Summer break has just begun, but many parents and grandparents already feel overwhelmed by the whirlwind energy of their children.

Daughter stuck in window bars

Video shows girl trapped in window bars. Source: Provided by the family.

Sharing a moment when her youngest daughter got stuck between window bars, Mai (born 1985, from Thanh Hoa) drew sympathy from many fellow parents. With summer break just starting, she and many others already find themselves frazzled by their kids’ relentless energy.

Mai has four children, including a 13-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. She had planned to send her two younger children to her hometown to stay with their grandparents, but an unexpected mishap occurred before she could.

“On June 1, after lunch, I told the two youngest to nap in their upstairs room. Instead of sleeping, they climbed up to the window and started playing,” Mai recalled.

The window is about a meter above the floor, near the main door and a small hallway. Her daughter attempted to squeeze through the bars to get into the room but got her head stuck, causing panic.

Seeing the scene, Mai initially panicked but quickly composed herself, realizing it could be resolved. She took out her phone to record the moment as a lesson for her daughter, then helped her husband free the child.

“She got out the same way she got in. We lifted her horizontally and pulled her legs through. Honestly, she was more afraid of getting scolded than of being stuck,” Mai laughed.

With four children, Mai enforces “strict discipline.” Her older kids are expected to be independent, while she keeps a close eye on the younger ones to prevent accidents.

“Kids are naturally active, and parents sometimes can’t foresee every risk. I’ve already enrolled my three older children in swimming classes to prevent drowning, and my youngest is starting this summer,” she said. “With hyperactive kids, there's no choice but to supervise them closely to ensure a safe summer.”

Parents exhausted, grandparents overwhelmed

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The kids, covered in mud, catch snails, leeches, and tadpoles in the rice fields. Photo: Provided by the family

At the start of summer vacation, Nguyen Chi Le sent her two sons (ages 8 and 6) to their grandparents in Nghe An. Together with her brother’s two children, the grandparents' home was suddenly filled with the joyful chaos of four young boys.

Le shared a photo online of the children covered in mud after following their grandmother to the rice fields, writing, “Just one day in and they’re already like this. Feels like something out of a movie. I’m hoarse from shouting.”

The image quickly went viral on social media.

“Grandma was transplanting rice, and the kids insisted on tagging along. At 5 p.m., under the blazing sun, they ran into the fields. One wanted to help plant, the others caught crabs and snails. I was helping my mother and just felt helpless watching them,” Le said.

By day’s end, the children were caked in mud and proudly brought home a bag full of snails, tadpoles, and even leeches, much to Le’s horror.

Over the past few days, Le and her parents have felt completely drained. With four kids close in age, the house echoed with endless shouting, fighting, and crying.

“My mom has more patience, but my dad’s blood pressure went up. I planned to let the kids stay for a week, but after only three days, I had to take them all back home,” Le admitted.

However, things didn’t get better back home. “Their mischief shocked both my husband and mother-in-law. It’s fine if they play together for a day or two, but after a week, I feel dizzy,” she said, exasperated.

Broken TV and broken spirits

Hai watches helplessly as his child breaks the television. Source: Provided by the family

Hai, a father from Son La, had a similar experience. Just a few days ago, he watched helplessly as his 6-year-old son shattered their television.

The incident was captured and posted on TikTok with the caption, “Summer break just started and my paycheck is already gone,” drawing thousands of views.

Hai recounted that his son had been playing pickleball inside the house. The living room was small, and the TV was mounted on the wall. Within seconds, the boy hit the ball directly at the screen, cracking it.

“It was a 43-inch TV that cost me 9 million VND (about $350) two years ago. It was destroyed in seconds. My wife and I just stood there, speechless,” Hai recalled.

Now, he and his wife plan to send their two children to stay with their grandparents. “Grandma’s house has two TVs. Let’s see how long they last,” Hai joked.

Thanh Minh