I should have known better

[Wyndi]

I  have been letting my soon to be 15 yr old son use my cell phone when he's out with his friends. Well tonight he hands it to me saying I don't know what happened but your screen is all messed up. So I open it up and there is a crack in the screen but he can't explain how it happened. It was in his pocket until I called him to come home for dinner.

Okay I get that teenage boys will wrestle and goof off. Just be honest with me. Will I be mad, yes because now I have to replace my cell phone and its less than 1 years old. Will I ground you or anything. NO, not if your honest with me about what happened to it.

Since he's not wanting to be honest, I'm going to take 1/2 of his allowance each week to pay for the replacement cell phone up to 1/2 the price of the new cell phone. I feel that is fair.

[shorty969]

Jun. 8, 2009 at 5:31 AM

ok if it was in his pocket until he took it out for your phone call and then he doesnt have a clue what happend after that? come on now unless he put it back in his pocket and hit the phone against a corner of a counter top or something like that then hes got to know what happened....so YES take out 1/2 his allowance i would too its only fair and if he puts up a fight about it then dock his pay for a whole week of allowance...i am serious...goood luck

[MSugarKane]

Jun. 8, 2009 at 7:23 AM

The part of his brain on remembering must be faulty.  That happens with that age group.  Taking their allowance does help with future memories.  He will have to weigh out using his brain or not when it comes to telling the truth.

[rocamom]

Jun. 8, 2009 at 7:55 AM I'm sorry about your cell phone. Maybe taking 1/2 his $$ will make him want to be honest with you:):) GOOD LUCK!!!

[Silvertears1275]

Jun. 8, 2009 at 11:38 AM

Even if he didn't really know what happened (and I agree that the chances of that are slim), he still should have to accept part of the responsibility of paying for a new phone.  The phone was in his care when it got broken.  It's just a life lesson.  I'm glad you are holding him responsible.  Too many moms wouldn't have.

[FXmomTo3]

Jun. 22, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Wyndi I think you are a great Mom!  You handle stuff like this with your teens so well....you are never hotheaded and I think that's the mistake so many parents make...you just find fair consequences that work!  you are awesome!  I pray I have enough smarts to get through the teen years as gracefully as you are!