I think I kinda gave in to DD & I'm feeling guilty - but I think I was right (maybe?)

[Katymac]

We went to a family wedding yesterday & dd sat in the car for 4 hrs without complaining

On the way home today she sat for 5hrs again extremely well behaved.

She mentioned that if she had a DS like her bf she could have played it on the journey.

So at about 4.5 hrs (30 mins to home) we stopped & allowed her to buy a DS plus game out of her bank account money (birthdays & christmas's)

So I gave in about her having a game thingie (which I wasn't really keen on) - but I do think she deserved a reward for being so good & then I made her pay for it herself

So basically I am just confused about whether I did the right thing or not

...they have their place when you need peace & quiet, my boys have GBAs which we use when travelling.

She paid for it with her own money...just set some rules for palying it.

...what age is she? I think some of the games (not theshoot them up ones) do give a bit of mental stimulation.

Well, don't know how old she is but a) she'll get a DS eventually b) you didn't pay for it, she did and c) she'd been good. You weren't getting it to shut her up

She's 9

& there are (already) very strict rules for playing

9 is a good age. Wouldn't worry any more about it

I can't really see why you would be feeling guilty.

Using her own money is a good life lesson.

I guess I feel a bit guilty that I made her pay for it when it was a kind of 'reward'

Oh I don't know

I have always been ok with altering my rules if my children gave good reasons for it - eg it would help me with this, there would be that benefit for you etc, rather than just 'everyone else has one/ does it'.
You didn't give in, you were persuaded by a good argument and you have taught her that good behviour has rewards.

That makes good sense (& makes me feel better )

Your daughter sounds great for a 9 year old and not spoilt in the slightest. I will probably wait until DD is around 7/8 before I let her have a DS so I think you have done really well to get to 9. I won't allow a TV in her room for a long time though.

DD has a cd player but no TV

She is currently searching for a radio station that plays 'her' music (I listen to radio 2......which is embarrassing for her apparently)

I'd have done and felt exactly the same as you! If you still feel a bit guilty about her paying for it, why don't you tell her that you'll give her the money for the game that she bought to go with it?

my ds has a psp for the reason of travelling i think you did the right thing

i think you did well my older two dd's has Ds', and they are younger than your dd. they have been good toys for journies and days when hanging round the hospitals for hours. dd2 is better at playing the games than me.

I just did (before you suggested it)

I bought ds a leapster as his only present last christmas because we were going to be spending hours and hours on planes and at airports this year. He has only used it on holiday and when I was ill last week and needed him to sit still.

Am I the only person who initially thought Katmac had bought a baby brother on the way home?

She so wants a baby (brother or sister) but has to make do with the mindees