At first glance, a stranger might think that I have well-behaved children who do not spoil the carpet and swing from the rafters of our publicly tidy (privately trashed) home. This is a grave misconception. Allow me to take you on a virtual tour of the slight and oh-so subtle ways my children seek to destroy this house. 

 

Look closely. This is what happens after your children have knocked the lamp off the end table 147 times. Yes, I bought it on clearance. No, it was not originally crooked beyond repair.

Look closely. This is what happens after your children have knocked the lamp off the end table 147 times.

 

Just another victim.

Just another victim.

 

Wow, what a lovely shelf...

Wow, what a lovely shelf...

With such lovely artwork.

With such lovely artwork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a time this tree was lush with leaves, a descendent of The Great Valley. Then Rex made it into his treehouse and now his "animals" like to snack on the greenery.

There was a time this tree was lush with leaves. Then Rex made it into his treehouse and gave his animals free reign to pillage it of all things green.

 

Why do I even try?

This is why I shop at Ikea. It's cheap enough that when they destroy it, I don't feel too horrible.

 

Apparently, the ottoman did it. Who knew ottoman's could climb?

Apparently, the ottoman did it.

Just another reason why we don't have any ceiling fans. After the kids ripped this one from the ceiling while in motion, we've decided a gaping hole with exposed wires is way more safe.

Just another reason why we don't have any ceiling fans. After the kids ripped this one from the ceiling while in motion, we've decided a gaping hole with exposed wires is way more safe.

 

We clean. We decorate. We seek to create a home. They mess. They break. They persist in destructing a home. All in a day’s work. I guess it all depends on which side of the counter you sit on.