Of Converse and Camelbaks

My girls don't take care of their sh... crap, and it's causing me emotional distress.

I like to "treat" my kids.  They don't have everything their friends do, and honestly they don't ask for much.  But growing up I went without a lot and it has caused me to spoil my kids from time to time.

But I want to preface this by saying that my 12-year-old has a laptop, an iPod and a pay-as-you-go cell phone.  She bought them all with her own money.  My eight-year-old also has an iPod.  I'm sorry, she had an iPod.  She bought it herself and she killed it herself.  With ice.  But that's another story for another time.

I've learned from my Grandma that sometimes quality is worth the price.  Yes, I could have endless plastic, BPA filled, water bottles in my house but I chose to get my girls Camelbak bottles for school this year.  I shopped around, and I found them on sale at Target for $12.  That was about 4 weeks ago.  My older daughter's is no longer in our possession.  She "must have left it in one of her classes".

I try to teach my girls responsibility.  You have to take care of your sh... crap.  I thought they were listening. 

Each of them has a desk drawer in their bedroom that I refer to as their "treasure drawer".  This drawer contains items they can't seem to part with.  A mini notepad from a birthday party last summer.  I flat penny form our trip to Bronner's.  A bouncy ball from Buffalo Wild Wings obtained in 2009.  All sh... crap in my opinion, but should any of it come up missing, hysteria would ensue.  But, a 10-inch-tall, purple, water bottle?  Well, it can be easily left on a desk for a student in the next class to say "Hey, this is a cool water bottle I think I'll keep it".  Oh yeah, no name.  It wore off.  hmmph!

My youngest has silly notes that she and her BFF wrote in kindergarten.  Three years ago.  They are "special".  But the design-your-own Converse she designed and I bought?  Those were special enough to leave by the door so our puppy could have one as a snack!  Yes, she is heartbroken, and yes I yelled at her.  But, I am heartbroken too.  She had them a week.  Look at the non-chewed one.  It's flawless.  And I've tried to encourage Converse to let me order one sneaker, but even though they are built from scratch and shipped from CHINA! I have to order 2.  Sigh.

So, I'm sad.  I budget our money and try to get ahead and in two instances I've lost over $50.  And my kids have their treasures but no cool water bottle and no cool shoes.  So I've resolved to only buy them food until they graduate.  No more cool stuff.  And no replacing the stuff they didn't take care of.  Ever. Anyone have a contact at Converse?