All this talk of child-related damage makes me more and more happy I own cats.

You haven't met my cats.

Eldest nephew was capable of some award-worthy acts of creative destruction, some sanctioned, some not. Younger, however, is more likely to spontaneously start mopping the floors or cleaning the countertops. I'm not kidding. He's a little neat freak.

Can he come over to my house?

Best use of autotune ever.

Because it's my understanding that you aren't actually allowed to pick kids up by their heels and swing them around your head like a bola and then let fly.

It's just the "letting fly" that's prohibited. Unless they're toddlers and you do it over the bed. As a game!

What?

The most expensive thing my two have ruined was a digital camera, which B. left lying on our lawn. Next to the paddling pool.

Dylan drowned our first Flip camcorder in Lake Huron, but it was ok because it gave me an excuse to upgrade.

He also killed the Roomba by turning it on and off (he liked the noises) until the battery gave up and quit.

Em will do spontaneous cleaning unless it's her room.

Suzi, I'm so sorry.

Liese, that sounds like a wonderful experience!

I'm sure I don't have the emotional stability to be a parent. My kids would have been the ones whose mommy had to go away with the doctors for a while.

Sorry, SuziQ

I'm sure I don't have the emotional stability to be a parent. My kids would have been the ones whose mommy had to go away with the doctors for a while.

There have been times when I've told them not to bother me unless the house is on fire or they're bleeding from the head. For their own safety.

You haven't met my cats.

Seriously, mine too. Most of the damage has been to my bank account though. And the rugs.

My kids would have been the ones whose mommy had to go away with the doctors for a while.

This past summer I kept flashing on the scene from YA-YA Sisterhood where the mom breaks. And then my dad came and stayed a month.