Torn Chair Cover

[TwinMama]

So....I've got school aged kids that came to play out on the deck with the little kids. They're Sisters. They're kind of disrespectful when it comes to being clean and other people's property, because their family is well off and they have a maid.

We were out on the deck with the little ones at the water table and one of them sat on a chair cover I had and tore it. I know they did because I snapped pictures minutes beforehand and it wasn't torn. There was a wet butt mark on the torn cover and they were both soaked. None of my little ones could get up on the chair.

I don't want to ruin a relationship over a $30 chair cover, but I'm ticked about it because these kids they just don't get it. Everything is about them. I have their baby Sister full time. They're only here for the Summer until school starts.

Should I say anything to the parents, or just talk with the kids? I like the family in general. The parents are SUPER people, and the baby Sister is wonderful. What would you do?

[Thriftylady]

I would bring it up to the parents. Maybe not asking them to replace it, but tell them that you need help for the behaviors. Let them know that you just can't afford destruction (it is true). Hopefully they will offer to replace it.

[AmyKidsCo]

I would talk to them about it first, then if something else is destroyed I'd talk to the parents.

I don't understand how just sitting on a chair would rip the cover.

[TwinMama]

I would talk to them about it first, then if something else is destroyed I'd talk to the parents.

I don't understand how just sitting on a chair would rip the cover.

It's a rain cover. We take them off when we're going to use the patio. It's so our chairs don't fade or get mildewy.

[AmyKidsCo]

Ahh, that makes sense. What a bummer!

Honestly, I wouldn't say anything. Unfortunately, things like this are the price of doing business. I'd buy another one and claim it on my taxes. I'd also explain to the girls that they can't sit on the covers because they rip, and ask them to take the covers off next time.

Most likely they're not being malicious - maybe they were never taught to value things, especially other people's things. We can't expect children to know things that they've never been taught.

[childcaremom]

Ahh, that makes sense. What a bummer!

Honestly, I wouldn't say anything. Unfortunately, things like this are the price of doing business. I'd buy another one and claim it on my taxes. I'd also explain to the girls that they can't sit on the covers because they rip, and ask them to take the covers off next time.

Most likely they're not being malicious - maybe they were never taught to value things, especially other people's things. We can't expect children to know things that they've never been taught.

[Play Care]

Are you watching these girls or are they just neighbors coming to play?

In my state I'm not allowed to have random kids on my property during the work day. If these are not your dc kids I would probably tell them that due to state rules you can't have them in your yard during dc. You can say to the parents "I love having Susie and Sally over, but the state is really clamping down on the regs and I just can;t have them over during the work day. If my licensor saw them I would be shut down. Can't afford that - I'm sure you understand" said with a big

If you are watching them, then I would not allow them out of sight and I'd be on them to make sure they were gentle and respecting my things.

I can and have charged for damages, but only when I was actively supervising and the child was being deliberately disobedient/purposely being rough and I was able to say without a shadow of a doubt what happened and what I had been doing to try to stop it. IME, damages are usually due to normal wear and tear and not because of any purposeful action by the dck.