be serious and dont take the whole thing so badly take the couple out for a drik in an irish bar get them a bit high and theyl forgive you fully believe me

I have no idea what you just said, but if I was to base an opinion based on several legible keywords then I agree 100%.

latest update .. my son has just come in for lunch.

The other boy approached him this morning and said that he had "a nice Mum" (obviously sarcastically).

My son asked him what had he expected my reaction to be and told him that it was pretty cheeky to talk to an adult like that.

The other boy didn't reply - simply looked down on the floor and my son walked away.

Perhaps this will be the end of the matter, or maybe the parents will now ring. We shall see.

With regards to taking the whole thing too seriously, this is maybe a female thing. My husband says its just some bünzli Swiss family trying to make a fast buck and he'll deal with it when they call and my son says the boys just a "cheeky idiot" trying to make a fast buck!

Think I'll take myself out for a glass or two of wine tonight and forget it for now.

Thank you all for all your comments.

when a boy tells another boy he has a nice mum he really means it

No .. it was definitely not a sincere comment.

Why tonight? You're obviously at home, break out the bottle of Amarone della Valpolicella right now and get the weekend started with a little celebration

Best advice so far .. cheers!

[QUOTE=Klostersgirl;746314] My husband says its just some bünzli Swiss family trying to make a fast buck and he'll deal with it when they call and my son says the boys just a "cheeky idiot" trying to make a fast buck!

QUOTE]

Sounds about right to me - let your husband deal with it.

While Swiss kids may be independent - a 13 year old boy is still a 13 year old boy in the sense that he has neither the developmental readiness in this type of a situation to deal with an adult - in terms of finesse and tact - hence his crack about you being a nice mother.

If his mother's intention was to teach him to take responsibility and make the phone call himself, that was fine for the first phone call.

As you tried to engage on an adult level with the note, it should be clear to his parents that you've opened the lines of communication to them. If they don't respond that's their problem. If the son would call again, just tell him nicely that you prefer to speak to one of his parents.

You don't know what type of a home he comes from and what kind of pressure the mother may be putting on him. He is after all only a kid.

I hope for your sake they just let it go. Don't worry the "punching and pulling" stage ends around 14/15 years old

No problem, just pay the guy 100,000,000 bucks.



Remind him that he needs to go to the bank stated on the note to get it changed to CHF.

You've just saved yourself $400. Buy a really nice bottle.

Especially if the other boy's name is Stiffler...

I'm sorry, I know that the general consensus is completely opposite my thoughts but I still think that you are being perhaps a bit (purposefully) obtuse about this whole situation.

Someone (ultimately, does it really matter WHO?) from their family has called your house TWICE and yet you stubbornly refuse to call them. This makes no sense at all.


Also, as much as it kills me to admit that I've given this more thought than it takes to read the thread, unfortunately I have...

It's not like a "simple" tug would be enough to break a zipper or tear the sort of cloth they make anything other than "fashion" jackets out of - certainly anything worn for warmth in the Swiss winter (unlike the Florida winters I'm accustomed to) is made with some sturdiness to it - particularly if it allegedly cost in the ball park of 400chf. Even my cheap canvas coat that came from Tekko (whatever the name of that place is) for 50chf isn't that easy to tear.

So, I think you are taking / making your son's involvement in this whole thing a bit too light. It takes some good force to break a zipper.

I think there is more responsibility to be placed at your son's feet than you care to admit - no matter how many of your fellow EF'ers are patting you on the back about standing your ground regarding a dang telephone call.



Your son pulling at someone's jacket with that much force for retaliation for a playful punch in the arm seems unreasonable to me - so did the boy give your son a good whalloping or is your son prone to unfitting reactions (or maybe, as happens with plenty of growing boys, he doesn't know his own strength)?

I think the only way you may find the answer to that is to contact the school to inquire about the fight - particularly since you refuse to contact the boy's parents yourselves.

While I think a lot of your post makes sense - i think you have to be fair to the OP with the fact that the mother was near the boy when he was on the phone and refused to talk on the phone.
So i think that part of your post is a little harsh.

A lot of stuff is speculation, how expensive is the jacket, how bad is the damage, etc - can only be sorted in person.

Have you never been in a playground? If someone punches you and you chase them, then if all you can reach is the hood then you pull, it's nothing malicious, it's just a natural thing to grab hold of in the heat of the (generally playful) moment. Stop dramatising it.

Unless blood is drawn, what goes on in the playground STAYS IN THE PLAYGROUND.

I'm sure some of you are famaliar with Judge Judy (she has the court show in the USA) she is really no nonsense and strict. I imagine her taking this case. (She does get cases like this) I can see her verdict now, it would go something like this:
Judge to kid with damaged coat: 'O.K. so you punched this kid in the playground, he went after you and you say he tore your jacket is that correct?"
KID: "Yes your honor"
Judge: "Well he was only acting in self defense why should he have to pay for your jacket? and what stupid parent buys a kid a $400 jacket to wear to school and play in?" (Judge Judy is very blunt and thinks nothing of insulting someone)
KID: "But the jacket is almost new, and he shouldn't have pulled the hood"...(kid looking bewildered while parent stands there)
Judge: (To parent) "Your kids got a lot of nerve...don't you teach them any manners? He punches another child and wants to be compensated?..(Ha Ha) not in my court room...Do I look stupid or something...You acted like an idiot and this is the consequences...Judgement for the defendant...
Plaintiff walks away looking bewildered....
Case closed...

nope, this is Switzerland, what goes on in the playground gets reported to the teacher who speaks to the school psychologist who speaks to the child, and the parents and the headmaster who calls in ....

I have alot of respect for the Honourable Judge Judy. In fact our world would be a better place if everyone faced with a moral dilemma, would ask themselves "what would Judge Judy say?"

She's a reactionary bit*h and the first to be put up against the wall when the revolution comes ..

Lucky I didnt go to school here then, when wood we eva get the time to be teached?