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Original poster

DC has just broken something of MIL's!

180 replies

backmassageplease · 19/03/2019 15:58

He's snapped her glasses Sad One of the arms has come off.

Not sure what to do... Or say. I don't really speak to her.

I come over a few times a week to let her dog out. I was unlocking the back door and I turn around and he has them in his hands!

What will I even say? Should I send a text now?

DH isn't going to be happy either.

OP posts:
BlueMerchant · 19/03/2019 17:06

Tell her what happened. A sorry but these things happen should be all that's needed. Surely she will not expect you to pay.

SoupDragon · 19/03/2019 17:06

Either way I have 2 words - gorilla glue. Costs about £4 and will definitely do the job.

It will definitely do a shit, messy job!

BertrandRussell · 19/03/2019 17:06

There is no evidence that she is going to be an arse. However, the dp already had been.

howabout · 19/03/2019 17:07

My DH is blind as a bat and would view it as his fault if he left his specs for a 16 month to get hold of and break - we have 3 DC and this has never happened. His glasses cost around £300.

Otoh I have loads of Poundshop glasses all over the house and would not care a jot if they got lost or broken.

If your MiL knows you and your toddler are regularly in her house to let the dog out she shouldn't leave the glasses lying about. I would be inclined to blame the dog.

She may have accidental damage insurance but in any case I don't think it is reasonable for her to expect you to compensate her for her carelessness in leaving her glasses where they could get broken by a toddler. How would you / her / your DH feel if she accidentally left medication lying around which your toddler mistook for sweeties? Would that be her fault or yours?

PeachQueen · 19/03/2019 17:13

I would just Super Glue them and not say anything but then I dont really like my MIL................

Alicecooperslovechild · 19/03/2019 17:15

How, I don't think that you can blame the MIL in this situation. She left her glasses out in her house. It's not unreasonable to do this.

IHateUncleJamie · 19/03/2019 17:15

If the OP is doing a favour for her DH then he has no right to be annoyed with her.

If the MIL doesn’t have those glasses with her then chances are they’re spare ones. I am a FT glasses wearer and my glasses are on my face or by the bed if I’m asleep. DH OTOH has one expensive pair of varifocals (in car) and about 10 cheap pairs of reading glasses.

My point is frightening the poor OP (who is already worried) by saying what a big deal these glasses must be (when if they were that big a deal they’d be with the MIL) is not really helping.

Accidents happen. If they are £££ then they’ll be covered under contents insurance. Either way, neither you nor your little one did it on purpose. Just text or get DH to text and if either if them are arsey, all you need to say is “I’ve already apologised and it won’t happen again. I’m sorry; I will save up and pay any excess on the insurance when I get another job; that’s all I can reasonably do.”

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 19/03/2019 17:19

If she left them where a 16 month old would get then, then its her own fault.
You were doing a favour looking after that dog.

Its an accident, and they should both see it as such and stop telling both you and your BABY off. No 16 month old should be told off for innocently picking something up within reach, its what they do. he didn't break them on purpose.. he was just looking at them.

LuckyLou7 · 19/03/2019 17:20

MIL can claim on her house insurance, stop panicking. Accidents happen.

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 19/03/2019 17:20

How it would not be the MIL's fault, just as this isn't her fault. It's no-one fault really as it was an accident but she can leave her things where she likes in her own home.

GreenHouseKeeping · 19/03/2019 17:21

A 16 month old should have been in a buggy or sling in a situation like this.

It was an accident, but one that you could have prevented with a bit more thought.

Meandmetoo · 19/03/2019 17:23

Not at all Soup! As long as you don't use too much it's fab, would be perfect for snapped arms on glasses.

PyongyangKipperbang · 19/03/2019 17:23

Gorilla glue clear is fantastic stuff and will work. The ordinary stuff is very messy and not suitable though.

And personally I would have denied all knowledge and chucked them on the floor so she blamed the dog for treading on them

ChicCroissant · 19/03/2019 17:23

So she wasn't wearing the glasses, your MIL was not in the house at the time at all?

PyongyangKipperbang · 19/03/2019 17:25

FFS, a 16 month old should be kept strapped in a buggy at grandmas house incase she leaves her stuff lying around where he can grab it? At what age do we let them out on that basis? 10?!

SoupDragon · 19/03/2019 17:25

As long as you don't use too much it's fab

Not in my experience.

Original poster
backmassageplease · 19/03/2019 17:25

MIL can claim on her house insurance, stop panicking. Accidents happen.

Who says she has house insurance? I don't know if she has.

A 16 month old should have been in a buggy or sling in a situation like this.

It was an accident, but one that you could have prevented with a bit more thought.

Sorry; but I don't think he should've been in either buggy or sling whilst I just quickly shut the door, inches from where he was really.

OP posts:
BluebadgenPIP · 19/03/2019 17:26

He should have been in the buggy, because your MIL house isn’t baby proof.

They can’t be essential glasses or they would be on your MIL nose.

diddl · 19/03/2019 17:26

Did MIL know that you were going there today Op?

If not then I don't see why she should have "toddler proofed" her house.

If she is also going to be annoyed, perhaps best to not help with the dog anymore?

Drum2018 · 19/03/2019 17:27

AJPTaylor that is genius. Say nothing op and tell your Dh to keep his trap shut too.

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 19/03/2019 17:27

but in that time he broke something important. So, with hindsight and going forward, yes, he should. Keep him in the buggy until such time you can give him your full attention.

BertrandRussell · 19/03/2019 17:27

Fascinating how many people are focussing on the mil, whose reaction we don’t know, even saying it was her fault (!) and ignoring the dp- who has already been an arse.

PyongyangKipperbang · 19/03/2019 17:28

Oh and tell your arsey DH that he can let his own damn dog out in future if he is going to get nasty with you.

Bellatrix14 · 19/03/2019 17:28

Bertbox only if they are very basic reading glasses? I certainly can’t pick up another pair of my prescription glasses at a pound shop or supermarket.

And while I agree it was an accident and accidents happen (so hopefully your MIL is understanding, OP) it’s not really comparable to replace a pair of designer glasses with a pair from Poundland.

PutyourtoponTrevor · 19/03/2019 17:28

Oh fuck off GreenHouseKeeping have a bit of empathy for fuck's sake.

OP, just tell her what's happened, apologise, tell her you will sort it out when you have a bit more money, she might say it doesn't matter. Tell your DP he's a dick

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