Returning a Lost Item to a Parent

[Anonymous]

He could have been mote tactful but I would not mail it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure the bat being left behind was an accident? I’d at least think about that if you intend to continue with the team. It’s expensive and necessairy and just not the sort of thing someone accidentally leaves and then doesn’t move heaven and earth to get back.

As for the other mom, did she think it was your son texting? You could always respond by saying “You are referring to my husband, not my son, and my husband is right, we aren’t a delivery service. If you would like to function as delivery service, come on over”. Then if she shows up, get a picture of her taking the bat so you don’t get tagged if it disappears, this is why door cameras are popular, you get pictures without taking someone’s picture.

I also wonder too why your husband got involved if the womenfolk had it under control. I’m a woman btw. Were you upset about the bat? If so, then you have a good husband. If you didn’t like how he handled the situation then first think about how you handle stress and if he’s trying to help you.

If the bat didn’t bother you at all, then your husband needs to cool his jets, he’s right, but he isn’t nice. Nobody else has to put up with him or his bluntness and his bluntness could very likely filter down to how you and your kid are treated. It’s not fair, but people respond to how parents behave.

Finally, I’d wonder why you care so much about what another mom says to do. What exactly is her hold over you? Again, I’ve had texted her back with what I said earlier “you are referring to my husband, not my son, and if you’d like to deliver the bat, you are welcome to do so”.

I also wouldn’t leave the bat on the porch, not given how expensive it is.


Finally, this sort of nonsense is what can kill a person’s desire to help others. Don’t be surprised if your husband can’t muster the energy to help in the future, not when he’s technically correct, and more importantly, not when he is treated like a schoolboy.

This response is just so extra.

[Anonymous]

Other family might not be rude or entitled but merely clueless and unthinking about how long it really takes to drive from you house the theirs. I've known people who just didn't grasp things like the real distances between suburbs around here. Meh. No need to make them out to be villains or to burn energy being pi$&ed at them. Let it go. Don't take the bat to their house. You could suggest meeting somewhere between you and them, you know.

DH was short in his reply and shouldn't have jumped in if you were handling it. He's right to feel they could come get the bat but he could have stayed out of it or been less curt.

Random team mom who inserted herself to call out DH was the most out of line, though. Unless -- maybe she's aware of something about this family that you do not know and which she feels she can't tell, such as someone in the family has a condition that means they can't leave the house at all etc. Ypu never know what's up in other people's lives....But you can choose not to give this so much space in your head, OP.

No need to fume and assume the worst about anyone involved here.

[Anonymous]

yet another sign that people are just freaking rude and selfish (reminds me of the poster who took another family's kid on vacation, never got a thanks or acknowledgment and posters were attacking her for expecting that).

So, Family who left the bat is nuts. Good/normal behavior is:You thank the person that retrieved it and then ask when you can pick it up. If they can deal with travel baseball, then driving an hour is no big deal.

If the family who left it was FRIENDS of mine, I would offer to deliver it, or have them over to pick it up and have drinks.

Your husband was blunt, but that's exactly how my husband would be with someone who was being peremptory and entitled. And as for the "third" family, I'd write them off. No need for 'tone policing.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now one of the moms texted me on the side to say that was snotty.

It was brusque. But the texting mom did not recover and secure a $250 bat, so she isn't part of the solution and her opinions aren't too important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other family might not be rude or entitled but merely clueless and unthinking about how long it really takes to drive from you house the theirs. I've known people who just didn't grasp things like the real distances between suburbs around here. Meh. No need to make them out to be villains or to burn energy being pi$&ed at them. Let it go. Don't take the bat to their house. You could suggest meeting somewhere between you and them, you know.

DH was short in his reply and shouldn't have jumped in if you were handling it. He's right to feel they could come get the bat but he could have stayed out of it or been less curt.

Random team mom who inserted herself to call out DH was the most out of line, though. Unless -- maybe she's aware of something about this family that you do not know and which she feels she can't tell, such as someone in the family has a condition that means they can't leave the house at all etc. Ypu never know what's up in other people's lives....But you can choose not to give this so much space in your head, OP.

No need to fume and assume the worst about anyone involved here.

If the family that left the bad can’t leave the house to pick it up they shouldn’t have had their kid playing in the game. They’re just thoughtless.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible the bat family misunderstood your Dh's note to mean that you grabbed it accidentally, before the child had left? In that case a "please get it to us" response would not be ridiculous.

Also your DH could have been more polite, but the side text evaluating his response by an uninvolved party was weird. That person needs to get a life.

[Anonymous]

Op, what's the update?

[Anonymous]

DH's response was reasonable. Reasonable is good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your husband is right.

But could have worded it better and not sent this reply on a group text.

This. He should have said something like, “Great! So glad we found the owner. It’s on the porch at xx address. PM us at YY if that doesn’t work.”

The “no” part was a little snarky. But the presumption that someone would deliver something an hour away is pretty presumptive.

[Anonymous]

How was the initial statement worded? Was it clear that it was left after everyone else was gone? Or could it be read that you picked it up by accident?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take it to the team party or next get together. Or wait till they come get it. If you happen to drive out their way for some other reason dropping it off would be a kindness.

+1

[Anonymous]

Everyone was rude. This is why people hate the DC metro.

[Anonymous]

Baseball mom here, including travel. Just bring it to the next practice. If there's little league before, family needs to get it. And why is the price relevant? $250 is also cheap for a bat, but it wouldn't make a difference, as each player is used to his bat type.

[Anonymous]

Wheeelp, next time you will know to send a group text that initially states "found a bat- come and get it- let me know if it is yours and I will give you our address".