Son broke Mum in Law's ornament- help please?

silvercar

I must admit I agree with teeni about child-proofing the house, why should she? The children should not have been allowed to play where there is a glass cabinet full of ornaments.

Grandmother has two options, clear the decks when kiddies around or expect things to get broken. If neither of those options is acceptable, grandmother needs to ban children from her house and only see them when visiting their own homes.

kandyfloss

I wouldn't worry too much about you MIL's feelings if the item was warm when it was given to her in the first place,but think of the original owners distress at possibly having an item that she loved and treasured for years stolen by some toe rag who had sticky fingers and had to steal from someone else.

The original owner possibly spent years working long and hard to buy that piece...

You and your MIL should be thankful that it was only one piece that got broken and not the whole collection if the rickety stand they were all on had fallen on top of your four year old.I dread to think was mess could have been made of the poor little mite if he had been cut to shreds on the broken glass

Anyone having a glass collection out on display when four year olds come to call have only themselves to blame for breakages that are either hot or cold...

I certainly wouldn't lose sleep over it,life is too short as it is...

Mutter_2

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I must admit I agree with teeni about child-proofing the house, why should she? The children should not have been allowed to play where there is a glass cabinet full of ornaments.

However, it WAS an accident and I think you should just apologise and buy her a small piece as a goodwill gesture. Things happen.

Where did Kaz say "a glass cabinet full of ornaments"?

I hope I never have to call you as a witness in court seven day.

Mutter_2

Methinks Errata's in a ratty mood today.:rolleyes: :rotfl:

~Chameleon~

Mutter wrote: »

Where did Kaz say "a glass cabinet full of ornaments"?

I hope I never have to call you as a witness in court seven day.

If you want to be so pedantic, she actually decribed it as a "shelving unit full of glass ornaments" and a rickety one at that! The unit is also made of glass so seven-day-weekend was correct, unlike yourself who thought it was a single shelf! :rolleyes:

I hope I never have to call you as a witness in court!!!:rotfl:

pulliptears

I have just had a look on ebay, and if its the one Im looking at its hideous lol

I agree with consensus though, accidents happen, especially around kids and I dont think you should be replacing it.

mrcow

Dill wrote: »

Please don't feel too guilty about it. Your son is only 4 and it was an accident.

Tbh I really can't get my head round why someone would have expensive and breakable ornaments out when there are young children coming to visit

If somene is coming round your house, it is not your responsibilty to "childproof" your home!

It is up to the parent in question to maintain control of their children and ensure that the kids don't go round wrecking things.

As for replacing the ornament, if you can't afford to replace it, then perhaps buy an alternative as a compensation. To not offer anything would be quite rude, but anything in that sort of price range can't be expected to be replaced by a parent, it would have togo through her insurance policy (I wouldn't have thought a receipt is necessary - I don't have receipts for all my belongings but I'd fully expect my insurance cover to cover them still).

Errata

pulliptears wrote: »

I have just had a look on ebay, and if its the one Im looking at its hideous lol

I agree with consensus though, accidents happen, especially around kids and I dont think you should be replacing it.

Do you mean there are ones that aren't hideous :eek:

mrcow

silvercar wrote: »

Grandmother has two options, clear the decks when kiddies around or expect things to get broken. If neither of those options is acceptable, grandmother needs to ban children from her house and only see them when visiting their own homes.

What about option 3 - ask the parent to ensure that the child doesn't play boisterously by the ornament cabinet?

Or are we living in a world where parents are no longer required to maintain an acceptable level of behaviour?

pulliptears

Errata wrote: »

Do you mean there are ones that aren't hideous :eek:

I could suffer one of the small thimble sized ones if I was given it, at least I could hide it behind a photo frame

Not at all my thing, but some folk like them I guess. I dont really do ornaments, about the only things I have in my house are Thai Buddha heads.