My youngest daughter called for advise.
By marguicha
@marguicha (228464)
Chile
November 25, 2016 11:38am CST
She told me that my 13 year old grandson, Vicente, had lost his smartphone. I was seated when she told me the price of it, because it was more thanhalf of my month´s retirement pension.
She explained the importance that he had a phone with whatsapp and I replied that I could talk through whatsapp in my cellphone who wasn´t smart and costed less thatn half of the lost smartphone.
It seemed that my dughter wanted Vicente to have what other children had and this thingies was the only way to get pokemon gos. The thing was, Vicente wasn´t interested in pokemons after 2 days and lost the expensive smartphone in a couple of weeks.
She asked me what should she do to him as punishment. I told her that as it was her fault, I´d have to think of a punishment for her.
I don´t think that children are guilty if you give them things that are too expensive for them. Would you blame a child if he lost a Rolex watch?
I don´t think that children are guilty if you give them things that are too expensive for them. Would you blame a child if he lost a Rolex watch?5 people like this
10 responses
@just4him (318791)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Nov 16
I'm afraid I would. I was always taught to take care of the things I was given. My son started wearing glasses at five years old, and lost them to the point where we were buying him a new pair at least once a week. Some he lost on purpose because he didn't want to wear them. He needed those glasses so he could see. It wasn't my fault for giving them to him that he lost them.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
25 Nov 16
But material things don´t mean much for children now. They are given too much.
2 people like this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
26 Nov 16
@just4him Thast is part of the problem. When people have too much (and not just children) they think everything is replacable.
1 person likes this
@just4him (318791)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 Nov 16
@marguicha True, and parents should be held responsible in that case, but the child should also be taught to care for his things.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
26 Nov 16
I suppose, after a day or two, my daughter will buy him another phone. I hope this one will be less expensive. I told har that if she wanted to buy expensive phones, to give it to me
2 people like this
@JudyEv (362437)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 16
@marguicha At least you'd take care of it. :)
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
26 Nov 16
I wouldn't trust MYSELF with an expensive phone. Stuff does happen, I have lost or broken expensive things myself. So I would probably only give something like that to a child with the understanding that if it is lost, too bad. I don't think I would punish the kid, but he wouldn't be getting another phone (at any price).
Full disclosure...I have no kids...so maybe my opinion is invalid here. 
Stuff does happen, I have lost or broken expensive things myself. So I would probably only give something like that to a child with the understanding that if it is lost, too bad. I don't think I would punish the kid, but he wouldn't be getting another phone (at any price).
Full disclosure...I have no kids...so maybe my opinion is invalid here. 1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
26 Nov 16
On thinking it over, I think I´d give him another phone, but not as expensive. That was her fault.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21742)
• Canada
25 Nov 16
I certainly wouldn't be rushing out and replacing this young man's phone. Doing without will make him appreciate its 'value' and hopefully when it is eventually replaced he will take better care of it.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
25 Nov 16
I agree. Yeyt it is not totally his fault. I have never in my life seen so many dolls as my granddaughter has. I remember how happy we were on Christmas when we recieved a couple of presents.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22925)
• India
26 Nov 16
Children nowadays want what their friends have, its up to us to listen or not listen to their demands
1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
26 Nov 16
I think that in this case, it was my daughter´s fault to give him something too expensive.
@thislittlepennyearns (65864)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
25 Nov 16
It depends on the child, clearly he wasn't ready to be responsible for such an item at his age. If he needs a phone to make calls, then get him a cheap prepaid phone not a expensive smaart phone. That is what I would of told your daughter
1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
25 Nov 16
That´s what I told my daughter. But when the stupid pokemon gos appeared, there was a "need" for youngsters to get them. It seems that even grown ups go into that. Fortunatly my grandson did not care for them. True, he lost the cellphone, but he still uses his time in more interesting ways.
@thislittlepennyearns (65864)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
25 Nov 16
@marguicha i have the game on my phone and will play it sometimes, but i didn't buy a new phone just to play the game.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
25 Nov 16
My daughter herself doesn´t have a phone that expensive. I told her all I thought about it on that conversation.
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
25 Nov 16
I agree! And they don´t know how to take care of them as they don´t know the value of money.
1 person likes this
@shey816 (234)
•
25 Nov 16
LOL. I like the "I'd have to think of a punishment for her." part
Surely parents will be upset if kids didn't take care of expensive gift. But for kids, they're not after the cost of buying it.
Hope they can recover the phone.
On a side note,
Our parents give us what we need. They taught us the need vs want when we're young. If they think it's a luxury for us, they just tell us that we have to work it out to have it.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (228464)
• Chile
25 Nov 16
I had that idea when my kids were young. Now the children are too ppampered and have too many things.
1 person likes this
