Other people handling your dolls

hmmmm interesting kunundrum

These all are i n addition to the ones that may or may not have already been mentioned:

1.) Take it to someone else's home and have it stored there ( a friendly BJD owner that lives around you is an absolute bonus!!!

2.) Make the person who breaks or chips or damages your doll to PAY..warn them VERY clearly that if supervision fails enough to allow these terrors to touch/play/damage... tell them you will make them pay.. Make sure you tell them it is a serious issue and if you see anything difference in your dolls (god they could be eating and have messy hands) tell them that you will take them to court if they wont fess up the money if it :: does :: happen

3.) break something of theirs....like a leg... :cry:

4.) Glass cabinet ; put your dolls in there and lock it... if it breaks then you can definately sue for damages.

5.) Some sort of opaque cabinet with monstrous locks so they can't open it.

6.) Lock the room with the dolls. ...bring the key wherever you go

7.) By them a cat to play with...or borrow one that's almost dead from age ...that'll keep em sound

8.) Hide the dolls in a computer shell cpu thing... they won't look there.... O.O
(make sure you pad it up)

9.) Hold them and bring them wheevr you go...slap them if they go near you
or tell them you're so sick they'll catch a sickness if they get within arm's length near you

10.) Send a parcel EMS when they arrive and keep doing it until they leave (... i'm obviously kidding..but hey...it's a nice concept!)

That's about it.

 

I'd suggest you to hide your dolls in a closet and lock it.
Or to put all of your more precious things in your favorite studio and lock its door: you can always tell your stepsister you are painting its walls or something...
So, when your stepsister and the kids are away, you can easily walk into the studio and play with your dolls - when they come back, all you have to do is lock its door again :grin:

 

I second the whole hiding /warning about the price and making pay if something breaks.

I'm sure that little kids can understand what they can do and not; I'm the oldest of both families, and I have a bunch of little cousins. A serious to death stare meaning " I'm not your mother and you can't beat me"and a " NO, you can't keep it" kept my little pony collection safe from wild little brats :grin:

 

hide them in the closet! hide them all, don't take chances.

 

I've had the same issue before--computers, harps, miniatures, and breakables abound in my house, as do some very grumpy rabbits who have a tendency to bite first and ask questions later. I didn't, however, want to feel like a prisoner in my own house; I refused to move my stuff for someone else. Here's what I did:

1. Called mom and explained my concerns and the ground rules before she came over, including prices of relevant items and my worries about their breakability. When she questioned why she was being given this treatment, I had on hand several examples of the kids' behavior to make that clear. I wasn't rude or hostile, and I made sure to express my concerns in terms of her childrens' safety. (Snapping harp strings can put out an EYE, mom! Don't touch! It's like a MINEFIELD around here. Be sure they bring something to do!! ) I also explained that visits would have to be short.

2. When they came over, I watched the kids like a hawk and didn't let them out of my sight. They were only allowed to be in the room with us.

3. When a rule was broken, and the kids got ahold of my harp, I said, "Okay! Well, that's that. If you can't respect my rules, I can't let you stay in my house!" cheerfully but firmly--and asked them all to leave then and there. We then set up dates outside my home, but that way nobody could say I didn't try first.

Yes, it was harsh, but it was better than billing a relative for a $8,000 harp. And frankly, there's a REASON why I'm not having kids; I don't WANT anyone running amok amongst my stuff!

I'm glad to see that so many members think it's okay to enforce rules strictly--maybe the next generation of small children will be well-behaved. Frankly, I'm kinda sick of "let's adjust the world for the children" instead of "let's make the kids do what they're supposed to do." (*thinks of the parent group who wants to take the egg-eating scene out of RAMBO to prevent kids from imitating him and getting salmonella* )

 

My vote is to put your dolls in the studio with the glass, and lock it. Also, tell them in whatever way you find best not to come over unannounced, and do not let them in if they do. "Dropping in" is just plain rude.

Don't even take the risk of giving your neice and nephew the chance to behave around your dolls. If these kids have not been taught basic appropriate behavior, then you are not going to change that in an afternoon. Threatening that any damage will be charged is not going to work. If your relatives are like mine, you'll never get any money out of them. And even if you did, would you rather have the money, or your doll in one piece?

If your stepsister has not been to your house before, or if you've recently made a major change (or can say you did), flat out tell her 'No. My house is not safe for children. We'll have to meet somewhere else."
It's hard to do that if they've been over before and know the state of your house, though.

Whatever you do, stick to it. Your relatives sound like the sort who can wear you down until you'll do whatever if it just to get some peace. Don't give them the chance. Set your limit beforehand, and as soon as it has been hit, take action.

 

I would put them away...in a room where you can lock the door and wear the key around your neck!!! You have the right to protect your belongings and better to hide them away than have them broken or messed up somehow. Kids should learn to respect other people's stuff but if they don't show respect, then lock it up!!!


Az

 

* breaks out into wild applause *

I am so on board with what Kiriko said.

Letting children run amok is out of the question. If someone showed up to visit me with unruly brats, I'd have them wait a moment, get my keys and lock the door on my way out. Choice is theirs: we can sit on the steps and have our little visit there, or we can go somewhere else like the park, but they are NOT entering my home.

Also, quickest way to teach a kid the value of property: damage their own. I've warned children that if my stuff is maltreated in anyway I will promptly break PS2 discs in half, and make them watch as I feed their Yu-gi-oh collection to the shredder. And yes, I will follow through.

 

I second Kiriko moth!!!
You don't have to be mean, but let them know firmly whats what, and ENFORCE it!
Give them one opportunity to follow your rules, and if they don't, IT IS YOUR HOUSE!

 

Totally agreed.

I hate other people's kids (with a few exceptions) . . . everyone's always amazed at how POLITE Kira (my daughter) is, but that's because she was bloody well raised right -- she's a good and well-behaved kid, and I've brought her up with discipline and lots of love. The problem is that a lot of parents are afraid to set boundaries for their kids, so they turn out like they were raised by wolves :/

I definitely think you should lock up your glass studio, and maybe that'd be a good temporary residence for your dolls during the visit. Taking the kids out someplace instead of having them at your home is also a great idea!!

**hugs** and good luck!!

-- A (familiar with the "Oh, it's just a doll, why don't you let him/her play with it?" mindset among other people . . . grrr! I tend to reply that it's an expensive imported artist's doll, not a toy or intended for children at all. That usually works!!)

 

I tried to think what I would do if my cousin's kids were coming for a visit...

Put the dolls away in the closet, on the top shelf, in their boxes. If the kids don't know they are there, they hopefully will leave them alone. Certainly do not let them go around your house unsupervised.

May it plain what the house rules are, and make it clear to your stepsister that if the house rules are broken, that she and her kids will have to leave. Stick to it, also. You let them know in advance, they had fair warning.

Have plenty of stuff for the kids to do...if it seems like too much, then it probably is just the right amount...it doesn't have to be expensive, but cheap handheld electronic games, outdoor stuff like sidewalk chalk (if you have a sidewalk area or patio), books, some arts and crafts stuff...I remember some visits as a small child to childless relatives, and it could get tedious at times. ops:

If they do behave themselves, make sure to thank them. Kids do like to be praised, and if they discover that good behavior gets results, then maybe they'll be inclined to do it more often.

Good luck to you...it's hard to lay down the law to family, but if these kids are that out of control, they need to find out now while they are still young. And you definitely need to protect your dolls.

 

This is true -- I always talk to my friends' kids like they're little adults, in a slightly conspiratorial tone, and they react really well to it . . . they always think I'm the 'cool aunt'. And I tell them, if they're well-behaved, that it was a pleasure to see them, and that I've enjoyed visiting with them . . . their little faces just light up, because so few grown-ups feel the need to talk to kids outside of "My, you've grown!"

This doesn't mean that you should let them have free reign with your stuff, but if you treat them like little people instead of little barbarians, they may respond to it . . . as long as you've taken the precaution of putting your most precious possessions behind lock and key first, just in case!!

-- A

 

I agree with the people who have said this-tell them not to touch the things, and they will probably listen because you are not a parent or somebody who they are around all the time(therefore, losing respect for) I know my cousin is a pain in the ass when it comes to stuff like that, but when she came to my house, my dolls were here, and I asked her to please not touch them, and she said OK, and occupied herself with other things.

 

I recommend either putting locks on the doors that you want to stay closed (locks that use keys, not pinholes, those are too easy to get open), or get a big locking trunk that comes with a key to put all the things you don't want broken into, and then put that in a closet with the closet door closed. You could put pillows and blankets and such in there for your dollies.

 

This worked well for me. It gives you peace of mind knowing that no one can enter your spaces you are worried about except you...

 

Oh My God! I would feel absolutely sick to my stomach if this happened to me. Absolutely sick!

That could be lots of fun!

 

Splendid idea

 

I agree too.