the plantlets from Jannich (sorry Jan) then it was the outrageously expensive Baby Brian I bought for my sister. Last night it was my Aly's Blizzard Bunny (the second one of them they have killed) I am so ready to get rid of the kids, then I have more room for violets!
AURGH! Anyone want to trade some plants for 4 beautiful children?
Janis
My kids killed ANOTHER AV!!!
Sorry don't have many AVs! Maybe lock them in the closet till they're older . But wait they may need light to grow as well!
YES! :-)
rotflol, now there's a trade I know you'd never go through with!
I've got an Aly's Blizzard Bunny from Allison, will try to get a couple of leaves down for you... I also have ears up on 'Optimara Little Crystal', so LMK if I should put that one on your wish list.... Maybe we can do a fall trade, AVs for sunny perennials?
I don't know if they're knocking them off a shelf or what, but I was just thinking that once we've got kids running around, putting a "plate rail" around the plant shelves might be a good idea...
Critter, it depends on the child. Mine never bothered any pets or plants.
I just might Jill LOL
i'll meet you half way between here and there. Or I can bring them to Pittsburgh. I'll just let you have them for a couple days.... and its only 3, cause the oldest is going away to work for a week or so. I bet you'd give me AV's to take them back LOL
I really don't have any perennials... except some irises..... Cause I hate to plant them and move :(
If we get the house, I'll have plenty of Hosta's, Yucca, and honeysuckle :) Oh and peonies :)
They just won't leave them alone! They were plucking leaves off of them (that is how they killed Baby Brian) the Aly's Blizzard Bunny yesterday they shredded..... I might have a pic, not sure if DeWayne took one or not :( They just won't leave them alone. I blew up yesterday and told them that if I found another with no leaves, or killed, they weren't allowed in the living room anymore. When I had the twins last week, they dumped a tray of leaves 3 times! I was livid... then my sis walks in and sees the perlite and soil on the carpet and says "What happened to your carpet"? I could have strangled her LOL
Janis
LOL Achoo! I think they do need light, and definately food and exersize. Is summer vacation over yet?
Spider, I just can't get them to leave them alone... and if I hear the puppy yelp, I know Sarah is close :(
Janis
you may have to choose between Sarah or the puppy.
My oldest just left to walk to where we got the puppy to see if they will take it back He is so cute, but will not house train, and I really don't like stepping in puddles and piles :( And DeWayne is leaving to go work with a guy laying foundations, and won't be here to take care of him. So I guess the puppy goes :(
Janis
Altho, it is a hard decision between the 2.... but she is at least house broke LOL
Get a puppy pen...set it up in the kitchen, or elswhere puppy can see activity and has bare floors.
Take outside hourly...otherwise puppy is in pen...only allowed to explore right after he has 'gone' outside and is being watched.
Crate or pen at night...you have to wake up and take him out when he cries.
Worked for me!
Sharon
You know my kids were always very respectful of my plants and I have had any trouble. They may not like them but they fear me. My grandson is nearly 4 and loves my plants. On Sunday w/ his mom in tow he picked up several of my AVs and would ask "Grandma, what's this little darlin's' name?" "Oh Grandma does this one need water?" "Grandma can I give this one to my mama?" and the my favorite - [he overheard several snippets of conversation that my daughter was having w/ her dad as they watched this scene in horror. I believe my 17 yr old daughter was saying something like, "Mom is turning him into a retard!"] He picked up an AV and said "Grandma, what's this little retard's name?"
Sorry if that offended any one, not my intent.
Sharon, we tried that and he cried continuously for hours. It was either let him out or shoot him (kidding sort of). DeWayne took him back to where he got him..... and now he is stomping around the house, but I don't have time to take care of a puppy, too.. it was his responsibility. I don't know what is gonna happen next :(
Janis
I think the puppy is better where he is now.
Ditto what Anna said "Critter, it depends on the child. Mine never bothered any pets or plants "
Janis sounds like you should call Dr. Phil
LOL Allison! I agree Anna, about hte puppy :)
Janis
Actually, my nieces & nephews and the neighbor kids have always been very careful around my plants... I get a lot of interest and questions about them, too! I have started giving African Violets as birthday presents. :-) You should've seen my 4 year old niece carry her violet all around the house, ever so carefully, admiring it and talking to it!
I was thinking not so much in terms of deliberate destruction but rather in terms of trying to prevent accidents, as even the most careful kids can catch the edge of a pot as they are heading somewhere double-time!
Janis, maybe you should wait until your children grow before attempting to grow AVs.
:)
I think I'll keep trying to raise both
Janis
Janis, tie them to a tree in the shade with a bucket of water and then let them in to sleep!! If they scream use duct tape...:-) LOL just kidding
Sorry to hear about Nitwit but at least things may settle down some. Hope you get the new place....Hugs Lauri
On the carnivorous plant forum we discussed duct taping them to the ceiling. It keeps them out of your hair and gives you more room for plants.
I can only say that my grandson has been made aware of how important all my plants are to me and even when running through the house he slows down and walks by the AVs. I think you have to start really early telling your kids that plants are things of beauty and to be enjoyed. On the off chance that an accident occurs you have to let them know that you are unhappy.
All 9 plantlets? LOL.I have more for you if you want them. Maybe a high shelf that the kids cant reach would work.
janis okay this may or may not work but here goes...try and get them interested in them. tell them a little about them and maybe get them to help carefully water or gives them some part of caring for them. maybe show them pictures of how beautiful the flowers will be when they bloom if none are blooming. i have gotten my kids interested slowly in plants. they have a respect for mine and i think they know what they mean to me. my plants are the one thing i allow myself. i don't collect anything but plants lol. my kids had 2 friends over last night and i was a tad nervous with that but they did great and no spilled dirt etc. although i did knock one over myself trying to catch our outside cats that ran in the house lol. i agree with the others place them as high as you can. i know this sounds weird but are they jealous of the new plants? kids are so funny.
hugs,
kelly
if this doesn't help when they destroy one i would take something away of theirs for awhile. i know this is tough but the old scripture do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Teach them the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Explain that it makes you sad when they "break" things that you like.
Some kids learn my sight and other by feeling. I say glue or nail the pots to a wood shelf. Sounds like that may be a good idea for you. Turmoil in a home sometimes comes out in ways that are not understood by all.
That is an excellent point Diane. I'll Dmail you in a few minutes
Well, I started to post earlier, but had to leave to go get Sarah's 2nd round of rabies shots. Only 2 more weeks to go LOL
Here is what I started to write earlier
Thanks for all the ideas, guys :) I hate to give up my plants, I think part of it is that I have never had "indoor" plants before. Last year, they were very careful with my seedlings, and they helped me plant them out and were so excited to have blooms. This year, it seemed like they went brain dead, and forgot about being careful around them, and killed a bunch of them too.
I just don't understand..... there have been other things of mine, of DeWaynes, that they have torn up, destroyed... we have tried everything possible. Taking things from them, grounding them, yelling, smacking behinds... nothing seems to matter. Kids today act so much differently than my generation. I was a child of the 80's.... and if I had deliberatley destroyed something, I'd have gotten in trouble beyond imagine. I just "knew" better. Why is it that I can't instill that in my kids? My 15 yr old has been on probation, and is working on going back on, really makes me wonder what I am doing wrong as a mom :(
This really makes me wonder if possibly Maski is onto something?
Huggers to all
Janis
Janis I'm sure your a very good Mom ! You are probaly raising what 4 kids ? All by yourself with no physical or mantal help doing just about everything yourself. With no rest for you. It's not an easy job.
Janis, I am also certain that you're a good mom! Kids have a lot of things coming at them at once sometimes, and they're all different in how they respond. You've been in my thoughts & prayers a lot lately, and I know you're unsure what to do about the house situation, and you mentioned that DH was drinking again, and I'm sure there's some tension there that the kids can't help but pick up on. Just keep loving them, and keep doing what you can to discipline them when they "act out," and see if you can help them find some other channels. I'm sure you can let them know that destruction is not OK and still be sympathetic to whatever feelings of stress or frustration may be underlying this sort of behavior. I've watched a couple of friends try to replace discipline with talking to their kids and "understanding" them, passing off all bad behavior with a shrug and an "oh, s/he is just acting out," and then I've watched those kids spiral out of control.... so I think there's a balance between understanding your kids and controlling or limiting their behavior.... yeah, I know, that's easy for me to say when we don't have kids yet, LOL! But we've been trying to take notes, so to speak, on what we see working or not working in other families.
Anyway, it sounds to me like you are doing a great job of parenting, and you're on the right track.... keep being persistant and consistant, and if you ever start thinking maybe you need outside help, get that help before things really blow up. I've never subscribed to the "all kids need therapy" school, but family counciling can be more a matter of "why struggle to re-invent the wheel?"
And I'm still praying that you'll find your new home, too! A yard of your own, and a roof over your head that you own... oh, I want that for you! :-) "Prayer is a path where there is none."