Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a work laptop. This is a personal laptop that I use for some of my side 1099 jobs. We can afford it, but money I tight. I mean there isn’t much wiggle room with 2 mortgages and house fix ups and daycare and extracurriculars. We have enough savings, but man, I’m surprised so many of you wouldn’t bat an eye.

I would bat an eye, but I would also realize that it was my own fault for giving expensive electronics to a child who had an unsecured drink nearby. Additionally, I would realize that accidents happen to literally everyone, stuff spills, and that it was not a catastrophe or reflection on my daughter's character and worthy of condemnation and punishment. I've had plenty of my own near-misses with my laptop, self-inflicted as an adult, and one time where I basically showed it in soda and Dell had to replace it. This is what the accidental damage warranty is for.

Op, you are all over the place. Your life is also chaotic.
What happened was entirely preventable. You don't see two steps or minutes ahead. And no, this would not have happened to anyone.
I have not read such a mess for a long time.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know why ppl giving you grief. I would feel the same way. Maybe this forum can afford ruining laptops left and right but I can’t. There needs to be a rule of no drinks when on laptop. Also don’t buy her anythinf for fun for a few months and tell her you have no money as you needed to buy a new laptop. Don’t make it a punishment but just a natural consequence.

Why should the sick child be given "natural" consequence for OP's multiple bad choices?
Hasn't she suffered enough?
OP can cut back on her own food or beauty care budget to save money.

You can buy a high quality gently used Chromebook for $200.

Destroying a laptop is frustrating, but it's not a budget buster.

I'm sorry you carelessly put your laptop under someone's tea. We all make mistakes sometimes.
This is not your kid's fault.

Lesson learned for next time.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a work laptop. This is a personal laptop that I use for some of my side 1099 jobs. We can afford it, but money I tight. I mean there isn’t much wiggle room with 2 mortgages and house fix ups and daycare and extracurriculars. We have enough savings, but man, I’m surprised so many of you wouldn’t bat an eye.

Most people can’t afford one mortgage, you have two. Money would be less tight if you had one mortgage. You made choices that caused your money to be tight.

Your child made a mistake and the laptop is ruined. It was an accident, it wasn’t malicious. Make sure your child understands that you know it was an accident and buy a new laptop. Don’t let her use it with a drink nearby.

Done

You were drinking tea at urgent care?

There's a reason why those places don't like food/drink in the waiting area.

Well OP, your kid made a mistake but just be glad they are only a kid and not an unhinged adult like half the people on this thread. Wow

You must Mr young money

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a work laptop. This is a personal laptop that I use for some of my side 1099 jobs. We can afford it, but money I tight. I mean there isn’t much wiggle room with 2 mortgages and house fix ups and daycare and extracurriculars. We have enough savings, but man, I’m surprised so many of you wouldn’t bat an eye.

I’m lower middle class, and earn five figures, but I have emergency money. Part of it would get used towards this. Write off the expense of the new laptop and let it go.

Anonymous wrote:Your anger is misplaced. You shouldn’t be mad at a child for spilling— you let her use it, and knew she had a spill-able liquid nearby. I 100% understand being upset about the computer, but you’re actually mad at yourself. It’s not a great situation, but you need to just acknowledge that and move on.

This post nailed it. If you were going to let her use it why would you have let her have a drink. That’s an accident waiting to happen.

Anonymous wrote:I've had this precise thing happen and I get it. It's hard in that moment not to be upset even when you can rationalize and say to yourself "it's my own fault for expecting a child this age to not spill a drink near an expensive electronic." But those are thoughts and your anger is the feeling.

But I worked through it. Something that helps me in those situations is to think about how I want my child to remember the incident in 20 years. Do I want them to remember me being furious with them or me handling it calmly? Thinking about that really helps me get the emotional distance I need.

Excellent advice. I’m so sorry this happened to you, OP.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a work laptop. This is a personal laptop that I use for some of my side 1099 jobs. We can afford it, but money I tight. I mean there isn’t much wiggle room with 2 mortgages and house fix ups and daycare and extracurriculars. We have enough savings, but man, I’m surprised so many of you wouldn’t bat an eye.

I guarantee you I live on less money than you do, and I think you're being ridiculous.

Such a cheapo

OP here. Not a work laptop. This is a personal laptop that I use for some of my side 1099 jobs. We can afford it, but money I tight. I mean there isn’t much wiggle room with 2 mortgages and house fix ups and daycare and extracurriculars. We have enough savings, but man, I’m surprised so many of you wouldn’t bat an eye.