AIBU to ground DS until he is 36?

[marriedinwhite]

Long story short. DS has had a busy few days. He has been home for about 15 minutes and I last saw him on Friday morning. He went to a friends after a firework party for a bit more fun and they all jumped in the pool fully clothed. He is trying to dry out his blackberry in the airing cupboard and gently sat down to tell me about this little prank - in his sopping wet jeans on my brand new sofa . Not sure which bit I am angriest about. He's almost 17, works really hard and I am always complimented on the export model. Am struggling to decide whether I'm really really cross or if I should roll my eyes and accept it as normal teenage behaviour.

God, teenagers are such fun aren't they!!

Don't know as mine are only toddlers but it doesn't sound that bad to me?

If the blackberry is ruined then he will have to save up and buy a new one.

36 is far too young to let him out again

Was it a cream sofa and dark indigo jeans?

I'd make it 40 with chores 18 hours a day

ONLY until he's 36?

Good god, I'm damn sure that DD2 has earned herself enough groundings to take her to the age of 44.

Only another 30 years to go... !

Don't tell me - the Blackberry's on a contract for which you are responsible?

I'd say normal teenage behaviour . Also tell him to take the blackberry apart (battery out, SIM out etc) and put in some rice, warming it up just makes steam which does more damage. If this is the worst he does at 17 you're doing a fab job!

Err... what are you cross about?

36? Friends of mine did this at a wedding in the Caribbean aged 38, sorry .

Thanks Fuzzy - he's on the case! LineRunner - you couldn't be any more right!

As Eaglewings has just said, the cream silky sofa and the patch made by the dark indigo jeans - I'm hoping it's just wet and no dye has come out. I suppose I can turn the cushion, but I only took the polythene off on Thursday!

I thought as much. Grounding till 36 seems lenient.

He'll be gone in a few years and all you'll have to tell off is that patch. Cherish it.

I might just make a sneaky bet that if you think about it you did worse at 17 (though maybe your parents didn't know about it)!?!

Lesson to be learned.... No new sofas dc have ALL left home!

OMG

JaneFonda - do you really need it spelling out??

Make sure he doesn't try to turn the phone on for at least 4 days if he turns it on when it's still wet, he has a 98% chance of killing it. I know 4 days will seem like forever to a 17 year old... but it's better than killing it when it could be saved.

Put the 'taken apart' phone in the rice and put it in the airing cupboard if you have one, if not, the warmest part of the house.

Sofa - absorb what you can with a white towel. What fabric is it? Do the covers come off?

Sounds like normal high jinx. Let him put right the phone and sofa by whatever means he can, and focus on the good stuff

Yanbu.

I can still remember the screams when sil's friend got bright red hair dye all over the brand new cream sofa from the v posh furniture place. THey'd paid about 3 grand for it, which was a lot 16 years ago !

Thanks all. It's in bits in 1/2 a bag of rice in the airing cupboard now. I think the sofa's just wet and not stained. I have calmed down and told him to stop saying "look mum, I know it's all my fault" because it was exasperating me more. Nevertheless, silly, stupid sod!

Now get him to pour you a large glass of or make you a cup of [tea], breakfast in bed tomorrow and penance served (make the most of the guilt I say )

That clearly should have been , too much

Couldn't help but think of www.metacafe.com/watch/2265278/mom_song/ this]] when I read your thread title, marriedinwhite.

And your son sounds lovely.

tty again

tty? try

Where you left it - I know the one you mean - I quite agree. Please post it as a thread - it's way beyond my capabilities.