what would you do? (Lost Nintendo DS) *update post #20*

[DawnM]

My middle son lost his DS about 2 months ago. We have looked everywhere we know to look and have called places we have been to ask about lost and found.

His birthday is in December. We would plan to spend about $100 on his birthday anyway.

Should we replace the DS for a gift or continue to teach him a lesson? Or maybe make him pay half? Give him half the $$ for his birthday?

I am torn. I want him to be more responsible, but I know I have lost things before too.

Dawn

 

[The Hendies]

Will he get any cash as Christmas gifts from relatives? If so, then maybe give him half of the cost of the replacement for his birthday, and have him contribute his own Christmas money for the remainder. If no other cash gifts are expected, maybe he can 'work off' the other half. List chores with a 'price' next to them. When he completes a chore, he gets credit toward the DS.

 

[Alesia]

If it were my daughter, I would make her pay half. Yes, we all lose things. It happens. But when I, as an adult, lose something, I have to pay to replace it. Kids need to learn to take responsibility for their mistakes, too.

I think that's why my daughter is more careful with her things than most her friends are.

 

[Hannathy]

I would leave it up to him, it is his birthday. If he normally gets $100. that is what he would get and what he does with it is his business. HE could get a new DS or keep looking and get something else. Because if he gets a new DS with it then he has punished himself because he won't be getting something else with the money that he would have wanted. He will have had to make that decision and suffer the consequences of loosing it. If he hadn't of lost it he would have had a DS AND $100 dollars now to spend on something else great.

 

[Kiwini]

I thought DS meant "dear son", which made the story all the more confusing.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I'm assuming you're talking about the 9yo? I wouldn't replace it. IMOP, at 9yo, a kid should be responsible enough to be able to care for a DS without losing it.

Yes, we all lose stuff, but then we have to pay the consequences, If he wants a new one, I would make him use his birthday money.

 

[Kat77]

I thought DS meant "dear son", which made the story all the more confusing.

I reread with that thought in mind- you just made my day!

 

[brandip22]

I originally thought son as well!!

 

[disykat]

I thought DS meant "dear son", which made the story all the more confusing.

It does. It took me a minute too. My first thought was a missing child until I read further and realized.

 

[justcantwait]

When my DS (dear son) broke his DS (Nintendo), he wanted to upgrade to the DSi. He had about $90 saved up and we agreed to use his money and put the rest in. It was his fault the DS broke because he kept dropping it. We had gotten him the Nerf armor to protect it, but he didn't like the way it felt in his hands after that, so he took it off. Then he dropped it and broke the hinge. It would have cost $75 to repair it, or we could put the $75 in with his money to get the DSi. Seemed like a better idea, technologically speaking. So, I would say if your son wants to replace the DS that he lost, I'd make him use any birthday money he gets, or simply get it for him as his only birthday present. It gets his DS replaced, but hopefully teaches him to take care of his things. Good luck!

Kathy

 

[lovemygrowingfamily]

The ninds theif must be going around to everyones homes. My dd 3 lost my ds 9's NinDS in the house some where are we have looked everywhere.Its no where to be found.

When my ds 9 lost his Mario game we made him buy it with his own money. That was punishment enough since he never spends his money and it took all that he had to use it. I would make him pay for a new ninDS because if you did then he could still go and buy something else with his leftover $$. If you did happen to find it one day then he could give his old one to a sibling as a gift if they didn't have one yet. Which could be rewarding for him also.

 

[DawnM]

This was what they all got last Christmas.....each of them got a DS (Nintendo!) and they share games for the most part.

Dawn

The ninds theif must be going around to everyones homes. My dd 3 lost my ds 9's NinDS in the house some where are we have looked everywhere.Its no where to be found.

When my ds 9 lost his Mario game we made him buy it with his own money. That was punishment enough since he never spends his money and it took all that he had to use it. I would make him pay for a new ninDS because if you did then he could still go and buy something else with his leftover $$. If you did happen to find it one day then he could give his old one to a sibling as a gift if they didn't have one yet. Which could be rewarding for him also.

 

[DawnM]

No, my SON is not lost! His Nintendo is! Although this IS the DS (son) who got lost at Disneyland at age 3 and about made me have a heart attack!

The other story I haven't shared was from 5 years ago. I had purchased 2 gameboys for my older two boys for Christmas. We lost one. I thought this SAME DS (son) had lost it, but I did buy him a new/used one.

Well.....during our packing up and moving out of CA, I found it! Guess where????? Where *I* had put it away for safe keeping!!!!

We will decide what to do.

His birthday is in Dec. as well as Christmas......so maybe between the two he can get enough $$.

Dawn

 

[ebtbmom]

I read the subject line and thought that you're son was missing. You almost gave me a heart attack, be careful with the abbreviations.

 

[happymommy]

Funny - my DD lost her old GBA and we found it a year later - in my husband's car! My DS lost his old GBA, then never found it - but it was weird as it must have been in his room. Then, he had a DS, had two new games sitting on his desk on cleaning lady day, that day they (the 2 games) disappeared. Needless to say, she was fired that day (I called her, but never told her why, it was her helper that cleaned his room, and I know you can't accuse someone without proof), and I did purchase the two missing games myself. Now we think (3 years later) that her "helper" probably did take the old GBA as well.

I don't know what advice to offer, other than to not hire our old cleaning lady! If it's truly the child's fault, then it's a tough call. I would at least have them pay half, but probably all if it were me. We never did replace the GBA, but he got a DS the next year. And DARN those games are tiny!

 

[DawnM]

I changed the topic heading.....no more lost son! , however, the Nintendo DS is still missing.

Dawn

 

[AngelBabyJana]

If your undecided then maybe just give him the money (or a gift card), then he can decide if he wants to replace his Nintendo DS or buy something else instead.

We are in the exact same situation. My daughter lost her Nintendo DS on a church outing a few months ago. She hasn't asked for another one at all, but she keeps borrowing her brother's ds. I know that she misses having her own (all three of my kids play those things all the time). She is turning 11 two weeks before Christmas (Dec 11th), and we are going to surprise her by getting her a Nintendo DSi. I think she has learned her lesson, and will be more careful next time.

 

[DawnM]

I am leaning towards giving it a little more time and just giving money to cover half of a new one and let him decide. It still may turn up and if he wants a new one I think we are feeling now that he should pay half or find a 2nd hand one for less.

Dawn

If your undecided then maybe just give him the money (or a gift card), then he can decide if he wants to replace his Nintendo DS or buy something else instead.

We are in the exact same situation. My daughter lost her Nintendo DS on a church outing a few months ago. She hasn't asked for another one at all, but she keeps borrowing her brother's ds. I know that she misses having her own (all three of my kids play those things all the time). She is turning 11 two weeks before Christmas (Dec 11th), and we are going to surprise her by getting her a Nintendo DSi. I think she has learned her lesson, and will be more careful next time.

 

[Melani]

My DS11 lost his DS & blamed it on DD2. We just found it 3 months later in the desk. (I think DH took it & forgot where he hid it)

Anyway, DS has plenty of lawn mowing money he could buy his own & hopefully take better care of it. He keeps asking for a DSi, but we keep reminding him of the 3 months he was w/o his DS & why doesn't he just spend his own money/

I vote make him work for it. Even if it means paying double the going rate for that job (DS gets $30 just to mow not edge or weed-eat or blow).
If he really wants it he will spend his own money on it.

 

[DawnM]

UPDATE:

Thanks all.

I found a 2nd hand DS that is actually in better condition than my son's DS was in and she sold me the DS and 7 games and a case for $60. I am still in shock at her generosity!

My son's birthday is next week so I am thinking of giving it to him then as a birthday gift. I may save a few of the games for Christmas.

Since he would be getting something else for his birthday if he hadn't lost his DS, I am going to go ahead and give it as a gift.



Dawn