iPod gone AWOL: What should I do?
What a gorgeous September it's been so far, hasn't it? I am loving this weather — the glorious sunshine and cool nights. I was just commenting to a co-worker that if I didn't have kids, I'd take my holidays this month.
But I do have kids ... otherwise I wouldn't be writing this mum blog ... and telling you about a mum (and dad) dilemma that I'd like your help with. Here goes.
My 10 year-old daughter, Liv, has groovy purple iPod. Well, actually she HAD said ipod. In case you haven't already guessed, my dilemma is to do with the absence of this treasured tech toy.
Liv got the iPod from myself and her dad (my husband, Len) last Christmas as her special gift ... and she adores it. But about two weeks ago, it went missing.
Liv swears she last used it in the car ... or the back deck? ... or the back screened-in porch? It was one of those places, she is certain of that. But now we've searched the car, the backyard, the back deck, the kitchen, the bedroom, the ... well, you get the picture: We've searched the whole darn place and — alas — groovy purple iPod is gone and Liv is sad.
So-o, what's a mum to do?
As you know, iPods are not cheap. And I'm trying to strike the right balance in handling the loss of it because Liv is a good kid and I don't think she was careless with it.
Do we:
(a) Tell her she'll have to wait for Christmas for a new one?
(b) Go 50/50 with her on buying a new one (she has some pocket money saved up)?
(c) Buy a new one for her?
(d) Give her chores to do so she can earn a new one?
Write and tell me how you'd handle the situation. Thanks, Kathryn
September 15th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I would buy her a new one, I'm sure she feels bad enough losing it in the first place.We all know what it's like when we misplace or lose something. But you can suggest if she wants to, she can always help with chores, not as a punishment but to show her appreciation for replacing her groovy Purple IPod and for having cool parents.
September 15th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
So sorry for her loss. It is a difficult life lesson when we (at any age) lose something we enjoy that much. That being said I would sit down & discuss the situation with her & let her know that these things do in fact happen. And I would ask her how she thinks this situation could be resolved. Get her feedback on this. At the age of 10 she may not fully understand the value of money & this is an excellent opportunity to teach her that you are supportive of her even in the area of money & life lessons. So bottom line use this to help her learn & offer to pay half of the purchase price of a new one.
Hope this helps you.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Hmmm...that's a difficult question especially when it has to do with someone else's kid. But the first thing that came to me, is obviously Liv did take care of her Ipod seeing she had it since last December. That already says a lot for a 10 year old, that she's a diligent child.I like both suggestions shared by Huguette and Anne. May be before surprising her with the news of replacing it, ask her for any ideas or suggestions before to see her feedback, and follow her leading. It's amazing the things kids think of or suggest.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
That bites the big one that's for sure! I've told my 11 yr old (last year she was 10) that if she lost her Ipod, I wouldn't replace it. It's been a year since then, and still she has not lost it....yet. If she were to lose it, she'd have to work to earn the money to replace it. Secretly, I'd monitor how she was doing on the "work for money and save to get something" issue. If I saw that she was making progress and getting close to her goal, I might give her a little more help; but ultimately she'd have to earn it all on her own.
Life isn't fair. That's reality, as unfair as it sounds. Everything happens for a reason...and everything serves as a lesson.
Good luck.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Teach the kid responsibility. Don't buy her another iPod. Money don't grow on trees.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
This is a tough one. Once kids get to be about 9 or so, the whole issue of money, purchasing and replacing items, and what is a "need" vs a "want" becomes so difficult. I was so relieved when two of my children became old enough for me to offer them clothing allowances; it put much of the decision-making in their hands and took me out of the position of having to determine whether or not that additional pair of jeans was a need or a want ("Oh, please, please, Mom. I really need them!"). Why did I always end up feeling like a stingy miserly mom for questioning their "needs"?
My youngest daughter is 13 and would love the same offer of a clothing allowance, but I think we need to wait a wee bit longer until I am certain she has learned all these early lessons about financial responsibility (ie what happens when you lose an iPod that was a Christmas gift?) and can manage taking it on solo, without me, the judge, to arbitrate.
Good luck with this. And please let us know what you decide to do, and fill us in on how your daughter responds!
Susan
October 4th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
How about helping her find a good used one after assisting her in finding ways to earn money for it; i.e. collecting bottles to return for cash, taking used clothing or toys to a consignment shop. That way she'll learn that her used things, kept in good condition, will bring cash for other things she wants....and that she doesn't always have to have something new.