To punish DD for this?

[EternalBeloved]

DD who is 12 has gone through a few phones by carelessly breaking them. I just bought her one final phone with strict warning that its her last and if she breaks it then she's not having another.
Today I was hoovering and DD2 had sat her water bottle on the rug so I quickly sat it up on the chair upright near my phone which was on the same chair. I went to put the hoover away and DD had sat the water bottle sideways on top of my phone so she could sit in the chair. It was empty but could easily have had water in, causing her to break MY phone on top of all the others.
I questioned her on it and she was nonchalant and just said it was empty so its not big deal. I've given her a row and am considering taking her phone away because imo she doesn't care and could easily have just broken another phone. However, DH thinks im being harsh. Opinions please?

It’s a good point, do you have protective cases and screen covers on the phones. Because if not they are very easy to break otherwise. And I’d get them very quickly if I was you.

OP can I suggest that you buy a different type if phone that is not so easy to break?

I had this with ds. He dropped his phone and cracked the screen. We (that is, DH) were able to fix it. Then he dropped it again and broke the screen again. DH fixed again (kit cost about £13 each time). Then he did it again but it still worked, albeit with a horrible crack on the screen. At this point I just said no and he'd have to wait until his birthday for a new one, when I bought him a Samsung which I imagine has been dropped many a time given the scratches, but it still works, three years on.

There is no point buying phones with stupidly easy to break screens. Teens just aren't careful enough.

What?! I was waiting for you to get to the part when another phone got broken. You can’t punish her for nothing.

YABU. The water bottle was empty which makes all the difference.

OP just wanted to say that although it would have been unreasonable to punish her in this situation, I have so much understanding and sympathy with this tiny incident being "the straw that broke the camel's back". I have a similar aged and (sometimes) similarly careless DD and can very much relate!

What was dd2 punishment for leaving her dirty stuff lying around?

I wouldn't be punishing dd1 for this but I'd have made dd2 come and mover her own bottle preventing the situation.

On another note, yoghurts aren't essential so don't buy them if they can't be trusted.

I would probably TELL her “Dd you could have broken my phone etc” but an actual consequence when nothing had happened is a bit harsh.

I'm very clumsy so have to have a tough case on my phone.

Also, this "read about teenage brains" - what a crock of absolute shit. Funny how the excuses mount up in modern times for kids, but was completely unnecessary in bygone days

OP just wanted to say that although it would have been unreasonable to punish her in this situation, I have so much understanding and sympathy with this tiny incident being "the straw that broke the camel's back". I have a similar aged and (sometimes) similarly careless DD and can very much relate!

It's also the context, isn't it. She might not have actually broken it but if she had recently scoffed at a conversation about her needing to be more careful then I would be more likely to pick this up on principle.

1. Get the heavy duty cases.
2. If she takes it off and breaks it, the cheapest Samsung will still work with a cracked screen if she has to have a phone for a long journey to and from school. Fucking Gorilla Glass renders the entire device unusable glares at Sony if there's the smallest, practically invisible dink on a corner.
3. No more dairy in the house. Ever. They will grow to like soya or coconut yoghurt, as it's all they'll be getting from now on - and fewer of them, as non dairy products are more expensive.

It was an empty bottle you nutter. Decent phones are waterproof now anyway. I've dropped mine in pools and it's been fine.

You’re insane.

Aw OP. I had a ‘straw’ moment tonight as well and actually shouted at DD for not being hungry (it’s a long story, and not as insane as it sounds!) We all have them, and at least you’ve realised that.

Enjoy your film :)

Why do you keep buying her phones? Of course she isn’t going to value them if every time she breaks one Mummy buys her a new one. You should be punishing her for breaking her phones not for putting an empty water bottle on yours.

@MadameMeursault

Why do you keep buying her phones? Of course she isn’t going to value them if every time she breaks one Mummy buys her a new one. You should be punishing her for breaking her phones not for putting an empty water bottle on yours.

Would you like her to dm you so you can spell out those punishments in juicy detail?

Pleased you've taken a step back, OP. Enjoy your movie

'Also, this "read about teenage brains" - what a crock of absolute shit. Funny how the excuses mount up in modern times for kids, but was completely unnecessary in bygone days'

There is a lot of research that does show that teenage brains are less well-developed than adult brains as regards the areas involved in planning and organization, and control of impulsive behaviour. And excuses have always been made for kids and young people on the grounds of their youth, so long as they were male. 'Boys will be boys!' 'Sowing his wild oats!'; etc. Rather less for females, admittedly.