ravinlunachick Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Since 2005, we have purchased a special ornament for dd7. They are part of a fairy series from Hallmark. It's an important tradition for us, and every year as we unpack all her fairies to go on the tree, dd and I ooh and ah and remember the year we got them. This year, our local store was sold out, and they had to order one from another store. I stopped by and picked it up today. I also purchased the first of another series for her little sister. We came home, and as I was putting the hook onto her sister's ornament, dd7 asked if she could hold hers. I handed it to her and reminded her to be careful with it. Not even 5 seconds later, the fairy was lying on the floor, with one wing broken completely off. :mad: I was so angry with her. She had been dancing around, twirling the ornament in the air by its hook, and it slipped from her fingers. I tried supergluing the wing back on, but apparently the wings are made from the only plastic substance on earth that superglue WON'T stick to! Grrrr. So, now what do I do? Put the fairy up with one wing, because that's the natural consequence? I could do that, but it will make me very sad and angry every time I see it. Every year, when we take it out, I will be reminded of how angry I feel right now. Maybe seeing it will remind her of how she ought to be careful with precious things, but OTOH, she'll probably stop caring about it after a while. Go try to buy a replacement (assuming I can even find one)? Put up the broken one this year, and make dd earn the money to buy a replacement off ebay? Should I keep trying to repair this one? Is there another way to fix it? It's a thin, delicate wing, so the other adhesive stuff I have (hot glue, gorilla glue) wouldn't work. I don't have anything else on hand to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I would leave it as is. It would bring a smile to my face when I am old as I remember her twirly, dancing personality. I am sorry you're disappointed.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I am sure somebody in the hive could find a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 She's 7. Jumping and twirling around is completely normal behaviour for a 7 yo. Holding a grudge over this (being angry and upset for years to come when seeing a broken ornament) is just plain wrong. Get another ornament, and make the rule that they can only handle them when sitting still, and enforce it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Is this it? http://www.ornament-shop.com/productList/Fairy-Messengers/-s155.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Aw, that's sad. But don't be angry - this is just the natural consequence of youthful exuberance. I would work to fix the wing as much as possible - tape, gorilla glue, whatever. I, personally, would not purchase a new one. Mine are now much older than yours, but when I look back on those youthful episodes, I'm not angry. Instead I fondly remember the time it happened, the sadness felt by us all - and especially the child who felt not only loss of the item, but sadness for disappointing me. It reminds me that they do indeed grow up and how much I miss those days of trimming the tree together. Now 2 of them will arrive home to a decorated tree and the other 2 will probably have something more important to do than help me decorate it. Enjoy those years - they pass too quickly. There will be other broken fairy type incidents, but I guarantee your daughter will learn more from this episode if you work together with her to repair the damage than she will if you get her a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcjlkplus3 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I would leave it as is. It would bring a smile to my face when I am old as I remember her twirly, dancing personality. I am sorry you're disappointed.:grouphug: :iagree: Right now you are angry, maybe leave it on the tree and see how you feel at the end of the season. We like the broken (aka well-loved) ornaments just as well here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 *I* would buy a replacement, if there was one available. Accidents happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinlunachick Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 crunchymountainmama, that's a sweet way of looking at it. :) It's true, accidents do happen. DD is normally an extremely careful type, so I guess this caught me more off guard than it should have. I don't know why I find this particular broken item to be so upsetting; the kids have lost countless toys to the dog's chewing habit, and I've repaired or tossed them without too much care. I don't sweat the torn up couch cushions or scribbled on walls; it's just part of having kids. 9 times out of 10, though, the broken or ruined stuff has been the fault of the younger two, not my eldest. She's the "Good One". ;) Impish, you're right, it would be wrong to hold a grudge. It's not that I would be angry at dd again, but if I'm honest, I'd probably be a little sad every time we unwrapped the broken fairy. Maybe not, though. I guess I wouldn't know for sure until next year, huh? Yes, Jenn, that's the one--Mistletoe Fairy. The special Holly one (the boy) is already hanging on the tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Get her a new one, but don't give it to her until Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinlunachick Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Get her a new one, but don't give it to her until Christmas. I kind of like that idea. We haven't finished shopping for her yet, so it would probably replace one of her gifts. However, it would give her a complete, unbroken set, too. Hmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 . I tried supergluing the wing back on, but apparently the wings are made from the only plastic substance on earth that superglue WON'T stick to! Grrrr. So, now what do I do? Put the fairy up with one wing, because that's the natural consequence? I could do that, but it will make me very sad and angry every time I see it. Every year, when we take it out, I will be reminded of how angry I feel right now. Maybe seeing it will remind her of how she ought to be careful with precious things, but OTOH, she'll probably stop caring about it after a while. Should I keep trying to repair this one? Is there another way to fix it? there are other types of glue that are much better for resin than superglue. (I've had super glue not work often enough I'm surprised when it does.) I'd try a plastic model glue - and believe me, they are *very different* than super glue. Michaels has a huge selection of glues, including some specifically for resin. if YOU are going to be so angry - I'd buy a new one if you can't find a glue that works. (or else throw it away and she won't have one from this year so you won't see it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I agree with the thought of not getting a new one, and letting this one bring back funny memories when she's older. Picture her unpacking the ornaments one by one with HER daughter, and telling the story year after year ("We got this one the year I turned 14. This one is from when I was 3. Oh, and this is the one I dropped when I was 7 -- I was twirling around and dropped it. Boy, was my mommy displeased when I did that! But eventually we laughed about it.") But you'd have to be able to make that happen (laughing about it). I understand the frustration. Just trying to find a way out of the pickle. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 She's just 7, and she's probably *more* sad about breaking the ornament than you are! Heck, I'm <mumbles age>, and I still get excited and wiggly when we put up the tree. I'd find another ornament somewhere, and have it hanging on the tree Christmas morning. Yes, it was special, and yes, she disregarded your warning, but it's just stuff. If nobody's hurt- no biggie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeslieAnneLevine Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I'd keep it, but not as a lesson to her. Instead, I'd keep it because that's the year she was excited and twirling and the wing broke--it's a cute memory. I really don't think this is going to anger you in years to come. It seems that you are already feeling a lot calmer about it. I hope your DD feels OK about it too (not sure if she's the kind of kid who will feel terrible about it or will shrug and move on). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) She's 7. Jumping and twirling around is completely normal behaviour for a 7 yo. Holding a grudge over this (being angry and upset for years to come when seeing a broken ornament) is just plain wrong. Get another ornament, and make the rule that they can only handle them when sitting still, and enforce it. :iagree: Yes, this. I think it's a bit unreasonable to expect a 7yo to not want to play with a pretty fairy ornament, and I don't think it's worth getting upset about her having broken it. It was an accident -- it would be different if she'd intentionally thrown it on the floor. Can you honestly say that you have never accidentally dropped something that was important to you? As an example, I know that every time I get annoyed with ds for spilling something, the next person to spill something is me. Every. Single. Time. I'd replace the ornament free of charge to your dd -- and maybe try using Gorilla Glue to repair the broken one, as well. I wouldn't wait until Christmas to give it to her -- I'd let her hang it on the tree right away. I wouldn't want her to feel sad about the ornament between now and Christmas. Edited December 5, 2011 by Catwoman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 my dc feel much worse than i do when something breaks. i would hug her, say "how sad", find another one, and give it to her to put on the tree carefully..... the memories i want my kids to have of christmas trees involve joy and love.... :grouphug: ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeslieAnneLevine Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Wanted to add: Although I said I'd keep it, that doesn't mean I wouldn't also get another one if that was important to me or to my child. I also think it's more than OK to have an imperfect ornament on the tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critter Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 When my two oldest dd's (now 23 and 21) were 5 and 3, one of my good friends gave us a hand painted cermamic nativity set. As I was unpacking it I said to them, "This is very fragile, so don't touch it. It's not to play with, just to look at. My friend made this so it's very special." At which point the box tipped out of my hands and crashed to the floor. At least half of the pieces were chipped or broken. I glued it back together as best I could, but the cow is missing a horn, one of the camels was beyond repair, and the donkeys have no ears. Somehow the Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the angel made it through intact. I still put it out every year and wince at the reaction I might have had if it had been the girls who had chipped it. Once the "new" was off of it, I let them play with it and I'm sure they got much more good out of it that way. Don't sweat the small stuff. Before you know it, they'll be adults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I would get another to hang on the tree and let her play with the broken one, or keep it on the tree- whichever she wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKapers Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 If it couldn't be fixed, I would get another. It sounds like it was an accident. If it had fallen off the tree and broke would you have gotten another one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl in NM Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 She's just 7, and she's probably *more* sad about breaking the ornament than you are! Heck, I'm <mumbles age>, and I still get excited and wiggly when we put up the tree. I'd find another ornament somewhere, and have it hanging on the tree Christmas morning. Yes, it was special, and yes, she disregarded your warning, but it's just stuff. If nobody's hurt- no biggie! I'd keep it, but not as a lesson to her. Instead, I'd keep it because that's the year she was excited and twirling and the wing broke--it's a cute memory. I really don't think this is going to anger you in years to come. It seems that you are already feeling a lot calmer about it. I hope your DD feels OK about it too (not sure if she's the kind of kid who will feel terrible about it or will shrug and move on). I wouldn't get another one. It is a memory. Yeah, you are mad now, but throwing it away and getting another one is just your way of trying to replace the memory. Cherish whatever memories you have now as real. In real life can you always just buy a new memory? Almost never for most of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I would repair this one with Gorilla Glue (read the instructions carefully!) and hang it on the tree for this year and always. Memories aren't tidy and shiny and new. Memories are messy hair and skinned knees and twirly little girls. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I would repair this one with Gorilla Glue (read the instructions carefully!) and hang it on the tree for this year and always. Memories aren't tidy and shiny and new. Memories are messy hair and skinned knees and twirly little girls. :) :iagree: and it's all about the memories when they are older :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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