Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Shenanigans



See the hole for the handle on the bench up there? Mom has decided that it is fun to pour stuff in there. Water, chocolate milk...

I usually try to keep a cup of water or other drink available for her at all times. If she is thirsty, she can just find it and drink whatever she wants. She won't (can't) ask for it, usually.

What is the solution? I don't want my floors ruined by standing water, but I also don't want Mom going thirsty. Keep small amounts of water available, so that if she does pour it down the bench handle, it is just a little bit? Check the floor every hour? Argh!

Any suggestions?

9 comments:

sophanne said...

put a bowl/cake pan underneath the bench to catch the water- or maybe a giant sponge.

LostInColor said...

Cover the hole. You can make a board that sits in the slot, and then the sits on top of the bench.

Cindy said...

Good suggestions one and all. I had a smart remark typed, but erased it. Sometimes there is nothing you can do but repair. She will lose interest soon. Just check it when you walk by and try to let it go. You might stuff a sponge in the hole and see if she will make art with it.

Annie said...

So I've put a bowl under the hole and set a magazine over the hole. Out of sight, out of mind?

Thank you for suggestions. Why didn't I think of them?

Cindy, I like smart remarks, go for it!

LostInColor said...

I forgot to say, I love the word shenanigans! :)

Anonymous said...

Shoot! Everyone else got here first! My first thought was the bowl, kind of a port-a-potty idea too! Second was a nice plant covering the hole. I agree, out of sight, out of mind.

Also, it may help if you move the bench so that the habit of pouring things in this hols is no longer a temptation.

Another suggestion, one that we lived by with my Mom, is to use covered cups, like adult sippy cups. We used many drink boxes and those plastic sippy straw (convenience store) cups with screw on lids. We (truthfully) told Mom that they kept her iced tea and water colder. These also keep drinks from spillng in places such as benches! :) My Mom liked to "give the dogs a drink" and would intentionally spill any liquid from a cup on the floor for the dogs.

cornbread hell said...

"You might stuff a sponge in the hole and see if she will make art with it."

this is brilliant.

Turtle said...

duct tape for now, easy to remove later and flat.

Anonymous said...

Would relocating the bench help? Good luck!