Niece ruined my phone case, DSis and BIL refusing to replace it

[losingweightandgainingconfidence]

This is possibly the pettiest thing to ever be posted on here but I need to know if I'm going insane.

I (F25) purchased myself a Rhode phone case - it's a phone case that holds your lip balm in the back of it. Absolutely a frivolous and silly purchase, but I'd had my eye on one for ages and wanted one. They're expensive, but I got it as a treat to myself for losing weight. (I've lost a large amount of weight this year and wanted to treat myself)

My niece (5) has been obsessed won't this phone case. She's into all things makeup and girlie, and loves it. over the weekend my DSis, BIL and DN came over for lunch. I'm sat in the lounge chatting to them all, and my niece is off colouring somewhere. I've obviously left my phone on the side somewhere, probably on charge. She walks in grinning from ear to ear, holding my phone.

She's written her name all over the case, she's drawn smiley faces and the like. It won't come off, I've tried soaking it and everything.

My DSis immediately blamed me, because I "know how much she likes it" and my BIL said I may as well give it to her now as she's made it her own. I've said that if that's the case, I expect a replacement. It's not cheap and while yes it may have been seen as a waste of money, I work and I bought myself a treat.

I'm beyond angry, because it's my personal properly. AIBU to expect them to replace it?

Well that would be rewarding bad behaviour and not the generous image you think you are creating.

They should replace it and also actually parent their child because she’s going to be a nightmare as a teen.

I'd be tempted to get a refund on whatever you've bought her/ them for Christmas, use the money to replace the case and wrap up the damaged case as her present. The parents are being very unreasonable.

Look on the bright side OP, now you don't have to get the little brat a Christmas or birthday present.

Try nail varnish remover or alcohol gel.

Doesn’t really matter what it is or how much it was, it wasn’t dn’s to draw on. Her parents should have been supervising her.

She doesn’t have a clue that you don’t draw on other people’s things? Really? It doesn’t matter about the value.

op I’d want a replacement too. If that were my child I’d be mortified.

Frankly no, I paid £38 for the case partly because of how it looks, I don't want that now ruined with her writing and drawings all over it

Definitely do not give it to her.

Her parents should pay for a new one, but they sound like twats so don't hold your breath.

That's a disgraceful reaction by her parents.
She may be only 5 but they should have been helping her to understand that is not acceptable behaviour and that she should respect other people's possessions. She should not be rewarded by being given the case and definitely they should have been reimbursing you for the cost of it.

I think I would be more upset at the total disregard for you and your feelings than the actual act if destruction. It's tantamount to saying you don't matter.

Is she?!

Well you can’t make people care. They either do or don’t. You can control your reaction and interaction with them though, so that’s what I would concentrate on.
That aside, congrats on your achievement. You deserved a treat and it sucks she ruined it.

Usually quite well, but she thinks I'm more immature than her because at 25 she was married, had a house and was trying for a baby. I'm not married and renting, so she thinks I'm not taking life seriously.

Of course the parents should replace it, I'd be livid! And she's five, not two; far too old for this behaviour.

Do not do this. She’ll never learn to behave or look after other people’s possessions.

I would be pessimistic if the surface is scratched as well. I do still think it's worth trying everything but mainly because I would want to have done have to have a very firm conversation with her parents about my expectation that it would be replaced.

She's not taking parenting seriously.

They're flat out saying no. That it was a stupid amount of money to spend on myself and that I should have "looked after" it better.

Cross them off your Christmas list (if you have already bought for them, keep the presents for another occasion/recipient). Buy yourself a replacement, throw the ruined one away unless you see a need to keep it as a spare one. If they ask why they haven't got gifts, tell them you needed the money to replace your phone case.

WTF? "Doesn't have a clue"? She's 5, not 2.

Also, stop being apologetic for buying yourself a phone case you wanted, lovely. You're a grown ass adult, you earn your own money, you can spend £38 on a phone case if you want (and are perfectly reasonable to not expect someone to draw on it). There is nothing wrong with that.

Pack of colouring pencils and paper as a gift idea sounds great!

This take back any Christmas presents you have and then gift the phone case too them

They should have looked after their DD better.

Are you spending Christmas together?