Am I being unreasonable?

Question

My Ex Husband today picks up my son! He decides he's gonna check on my son's 2 month old sea monkies. Instead of squatting down (he has no physical handicaps) to the level of the tank he decides to pick it up. In the process somehow he ends up dropping the tank. Sea Monkies and water goes all over my table including bathing my cell phone. I took my phone apart immediately and dried it off as best as I could. I told mark to take my son who was crushed and horrified to "Take your son and leave right now!" I was very upset.

After placing the cell phone on the heating block at the VA in the lab (which only gets to body tempature), and using a can of air on it. We've determined that its truely and utterly ruined.

Am I wrong for holding him responsible in replacing my cell phone? I do not have another phone line.

And I've started regrowing my 7 years sea monkies.

Answer 1

i don't think you were out of line at all. people could tell you that you were harsh on him, but let's be honest, we all get angry sometimes. we're human. and i think if you're ever going to get angry about something, someone ruining your cell phone and killing your sea monkies (what are those really, btw?) that you've been growing for 7 years seems like a pretty good reason to get angry.



whether he meant to or not, he ruined your phone. yes, accidents happen, but as adults we own up to our accidents and fix what we messed up in the process. he should AT LEAST help you with buying the new phone, if not buying the entire thing (which i think he should do).



and i feel your pain about not having a phone. my mom put some clothes in the wash and i was rushing to get some jeans i need washed into the washing machine and i forgot my phone was in the back pocket. now my phone is ruined =( ...you never realize how much you use your cell phone, especially if you don't have another phone line. i coach a college cheerleading team and this week we have 4 games, one of which is homecoming (tomorrow) and i don't have a phone for my girls to get a hold of me on.

Answer 2

No, not being unreasonable. But in the greater scheme of life if he says he won't replace it, is it really worth fighting over? A fight would only upset your son.



And for future reference, you can save a drenched cell phone if you take it apart and leave it off and apart for at least 24-48 hours. The heating block only warmed the phone, it did not dry out its internal circuits. Only time would have done that. I once accidentally dropped my phone in a puddle of water (rainstorm) overnight. Brought it in when I found it the next morning, took it apart and left it for 3 days. It worked just fine when I put it back together. The longer you left it alone the better.



Anyway, back to your quandary, ask him to replace it but if he doesn't just mark it down in your big book of all the reason why you are happy to be divorced. My son is 24 and my ex still occasionally gives me new entries to my "book". lol



Peace to you.

Answer 3

I believe you are being totally reasonable to want him to replace the phone. However your choice of words "Take your son and leave right now!" was probably a poor choice, especially if your son was standing there to hear you refer to him as "your son". I'm sure that your anger effected the tone that you used when you said this (you said you were very upset). By telling him to leave with "his son" conveys a message that you don't want the child and associate the child with the bad things your ex husband may do. Children are a lot smarter than we give them credit for, and they also have good imaginations and a tendency to blame themselves for divorces.

Answer 4

Even in a car accident, the person who's at fault is liable for any damages. A cell phone shouldn't be any different. I've seen things like this on those court programs on TV - the person who caused the damage always has to pay up. Think about it, if not for his negligence, your phone would not have been ruined.



Good luck.

Answer 5

No. You are not being unreasonable. He should purchase a new phone and hopefully apologize to your son about the sea monkies. Good luck

Answer 6

You are not unreasonable and if were any kind of a man he would replace what he ruined.

Answer 7

I agree with your actions 100%

Answer 8

I think he should replace it, even if it was an honest mistake.

Answer 9

Good for you.

Answer 10

it's his fault.... well... kinda.... its an accident but he should be held responsible for what happened... right.....

Answer 11

Yes, you are being unreasonable Accidents do happen