my ds accidentally broke a boy's necklace on the bus, parent wants "restitution"

[BWVDenise]

for the $5.35 it cost to have it repaired. Mind that she never gave me the opportunity to offer to pay for the repair but demanded it through the school principal. I just got the fax she sent him asking him to forward the receipt to me. I have 3 problems with this whole thing and it is really bugging me.
1. Leave valuable jewelry at home!-- it has no place at school with 3rd grade boys
2. It was not a malicious, intentional act. They were playing, as boys do!
3. I am the type of person who would have OFFERED to pay for it had it not be DEMANDED of me.

The principal actually seems embarassed and is uncomfortable because he feels like he is stuck in the middle of something that he shouldn't be in the middle of. I don't want to send the money back to school because of this and would rather deliver it personally to their house except that I don't know which house is their's.
WWYD?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They probably didn't go about it right away--but I would just pay it.

Holding back just b/c it was demanded, doesn't seem right. You know--2 wrongs don't make a right.

 

[Blue Skies]

It is reasonable for you to pay to fix the necklace. The amount given also seems reasonable to me.

I would give a check to the principal for the amount and have my DS apologize to the boy for the accident.

 

[lindalinda]

While I think that is was rude and kind of wierd (I mean 5$???), I would just send the money in anyway. It was broken , so the other parties behavior doesnt really matter. Maybe have your son include a note apologising for breaking it. Puts you on the "high road" so to speak.

 

[alabamaalan]

Send the money to the school, let the office give it to the boy to give his mother, and plan to never contact her for anything in the future.

It will be worth $5.35 to just shut her up.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would pay it and get it off of my kid's back. Not worth it for him to go to school with this.

 

[Connieh]

Well, I would send the $5.35. Then I would tell my son to be more careful in the future.

I'd be happy they didn't send a bill for a replacement.

 

[taximomfor4]

I would pay it. Any type of playing that belongs on a bus could not have broken a necklace.

ETA: Oh yeah, and pay through the principal. Another witness, so it can actually end

 

[Aidensmom]

Did you know it was broken before you got the fax? Is there any contact info for her like a phone number, or does she expect the money to go through the principal?

I understand how you feel. I would have offered if I was aware of it and knew how to contact the mother, or if she would have contacted me directly. They way she went about it is kind of rude, IMHO. And I agree, I wouldn't send my 3rd grade boy to school with ANYTHING expensive.

 

[orljustin]

I don't know what is with parents these days. If it is someone you know, why can't parents just talk at the bus stop about it, instead of going through official means for the tiniest things.

 

[KristinBelle]

I'd send them 6.00 bucks and tell them they can keep the change.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Send the money to the school, let the office give it to the boy to give his mother, and plan to never contact her for anything in the future.

It will be worth $5.35 to just shut her up.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

just pay it, and i like the 6$ idea

 

[poohandwendy]

LOL, I would pay it too but is anyone else just rolling their eyes at the ridiculousness of actually going out of your way like this for five and a quarter?

Wow, some people have too much time on their hands.

 

[Disney4Drew]

I don't know what is with parents these days. If it is someone you know, why can't parents just talk at the bus stop about it, instead of going through official means for the tiniest things.

Exactly....

 

[ducklite]

I feel that you should pay for the damage necklace, but the parents sound like freaks the way they went about it!

Anne

 

[JunieJay]

I'd put a check in the mail and chalk it up to how absurd people can be.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I wouldn't deliver it personally. Judging by how the parent reacted to the principal, I would be afraid how he/she would react to you in person. You don't want to put yourself or your child in harms way for $5.35. Good luck!

 

[akhenaten]

I'd send them 6.00 bucks and tell them they can keep the change.

do you know all the details of the incident? they are not trying to get you to send $$ to admit guilt and then ask for more........
just seems really strange........

 

[MareQ]

@@ My goodness some people go way overboard for silly things. Doesn't the Principal have more important thing to do???: Geez.

I agree pay it - and I also like the $6.00 idea with a "keep the change" note in it. Either that or pay her all in change - LMGDAO!!!