A mum’s two year old son has caused heart-wrenching havoc after attempting to “clean up” their home.
Sharing her cleaning mishap on Twitter, user @whattsername revealed she likes to get her little one involved in the housework, and while he was “proud” of his efforts, the tool he used to clean the television wasn’t quite right.
In her now-viral tweet, she disclosed that her tot had used a sanding sponge to give the TV a scrub. She posted: “When I clean the house, I involve my 2 year old and he loves it. Yesterday, my wee lad came to me and proudly said ‘I cleandy up for you! ‘ (I cleaned up for you). Lads, He ‘cleaned’ the tv with a sanding sponge.”
The mum managed to keep her cool though, as she further explained: “I know my tweets give some of you baby fever so I gotta balance it out. It was one or the hardest things to thank him, then tell him that it actually ruined the tv because it wasn’t a sponge like he thought.. then I put him down for a nap because I needed to calm down.”
“He’s two. He was trying to help. He thought he did a good thing. He didn’t have bad intentions. If this was my parent’s generation, none of that would matter. But I’m trying to do better…it’s NOT EASY. But I’m still trying.”
After his attempt at cleaning went wrong, suggestions from internet users included creating a personalised cleaning basket with appropriate tools or toys to prevent future mishaps. One person commented: “Soooo sweet! He seems really enthusiastic. I’m sorry about your tv. Maybe make him a basket of cleaning things with a laminated paper of objects that he can clean on his own.”
“Then maybe ask him what things he would like to learn with supervision, that you can do together.”
The original poster enthusiastically replied: “This is exactly what I plan on doing! Thank you! ” Others have been doling out praise for the mum’s parenting skills, even in light of the TV mishap, saying: “Thank you for breaking the cycle and being such good parents. Your son may not notice it now but I guarantee he will in the future.”
@whattsername chimed in with a related childhood anecdote, responding to someone who tried boiling their teddy: “Glad everyone was safe! Kids have good intentions. Their way of following through can be…unique.”
Another supportive remark highlighted: “I’ve got a helper too. You just have to show them a better way for next time and avoid discouraging them. So hard but worth it in the long run!”