Thursday, September 18, 2008

Thoughts for Thursday: Taking Care of Things

I believe at some point in my early life I was taught to take care of things especially if they were not mine. I wish other people followed this mantra. I like to borrow kids dvds from the library. This way if Miss Peanut Butter isn't interested in it, such as Cars, I am not out any cash. I do not know what is up with some of the previous borrowers. Since the dvds are in a locked case until you check out, you never know what in the world that disc is going to look like. I have taken out some that look like a brillo pad has been taken to them. What's up with that? I don't even let PB handle the cases outside the library, for fear that she will eat them or at least pull the art work out and eat that. What sucks about the whole thing is some will play and some will not. Some get stuck and freeze in spots causing a melt down in toddlerland. I usually will not even attempt to play some of them anymore. I know the previous borrowers didn't purchase them per se, most of us do pay taxes, but I don't think that gives any reason to trash the things or allow the child to trash them. Said child should not be loading the discs if they can't without putting a huge gouge like scratch in them. I feel bad should a magazine I take out get a corner bent or something. If PB had some how gotten a hold of one and did damage to it, I would probably go out and buy it to replace it and apologize til the cows came home. This is a reason I do not like to borrow anything from people, other than the library, especially now with Miss Destructo in the house. I fear that something will happen to it. Even when people say, "it's okay, she can play with it," yeah, no she can't. Is this crazy? Have people become so laise faire with items that there isn't a care factor anymore?

4 comments:

Michelle Leigh said...

Well, I of course care that my children could destroy other's things BUT, I don't borrow things out thinking that their kids will destroy it, rather they can get use out of it too. If for some reason it gets broken or whatnot, I don't think I'd be too upset. But yes, I really think there should be a care factor involved. People should respect other's property and vice versa. We need to teach our kids to take care of their things. So many kids are spoiled and they just don't understand value in items.

Anonymous said...

My parents raised us to treat our own things, as well as those of others, with the utmost respect - and once it was lost or broken, it was gone. I am trying to instill the same in my children, but like you, and finding that many others don't feel the same way and allow their children to do whatever they please. I have actually shyed away from taking the kids to the library for this exact reason - they are fairly good with books, but there are times when I have turned my back and they have instantly ripped all the pages out!

(I once worked with a guy who let his puppy get ahold of a book that I had borrowed from a friend - the dog left little bite marks all over the book! I was so mortified I went and bought a new copy of the book to return to the friend. Every time I pull the chewed-up copy that I kept out I get irritated that he would let his dog do that!)

Kristi @ Mi Vida Ocupada said...

I agree...very important to respect the belongings of others!! It bothers me when kids I work with don't have that value at home because they don't apply it to school then either.

Melissa said...

so important to rescept others things. Like with our daughter we let her rip the DVDs off the selves. I hate that, but hey, it keeps her entertained for 30 mins at a time. But would I let her do that at someone's house... NO WAY!