If door slamming and cabinet banging were Olympic sports, the three Midlos would

[Midlodemocrat]

take Gold, Silver and Bronze. No one else should even bother to show up.

What, I ask you, is SO hard about closing a door quietly rather than banging it shut? And, is there a requirement that when closing a cabinet door that you let it bounce at least three times before it slams shut?

:shrug:

[reyd reid reed]

1. No....Bonehead would take the gold.

His room is in the basement and I can hear when he leaves it. When I'm all the way upstairs in my room. Which is on the second floor.

I've actually given him door closing lessons:

"Stop right there, Bonehead. C'mere. Watch. This is 'closing'"

I demonstrate.

"This is 'slamming'."

Another demonstration.

"Note the differences. Specifically the lack of picture-rattling in the first example. Note the tilted frames following the second. Let's try this again -- 'correct'." Demonstrate. "Incorrect." Demonstrate. "Now you try the correct method. You can do it. You're a smart kid. I have confidence in you."

He rolls his eyes, "Mu-ther."

I've been doing that for three years. It's getting better. I only have to straighten the pictures in the hallway about once a day, now.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. And does he 'thump' when he walks?

I swear the 60 pound 10yo walks like a herd of elephants. I can almost 'feel' her running up the stairs.

What is that about? I don't remember being so thumpy or loud as a kid.

:hi:

[reyd reid reed]

3. Depends...he's not as bad about thumping

as the younger kids. And the degree of thumping from them seems to be directly proportionate to their level of irritation. Girly-poo is the champion, although my youngest is giving her a run for her money.

And when more than one of them is going either up or down the stairs...

Since when did it become a contest? I mean, it's not like there's something grand and glorious at the end of their journey: a room that would probably be declared a disaster area if a government official ever got a look. The promise of me yelling at them to settle down and clean something. Another slammed door.

*sigh*

:hi:

[Jo March]

6. So, take his door down

That's what I'm going to do if my daughter or so ever start slamming doors. Yep, gonna take that sucker right off of the hinges and they won't get it back until they learn to close the doors quietly!

I know - I'm mean. :evilgrin:

[reyd reid reed]

7. Heh...don't think it hasn't occurred to me...

it has. But there are three doors...one from the kitchen to the basement, one from the basement hallway into the basement proper and one to his room. And the basement's a walk-out.

*sigh*

[Jo March]

8. Take em all down! That would be a lot of work but funny

Imagine his face! Wow. You'd really make a point with that!

I don't know why it's so hard to close a door quietly. :shrug:

[Lars39]

4. Get those big thick felty circle thingies and put on the cabinet doors.

It's wonderful how just a few bucks worth of felt can save one's nerves. :hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

5. I'm thinking of making them move to the storage unit down the street.

I mean, it IS heated and has A/C. I think that will do my nerves a helluva lot of good.

[Lars39]

10. lol

:D

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

9. I slammed a door straight off it's hinges, once.

I was pissed.

[SOteric]

11. Heee! -Got any techie friends?

It would be soooo much fun to rig one of those magnetic switches to activate a recording that says "Owwww! Take it easy, dude, - that really hurts" when the door slams.

[Midlodemocrat]

14. Now THAT would be funny.

But, once the novelty wore off, I fear we would be back to slamming. x(

[Zookeeper]

12. My oldest just slammed the front door shut...

and caused a large painting to fall off of the wall.

As far as cabinet doors, I can't decide which is worse...them letting the door fall shut (which is loud) or leaving the darn thing open!

I need a small apartment attached to my house just for myself. :crazy:

[Midlodemocrat]

13. I'm seriously thinking outbuilding in the backyard for them.

Wire it for heat, A/C, (to keep those pesky CPS people off my back) and send them out there.

:shrug:

[Zookeeper]

15. That could work, too....

Although, with three kids, my chances are better if I can lock myself in somewhere else, rather than try to keep them out of the house. :hi:

(Truthfully, they've reached the age where they have social lives and I actually would like to see them around here a little bit more.)

[Midlodemocrat]

16. Boy I hear you on that one.

Keeping the 16yo around is an artform unto itself. The 10yo is always wanting to play here with her friends and I got my son a PS3, so he is VERY content to stay here with his friends at least for the time being.