BUSTED!

I hate toys with batteries. So do most mums. But I've accepted they are a part of life. So have most mums.

But once those batteries run out I NEVER replace them. Instead I tell the kids to use their imagination and make their own sounds/talking/singing.

My excuse? We don't own a screwdriver to open it up and replace the batteries.
My husband is a mechanic-we have screwdrivers in every section of the house and he has a truck FULL of tools. But the kids have blindly put their faith in me and I've deceived them.

For the past 6 years this has worked well.

Until today

Kaitlyn (6yrs old) was getting the duster out of the laundry cupboard, in the bottom of the laundry cupboard is a box with bits and pieces; Allen keys, light globes, gardening gloves, dustpan and brush, duster and SCREWDRIVERS!

"Mum, look I have a screwdriver, will this open up my toys to put new batteries in?" Kaitlyn came bounding out of the laundry holding up a perfect sized screwdriver.

"I'm not sure, Kaitlyn"

"Let me try it"

I held my breath and hoped she picked a toy that wouldn't open up.
I knew she had the right screwdriver

"Look mummy, it fits-can we open it, we have lots of batteries in the drawer"

Damn it! She knows I keep a drawer full of spare batteries.

I was busted!

"Mum, can you put new batteries in my dinosaur?" Bradley heard what was happening and came in with all his toys that needed new batteries.

So now not only do we have all new toys from Christmas with perfectly working batteries, we now have all their old toys with fully charged perfectly working batteries.

Moral of the story: don't give your kids chores. No chores=no rummaging through the laundry cupboard=not finding screwdrivers=No new batteries for old toys=happy, quiet house!