Step 1: Pitch a gigantic fit. Make it a good one. Lots of sighing, eye rolling and feet stomping, please.
Step 2: Dramatically declare all things play doh banned from your home because your heathen children can’t keep the play doh on the table and off the carpet.
Step 3: Consult your most trusted adviser, Uncle Google, by searching for “How to get play doh out of carpet“.
Step 4: Try this method with moderate success.
Step 5: Sigh a little more.
Step 6: Feel a little tweak in your gut (heart? head? stomach?). What is this feeling? Guilt? Did you overreact?
Step 7: Hear the gentle prompting. Listen to God working on your heart.
Step 8: Remember that your house is home to 2 little boys, 1 manly-man and 1 giant dirty dog. At least play doh doesn’t stink.
Step 9: Notice that the play doh stain looks a little like a sunflower. Remember that you like sunflowers.
Step 10: Apologize to your heathen children and drag the play doh in from the garage.
The end.
Photos: Robert Donovan, Lance McCord, The Pink Princess
{ 29 comments }
I think apologizing when you over react is HUGE It’s hard to do that sometimes, but always worth it.
I usually just let the playdough dry and then use a knitting needle to pry it off the carpet and then vacuum. It works pretty well for me.
For some reason, this brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for reminding all mommies that we’re in this together and the big things aren’t really big at all. Have a joyful day!
After 37 such plah-doh tantrums by yours truly, I threw in the towel, hopped in the car, and purchased an outdoor, plastic table cloth for play-doh dates. Now, I put out the tablecloth and let the kids go at it!!
Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity´s last blog ..Bunching Up My Panties
Oh, my- this just happened at my house about 3 days ago!! We let it dry then scraped it off with a butterknife and vacuumed away. The kids had to work together to clean it all up & you know what, they DID. I went from so upset to so proud. I definately have a love/hate relationship with the play-dough. They have so much fun with it but it’s always such a mess.
Krafty Kat´s last blog ..Gettin’ Krafty With It 4
That is very sweet. We work on remembering this not just for play doh but also when our toddler gets super cranky after she has been sick. The alter ego is sometimes overwhelming but its always worth it when our sweet girl returns.
This brings back happy memories for me…when my kids were little, we went through a LOT of playdoh, but it was only allowed int he kitchen. I could keep an eye on them there while I did dishes, etc., and I had the soapy water all ready for clean-up. I could never understand those friends of mine that wouldn’t allow it in their house – childhood is a blink of the eye and playdoh doesn’t require anything but an imagination!
I so understand the tantrum! Although I haven’t been brave enough to bring out play-doh for my 2 yr old! But yes, I throw a fit then feel guilty about it and remember that he’s little. Thanks for sharing!
I can no longer throw a fit when I find play doh in the carpet! I have scentsy wall burners and under two of them is a stainded red spot where I have spilled them myself. I can now say accidents happen and lighten up a little
Thanks for sharing, It made me smile!
Theresa
This is such a sweet post. I find myself in these sort of situations quite often. That little tug at your gut, heart, stomach really does something to us moms, huh. Thanks for sharing
Aww, this is so precious. Totally reminds me of my childhood, haha — my father actually put green carpet down just to hide all of the stains he knew my sisters and I would make. Green carpet! So horrendous.
Chelsea
Chelsea´s last blog ..Life Made Lovely Monday
Love, Love, LOVE this post!! You rock!
Too funny. We had a similar ordeal last week. Only, I get the most angry about the kids feeding it to the dog. Yuck!
I absolutely loved this post. I laughed the whole way through. I do that stuff all the time and I hate hate hate Playdoh. Which makes me feel terrible but I do! Great job Mom!
danielleisnesting´s last blog ..Kids Style Tuesday
Thank you for this post! There have been so many times that I have over reacted and definitely heard that little voice telling me “is it really that big of a deal?” Most of the time it’s not. Thank you for this reminder
Oh, that little voice inside.
“That didn’t help, not one bit. Your little pouty, pout simply added fuel to the fire.”
Learning to apologize for the reaction BEFORE they even apologize for the cause. I wish I could do that…more often.
Rather than waiting for MY apology to unlock and come out after THEIRS frees it up.
I have much to learn.
But, I He’s a good teacher.
Dana @ Cookin’ at CafeD´s last blog ..Pottery Barn Free Shipping And- Target- and Amazon
Dear Kimba,
This post brought back vivid memories of a Mother’s Day about 25 years ago. I was a young mom of two little boys and my husband was a police officer in Houston, Texas. I was alone with my boys on what was supposed to be my special day, when one of them spilled a whole bowl of mushy corn flakes and milk on the carpet. If you have never tried to clean up wet cereal out of shaggy carpet..believe me it is a real treat. I pitched a fit about how unfair it was that I had to deal with this all alone..blah..blah…blah. I had a real pity party until I looked at my sweet boy’s faces and realized how lucky I was.
I try not to overreact, but if I do , I always make amends.
You sound like a good Mom
Janet xox
My kids LOVED playdough when they were young but I had to limit when it was used so as not to get too much in the carpet. Best to pull it out in the summer when they could play with it outside
Tamara´s last blog ..How To Plan a Stress Free Wedding – Get Lots of Volunteers!
Oh my, the giggles this stirred up in me! I used to practically strap the kids to the chair to keep them from getting out of the kitchen with any Play Doh!
Tracey´s last blog ..Share Care Love Disciple Mentor
Oh, I can totally relate!! 2 small boys, one large man, and a NEW carpet cleaner that I specifically requested for Christmas. I absolutely {heart} that thing! It’s my new BFF.
Kelleigh @ Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs´s last blog ..Safeway 1-7
Funny. This sounds JUST like my method of “How to Get Red Crayon Out of the Dryer”! Huh…
Heathahlee´s last blog ..For My Facebook Friends
This is quite possibly the funniest blog post I have read this week… I have to tell you, the stuff sure smells good though.
LOL keep at it!
Oh I think every mom can relate to this, and its good for us to apologize to our kids when we lose our cool
That way they learn that its ok to admit wrongdoing and its ok to humble yourself with an apology.
I usually just let playdough dry and then vacuum it up
Jana´s last blog ..On the lookout
I am slightly relieved that we haven’t opened the Play Doh “cake making” station that my younger daughter received for Christmas from Santa. I need to make sure I lay down the Play Doh rules first.
This exact scenario just played out in my house yesterday. Except the Play Doh stayed in the garbage at my house. From now on, it will be an outside toy…mark my words!
I always get it stuck in the crevices of my kitchen table. I loved this post, very sweet!
Stephanie@Geezees´s last blog ..Personalized Gifts for Valentines Day
haha I loved this, I am glad I am not the only one who throws tantrums! blah, we have had this same experience twice this last week! They are only little once right?
make homemade playdough, it is so much better and i think it would come out with hot water. so many fun ways to make it, google that too!
I love play doh, but I hate the mess! I hate silly putty worse though, that never comes out (well until you use “Goof Off”! that takes out everything!) We have a 6′x6′ thick vinyl craft mat that goes under the kids craft table and thank the good Lord we do because it has saved us a world of grief in messes! I don’t care now what they play with as long as it is on the mat… have at her! I too, did the hissy fit many times and had to put on my big girl panties and make a true Mamma apology for being over the top a few times. I think the kids learn something valuable from that, Like NO ONE is perfect! Not even Mamma!
Penny´s last blog ..So today- I putter
It wasn’t play doh at my house … it was Bag Balm (kinda line Vasaline.) When 2 of my sons were about 3 and 1 years of age they got into the Bag Balm and left huge grease stains on my new wall-to-wall carpet. I promise you the carpet hadn’t been in for more than a couple of months when it happened! There is a 6″ square stain in the middle of the master and the same in the boys’ room. I tried EVERYTHING to get the grease out! Now, finally, we’re in a position to replace all that stained carpet and I’m a little sad to see the stains and the memories of those little boys go out the door. You see, my two little boys are now 16 and 14 and they have a 10 year old brother. Hug your little ones, mommas, because they grow up so fast!