She has an IPad, she saved for ages, worked for neighbours, didn't spend a penny, did extra chores and eventually bought an IPad. She bought one costing £400 after a lot of saving and work. I couldn't afford one like that, although I'm lucky enough to have one which I won as a prize.
She was staying with my niece and her children, along with DD2 and DS, she's recently turned 16. On that day, DS and DD2 were ill and weren't there (I'd come and took them back, turned out to be a stomach but, thankfully no one else in either family caught it!) so it was DD1 and the three children, who are 11, 9 and 9.
She let them go on her IPad as she usually does and is ver careful about it. She trusted them with it, they weren't young enough not to know not to leave it around.
They ran off somewhere for supper and left it lying around. Cue my niece slipping on it (she has some bruises as a result but thankfully not too hurt) and cracking it, it's workable but the screen is damaged and DD1 is heartbroken that the thing she saved up for, for ages and ages, put so much effort into getting, and really treasures, is now like this.
Apparently it's playing the blame game to ask for money (well, not exactly- niece said 'lets not start on the blame game!' when DD1 found out). At the time, DD1 was on their computer to email me because she wanted to let them play. No one disputes the fact that my niece's children left it there.
There are a few options. Leave it cracked. Pay for a replacement (Apple dont repair) or shell out money to pay for a repair (therefore voiding the warranty). We current,y don't have the money for either a replacement or a repair.
AIBU to think that, as they left it there and are of a responsible age, they should pay? I might be bring grabby and emotional because DD1 is very, very upset, and that could be clouding my view and I could be being irrational. But DD1 was trying to be nice (she struggles to connect to them as the age gap is 7yrs and 5yrs and they are also quite footbally boys unlike DD1, although DD2 is basically,y best friends with them all!) and thought that they were old enough to not leave it lying on the floor, and because they weren't acting responsible for their age, now she's left with a cracked IPad.
I don't know if it's their fault, DD1's fault (I don't see how, but it could be argued, I guess) or nobody's fault (more likely a mix of having more foresight, and not being responsible and everything) but we still have a cracked IPad and ideally would like to get the replacement or repair. DD1 is happy for them to pay for a refurbished IPad Mini for example (so £229 for refurbished) between them- and not all the money, but some of it, even if just a quarter of it or anything.
We wasted money already as they had some booked events planned for DD2 and DS which they couldn't go to due to being ill, which I paid them for ,mbut we aren't in the good books.
So AIBU and wwyd?