Or tell them that Christmas is canceled this year. The kid got on Santa’s naughty list. Tell the rest of the family - it’s this or court.
If they honestly do that and still didn’t have enough money let it go.
If they sneak in presents (a near certainty) then you can go nuclear. The kid fucked up, there was a natural way to teach him a critical life lesson, and they blew it. So the ADULTS made their own choices where to spend their money - and it wasn’t repaying their debts.
At a minimum you can ban them from your property. They have no right to complain if they don’t respect your very real property rights.
Edit for clarity - the money they would have used for gifts goes to you instead for the computer. If they repay you in full he can still get gifts with any remaining money. If they don’t pay in full AND the brat still gets gifts then there’s a problem.
A nasty variant is that he still gets gifts from extended family - but then has to hand them over to you.
In either case once you’re fully compensated he can get the laptop. It’s only fair, plus the older grades may have classes that can try replacing the keyboard for just the cost of the hardware.
thebearinboulder t1_j1bntww wrote
Reply to comment by crispy1989 in TIFU by leaving a laptop in harms way by Dog_in_human_costume
Or tell them that Christmas is canceled this year. The kid got on Santa’s naughty list. Tell the rest of the family - it’s this or court.
If they honestly do that and still didn’t have enough money let it go.
If they sneak in presents (a near certainty) then you can go nuclear. The kid fucked up, there was a natural way to teach him a critical life lesson, and they blew it. So the ADULTS made their own choices where to spend their money - and it wasn’t repaying their debts.
At a minimum you can ban them from your property. They have no right to complain if they don’t respect your very real property rights.
Edit for clarity - the money they would have used for gifts goes to you instead for the computer. If they repay you in full he can still get gifts with any remaining money. If they don’t pay in full AND the brat still gets gifts then there’s a problem.
A nasty variant is that he still gets gifts from extended family - but then has to hand them over to you.
In either case once you’re fully compensated he can get the laptop. It’s only fair, plus the older grades may have classes that can try replacing the keyboard for just the cost of the hardware.