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Preteens

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Original poster

Help! I hid my daughter's switch and now I'm in trouble!

344 replies

supercalifragilicious · 26/10/2021 22:32

So the story goes like this:
My pre-teen daughter was being naughty, didn't do as she was told (nicely), chatted back in a super-cheeky way, rolled her eyes, lied and then didn't do as she was told again. So I got very cross and took her Switch... And hid it somewhere in the house, told her she will get it back when her behaviour improves.
Fast forward a few weeks... I cannot find the bloody thing... I took apart the whole house... left no thing unturned. It's just gone. It's so strange. I usually remember where I put things. This time, it's like I have a black hole, it's like someone erased the memory of me hiding it. It's like I have an amnesia to this specific moment in time when I was hiding it. I know I hid it but I don't know where.
Since it was also my husband's Switch I am now having to buy him a new one... If I can't find it (deadline set to a week).

Any ideas of how to retrieve this memory please? Any strategies for finding lost subjects? I don't want to buy a new one, it's expensive! Sad

OP posts:
Rosesandblossoms · 27/10/2021 09:36

I agree that either DD or DH has it - bet your DH is angling for one of the new ones that’s just been released!

Squiz81 · 27/10/2021 09:40

Behind books on a bookshelf

In the cavity to the side of drawers in a divan bed

Inside a pillow case

Inside something you don’t use often like a slow cooker

Morgantowers · 27/10/2021 09:41

If you've searched everywhere my money is on your daughter hiding it from you.

Cantstopthewaves · 27/10/2021 09:42

@Phepho

In a box or a cube with a cut out hole. I have a knack for "seeing" lost items
Can you see my Ruby pendant. I lost it a few years ago but it was definitely in the house somewhere. Since moved but did it come with us? Thanks @Phepho.

Sorry OP.
I do think your dd has found it and has now hidden it from you to try and ( in her mind) teach you a lesson for taking it.

Ambersand · 27/10/2021 09:42

I lost a tablet this way. For years! We found it recently on a book shelf. Nicely hidden between books. Have you checked your car? Your drawers? Top of wardrobes? Ask someone to come and help, it'll focus your mind

SoupDragon · 27/10/2021 09:47

They're quite thin aren't they? I think you've put it somewhere and you're not recognising the thin edge. Edge forward on a bookshelf for example.

What colour are the controllers?
What were you doing when you were cross with your DD? Where was she?

I found lots of things on top of my fridge that I'd forgotten I hid there 😂

BigFatLiar · 27/10/2021 09:56

It'll turn up once you get a replacement.

hiredandsqueak · 27/10/2021 09:57

Is it between nooks on a bookshelf, that's my favourite hiding place as I'm the only book lover here.

megletthesecond · 27/10/2021 09:57

I've lost confiscated items so many times.

DS spends most of his time rolling his eyes at me.

Teddansononmyown · 27/10/2021 09:58

It's in a wardrobe, behind or under folded clothes.

Mammyloveswine · 27/10/2021 09:59

Pray to St Anthony... trust me he never fails when needing to find lost things.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 27/10/2021 10:01

@BigFatLiar

It'll turn up once you get a replacement.
So true. I just spent a year looking off & on for a crochet book, gave in & bought another copy & found it a few weeks later.

Happens every time, sometimes within a few days of buying the new item.

Couchbettato · 27/10/2021 10:01

Your daughter absolutely has it. Once you dig yourself a hole you can't stop digging your only option is to keep going down.

NewlyGranny · 27/10/2021 10:01

The best way I know to find something is to look for something else. 😉

And don't be stressed by some artificial "deadline" by which you have to buy a new one; you don't. Tell DH not to be silly, you're not replacing something that's just waiting to be found and he can just be patient, as can DD. This is down to her behaviour anyway!

It's not as if you've lost the battery to someone's pacemaker, is it? Let them learn to do without the daft toy for a bit; it will do them good.

Keep calling it a toy; your DH can hardly fuss and rant like a child over a toy, can he? Ask him what he thinks other adults do when they grow out of playing with toys.

Buy them a game of Monopoly or Scrabble and tell them to play that.

Odds on one or other of them has found it and is gaslighting you: my money's on him! Have you looked under his jocks and socks? In his car? In his mancave? Look in his hiding places that you haven't checked because you know you didn't put the toy there. 🤞

Lovealovestory · 27/10/2021 10:03

Go back to the first place you looked. It's probably there, hiding in plain sight.

HazelandChacha · 27/10/2021 10:03

I was thinking of that @AmazingBouncingFerret Grin

OP have you checked in drawers under clothes? That’s where I used to hid teens PS controllers, although I once hid them in his own room as it was the last place he’d think of looking!

Phyllis321 · 27/10/2021 10:05

On top of all cupboards, underneath the shoe rack, your car, the shed/garage, under the sofa, under the cutlery tray..

jeannie46 · 27/10/2021 10:05

fallen out of back of drawer
in fridge/cooker
behind TV
behind mirror
in vase/box
on dressing table
in kitchen cupboard

in first room you went to after confiscating it

You'll find it when you next lose something and you're looking for that!

shrodingersbiscuit · 27/10/2021 10:06

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

IdaNoh · 27/10/2021 10:08

Theyr'e conspiring against you. DH found the switch, told DD and they agreed to keep it secret from you, blackmail you into buying a second switch so they will have one each instead of having to share

whosfarted · 27/10/2021 10:09

Unless your family is well off and can afford to just go out and buy another switch, I really don't understand why your partner is so happy for you to buy another one when that one is in the house somewhere. Seems so strange to me, no way would my partner want me to fork out all that money on something I'd just mislaid at home!
I reckon he has found it and as others have said wants a new one or his own one and then the old one will magically reappear so your DH and DD will no longer need to share or your DD has found it and thinks she's being clever playing it behind your back.
I'd just declare in front of them both 'right I've looked everywhere, can't find it and I'm not buying a new one so you'll both just have to go without' and see how long it takes for it to turn up!

rainbowstardrops · 27/10/2021 10:10

My first thought was that your DD found it and took it.
Failing that, I know it sounds obvious but have you sat and really thought which room you went to after confiscating it?

In the car?
Under your mattress?
Back of a random cupboard?
In between clothes?
In a handbag?
Under the settee/down the back of the settee?

Failing all that, I've heard about asking St Anthony too. The patron saint of lost things.

Good luck and let us know if/when you find it! 😁

whosfarted · 27/10/2021 10:10

Oh just cross posted with you @IdaNoh Grin

Toddlerteaplease · 27/10/2021 10:12

Definitely put in a word with St Anthony. Always works.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 27/10/2021 10:13

I’ve done exactly the same thing OP. The switch is thin and light, so really easy to lose. I once put ours in the cupboard between two boxes of rice and lost it for a week.

If you really have looked everywhere then you should consider deregistering it. That means anyone who finds it won’t be able to play your downloaded games or use the online shop. Might make DD fess up too if she suddenly can’t access her games.