My House Almost Burned Down - or Close to it!

So my Evie is wonderful and fantastic and totally thinks she is super able to do whatever she wants to do.

With that knowledge about my beautiful Evelynn, you have to also understand that she really does know a lot.  When I say "a lot", I really mean it.  She's my go to girl for so many things.  She helps with the littler kids, she likes to help with shopping and chores, she likes to be in charge.  She is my 'babysitter helper' for when I have an uncertain sitter.  (I have five children under 9, all my sitters are uncertain to a degree!)

So when I left for a dr. appt yesterday leaving my kids with a very good friend of mine and Visiting  Teacher who had never watched my kids before I was unconcerned.  I walked her through some things, but knew that most of the sitter's questions could be answered by Eve.  I was confident that things would be fine, like always.

That's what I get though for being too comfortable with my big little girl!

So my poor, kind friend is surprised by a house full of smoke about an hour before I get home!  She runs inside and finds out that for some reason Evie thought it would be okay to pop her own popcorn. She's never touched the microwave before or even asked about it before, for that matter.  But now, all of a sudden, she thinks that it's okay for her to use it on her own?  I have no clue what was going on and after a discussion with her, she hasn't got a clue either.  Apparently the idea popped in her head and she did it without any thought whatsoever.

I don't know, but the fact that she could have burned down my house because she randomly wanted to use the microwave was a huge wake-up.  I took her abilities to help for granted.

I'm very happy with how I handled it though.  I didn't get angry and I didn't yell.  I asked her about the incident and then told her what she was not going to be able to do as a consequence.  Then I told her why what she had done was wrong.  She was really embarrassed by her behavior and disciplined herself much more harshly than I would have done.

All I have to say at this point when she asks why she can't do something is that she almost burned down my house and her behavior changes/stops immediately! I don't think it will last for a long time, but I'm using it while I can.

Ahh, kids.  Not sure if it will get worse on her end, but I've got five so my odds aren't good on this not happening again!  Good thing I have a short memory and a forgiving heart!