to steal dd1's hair straighteners?

[fryalot]

I told her that if I found them plugged in whilst she is at school I will remove them from her.

I have now removed them three times and given them back after a day or so.

I found them plugged in AGAIN and she's not here, so AIBU to take them forever?

I know on the one hand I am not, she has had enough warnings fgs!

But on the other hand, it seems like a really big thing, to take something that is categorically hers and only hers, quite expensive and of no use to anybody else in the family...

so, AIBU?

and if IABU, is there a way of stopping her leaving them plugged in? and is there a suitable punishment that fits the "crime"?

Hi Squonk - it would be unreasonable to take them from her indefintely but I think going without them for a couple of days would be deemed big punishment for someone obsessed enough to straighten their hair every morning...

Perhaps deem that she has to ask you for them and return them to you every day for a week to get her used to unplugging them?

I would take them. If she's had plenty of warnings and it's not going in then there's no other course of action you really can take. Unless you can be around when she uses them to 'supervise' Not a bad idea actually if you don't mind doing it, i.e they stay in your possesion and she may use them if you are around and not too busy to ensure that they are handed straight back to you.

Can you confiscate them for a week, and then maybe give them back with some kind of timer plug, so the straighteners can be used between, say, 7 and 8am, and then the electricity goes off.

Doesn't help you much on the discipline thing though - I would be inclined to confiscate them for a long time!
Also doesn't help if she wants to use them on the weekend and just unplugs the timer plug and uses them...

Actually, it was a crap suggestion all round!

ooh, returning them to me after use - that's so simple and obvious, yet I never thought of it

thanks fred!

no, these are good suggestions, thank you all.

You're clearly not being unreasonable, but like you say, they are expensive, so maybe another way would be better.

What's your chief concern about them being plugged in? I assume they have an automatic cutout? Is it just the fire risk? Could you make her leave them by the front door before she leaves each morning - something to make it obvious that they are unplugged? Or just make her earn them back each time by doing household chores?

I type too slowly!

I have a few worries about them being plugged in:

1. It might not be much, but they do use electricity and after the £500 bill we had, any unnecessary use needs to be curtailed.

1. Tis a fire risk

1. (and most importantly) I have two toddlers at home all day who may wander into her room and play with them. Tis not likely, I don't generally let them loose around the house, but it is not impossible for them to get in her room.

am liking the earning them back by doing household chores idea

Id have them kept in my room at all times only allow her them if you can supervise and be 'busy' a few times so she can't have them, then she''l be begging for them back and will unplug.

THW - no. I mean't if a child aged 14 was that way inclined it showed that it would mater alot to have them back!!!

Why not get her to suggest the best way to help her remember? Next time she forgets, get her to write an "essay" on the consequences of forgetting to unplug them (eg the children getting hurt), the action she proposes to take so it won't happen again, and appropriate sanctions if it does? (Am assuming she's a nice sensible girl who's just a bit forgetful. I know I occasionally forget to unplug my straighteners.)

I'll be the voice of evil and say that if she's had enough warnings you should follow through and take them off her. I am however a callous cow who doesn't make empty threats