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| I know it seems I am unsympathetic, I am sorry if I sound harsh.
I know plenty well what boys can do as both of my brothers (as well as
my younger sis) came to me for help with those trouble situations in their teens in order to avoid the wrath of our parents.
I also understand why (for your son's sake) you wouldn't want to draw attention to whatever happened at the school, particularly if he was reacting to bullying as opposed to horseplay.
On the other hand, it is possible that the other boy's parents do not know that he hit your son and THAT is why they are prompting him to contact you for recompense. This is why I think that you really should contact them - to verify what they do and don't know - so that you have a better idea how to proceed. | |
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No you don't sound unsympathetic or harsh. You just have a different viewpoint to my own.
By the way, although I commented that the other kid is older and bigger, I don't for one moment think it was bullying. From what I understand the other boy is unpopular in the class. My son refers to him as an attention seeker, in this instance he was clearly seelking attention, although the attention he got was negative.
You are, of course, quite right in that I don't know what he has told his parents. However, I know he has told his mother that we are not prepared for the 2 children to deal with it, but rather parent to parent. I know this because I heard him telling her whilst he was on the 'phone to me. We're not talking about a few francs here - CHF400 is a reasonable sum and certainly far too much money for my son to have access to and to agree to pay over without any proof of purchase/damage etc. In any event I don't see myself as responsible for what another child does or doesn't tell his parents.
Wouldn't you think that the boy's mum would now step in? Some people have commented that this is the way the Swiss do it. I've had no experience of anything like this before, but I've obviously discussed it with a couple of my Swiss friends and they both think it most odd as well. I also told the boy that I seriously doubted the jacket had cost CHF400. As the Mum, I would have been annoyed at this (if its true) and would have wanted to get on the 'phone and put me right or at least would have produced the receipt to prove it. When I made my comment to the boy he asked me if I had insurance. I find that odd.
I left it that the mother or father could call my husband on Monday. We are in the mountains this weekend and I didn't want to give my husband's mobile number as it is also his work number. We will see if they call Monday and then decide what to do from there - if anything further.
Thanks for your thoughts on the matter.