DS has lost something (new and relatively expensive)

[itiswhatitiswhatitis]

He's 8 and I am pissed off but also recognise that I do sometime expect to much.

He has history for dumping things where he stands, not putting things back, never knowing where he's put stuff (probably fairly standard) what gets my back up most is he won't bother to really search for something and I suspect half the time doesn't care if it turns up again or not.

He's gone to school upset because I have told him off and I feel bad but instead of being sorry he just gives me huffy looks. (I think he is sorry but huffy looks are his default setting these days)

I've told him he needs to look for it when he gets home but if it's permanently lost how can I deal with it without getting mad? I am too shouty sometimes and I'm trying not to be as ds and I do seem to rub each other the wrong way these days. I'm thinking a computer/I pad ban for the weekend?

Just to clarify ds has been allowed to play out since he was six (without a watch!) but was always within shouting distance. Now he wants to knock for friends in the next street which is fine but I was finding that he didn't come back at the time asked because no one had a watch or he forgot to check and I would have to go looking for him (which meant making ds2 come too) so the watch was agreed on in order for him to have more freedom.

I don't think that makes me harsh or unfair. He can still play out, he went out last night but stayed in our cul de sac. I think until the watch is replaced I will let him go to the next street but without a watch he will have to find another way of checking the time. If he can't manage that he will have to earn himself a new (cheaper!) watch.

Donkey I think number 4 on your list is a great idea for ds right now!

And don't feel bad because he's gone to school huffy and upset.
He should be upset.

Sounds like ALL kids I know.

Mine are 12 and 13 and are still horribly irresponsible/forgetful about their stuff. Drives me nuts.

I think your punishment sounds fair enough.

An expensive watch is a poor choice for an 8yo, I would take that on the chin as MY mistake. Maybe divide the penalties on this down the line, you take 50% of the hit.

I wouldn't ban computer/ipad. I save stuff like that for deliberate violence! But maybe computer/ipad don't matter much to your DS.

Computer/I pad is what ds lives for but I won't ban it for this I was just cross yesterday. I know he wasn't wilfully careless could just live with out the huffy eye rolling every time in pull him up on something.