Should I make him pay for it?

Last night I had to teach a class and the creche wasn't open. But it's behind reception which had three people on it last night so the girls said to put them in the room and they would keep an eye on them.

When I went to pick them up DD1 (7 but tiny) was sitting int he baby bouncer. Anyway she got out and then we tidied up and left.

This morning I got a phone call from the gym and they said the bouncer is broken. I spoke to DD1 and she said that DS(9) went in it and broke it :(

So...I have to replace it. Really awesome to spend the extra money just before xmas :wall: but should I make DS pay for it? He's getting $30 from my Mum which I was supposed to use for a voucher but i'm wondering if I should use it for the bouncer?

Or is that really mean? I don't know...just feel he won't learn his esson if I just pay for it. And how much are bouncers anyway??? Aggghhhhh...****ed off :(

Ummm, no I don't think so. Unless he deliberately did it and has done something like that before.

No he hasn't...but i'm so cranky...he's tall and should know better to sit in a tiny baby bouncer :( Grrrr, thanks Lu, I find it really hard to discipline him...I don't know why. Sometimes I think he's older than he is...

I think it wouldn't hurt to tell him what's happened and get him to pay a little of it. Explain that if it was an accident that's ok, but it still needs to be replaced, so this time you'll help him out.

I have a spare on you can have!!! I was going to give it away anyway!

That's a tough one hey? Could he pay half with you? And let him know exactly why? It sounds like he didn't break it on purpose but he should really have 'fessed up last night hey?

Yeah I agree with the going halves option. That way he might think twice before doing something that really he should have known better. Even your 7 yr old. Just because she is tiny, she should still have some part in it. Tiny or not its made for big kids & both are old enough IMO to have been able to understand that.
BUT they are kids so go easy.

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I have a spare on you can have!!! I was going to give it away anyway!

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Seriously? That would be awesome! I mean the one they had in there could be years old so they can't complain about that hey?

I do like the idea of going halves as he does have to take some responsibility and I guess so does Cass...it''s just hard with her because people seem to find it funny to put her in baby things as a joke as she's so tiny (16kgs).

Think i'll have a big chat with them...

Kylz...would be awesome but i'll def give you some money x

When do you need it? I dont have a car today but could drop it off after work tomorrow night?

That sucks especially in the week before Christmas! Instead of taking money from him, could you explain to him what has happened and that you have to pay for it and that you would like him to help pay for it and talk to him about doing some extra jobs at home to earn some money to help pay for the bouncer. I wouldn't take his present money away from him, but get him to 'earn' extra money to help pay for it.

:hug: It is so frustrating when stuff like that happens.

TBH they probably didn't realise that they could break it if they played in it. I think maybe explain that you've had a call from the creche who said they'd broken the bouncer and that it has to be replaced so the babies can use it. If you're getting the bouncer from Kylz get the kids to take it in to the centre and give it to the creche co-ordinator and get them to apologise to her for breaking it. Or maybe have them write a small apology note or card to give to the person when they take the bouncer in.

Great idea Tinks, thanks!

Kylz i'm not sure...I was going to drop it in probably tomorrow afternoon, I could come and grab it from you? Grrr it's in bloody Vicky Point too so thats 40 mins away :( Bloody kids.

Yeh thats cool but im at Regents Park. I be home by 5.30

Glad you got a bouncer sorted! But in answer to the orignial question, no I wouldn't make him pay for it. It wasn't broken with intent or malice, it was just a silly thing to do.

I like Tinks idea, get them both to take it in... That way they both understand they did the wrong thing. xoxox
And be carefully driving around today :-D It's really Wet out there!

I like Tinks' idea, too :) I have trouble with disciplining my two as well, even though it's a bit different because they're so much younger, but yeah, I really understand the frustration in trying to find the balance between teaching them that they have to be careful, and not going overboard with 'punishment' for a simple oversight, itms?? As in, sure, it wasn't damaged through malicious or deliberate intent, but the fact remains that he *did* damage it and needs to take some responsibility for that. Awesome that you found another bouncer, this is what I love about our beautiful community! :D
Good luck with it hun, I'm sure you'll find the right way to go about teaching your lovely DS that even when mistakes aren't made deliberately, we still have to fix them and think more carefully in future :) *hugs*

I dont think I would make him pay for it, BUT, if he had been warned not to sit in it and told that it would break if he sat in it, adn he sat in it anyway, then yeah, I'd make him put money toward it for sure, maybe half of his xmas money?

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Last night I had to teach a class and the creche wasn't open. But it's behind reception which had three people on it last night so the girls said to put them in the room and they would keep an eye on them.

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Soooo... the girls didn't see fit to say anything when they were "keeping an eye" out? Great eye there. I'd be cross with the girls on reception! Your son wouldn't have been near the bouncer if they'd spotted and said something.

Well they meant keeping an eye on the door to make sure they didn;t escape! I knew they wouldn't go inside and they shouldn't have to. It's my fault really for letting them in there alone but I really didn't think they'd break anything!

Thanks HEAPS Kylz...you are awesome!!!

No worries rach. Thanks for the wine. I will put it on ice till march lol