To deny responsibility (hypothetically)?

[CrazyOldCatLady]

DSis was here today to see the kids. She took her phone out of her handbag to show a photo on it to DD, who is almost 4. She then switched it to camera mode and handed it to DD, telling her 'there, press that to take a photo'.

DD ran around with the phone with DSis's encouragement for a couple of minutes taking photos of people, then ran out to the hall. I said 'DD, please don't take the phone out of DSis's sight'. DSis said 'Too right, if she breaks it it'll cost you €400 to replace it'.

I pointed out that I hadn't handed the child the phone, and if it got broken I wasn't accepting responsibility. I'm aware that she's my child and would pay for anything she broke under other circumstances, but as far as I'm concerned it was DSis's choice to take out the phone and then hand it over. I don't give them my phone to play with and it's worth almost nothing! I'm not willing to take financial responsibility for whatever gadget DSis chooses to hand to my children.

She threw a hissy fit and walked out.

AIB so very U?

Nope, dsis is responsible

you are right, she is wrong. she's a bit silly, in fact.

Is she 10 ?

YANBU. If your DD had taken the phone without permission, you might be considered responsible for loss/damage. But if another adult is stupid enough to give breakables to a 4yo then that's their choice, and their responsibility.

Why on earth are you arguing about something that didn't happen?

(So glad I don't have a sister).

YABBU (you are both being unreasonable).

YANBU. Your DSis is an idiot.

Your sister needs to reset her expectations. That was a ridiculous thing to do and a worse thing to say.

No judge would make you pay...

*Why on earth are you arguing about something that didn't happen?

(So glad I don't have a sister).

YABBU (you are both being unreasonable).*

Because she said it would cost me €400 if it broke! I thought she should know that I wasn't going to accept that, in case it changed her mind about handing the thing over. I wasn't arguing just for the sake of it!

You are right, your sister is wrong.

Could I hazard a guess that your dsis has no kids of her own??!!!

YANBU, the sister is

Yanbu as she give your child the phone it's her responsibility to supervise the child.

Yes. She voluntarily surrendered the phone to the child with no prompting to do so from any quarter. She's being utterly ridiculous.

Perhaps she fancies a new phone and was secretly hoping your child would break it

YAhypotheticallyNBU

YANBU.

Had very similar myself with family member handing child something to play with then getting upset when it was treated like a toy...

YANBU.

I also get very angry at the people who say, When they have children (and they never seem to have children yet) they will continue to keep all their prized possessions and glass breakables on their low coffee tables and shelves, because even their toddler will understand fully that it is a breakable item not to be touched and wouldn't dream of playing with it or accidentally knocking it over, and if they did, the child would be fully responsible.

"Because that's the way it was when I was growing up."