Sunday, November 18, 2018

Why Do Kids Constantly Lose Stuff?

It wasn't even a month into school when my daughter informed me that she lost her lunchbox.

"One minute it was there. The next?" She shrugged.



I told her to check lost & found.

"I did. It wasn't there."

I sighed.

She has a bad habit of losing things. Gloves. Hats. Sweatshirts.

You'd think she'd get better as she got older? Well. Ha. She started Middle School and has lost the following:

Her lunchbox

An umbrella

Gloves

Earphones

A water bottle

None are in the lost & found and I know this, because I also checked it. But I'm told when things get lost in Middle School, you'll probably never see them again.

She did get lucky with a sweatshirt she lost. She found it wadded up in the corner of the cafeteria.

"Good news!" she told me when she came home from school. "The sweatshirt has been found!"

"What about the lunchbox, the umbrella, and the earphones?" I asked. I immediately threw the sweatshirt in the wash because there was a smell.

Natalie gave me a guilty look. She recently got this hat, and we'll see if she keeps track of that.



People are all, "Well, punish the kids who lose stuff!" and I have. She's had her phone taken away. (By the way, she left her phone in class once. Luckily that was still there when she checked. Seriously. She was LUCKY on that one.)

She also had to do extra chores.

"I feel this is sort of mean," Natalie said as she mopped the floor.

"I feel that losing things that I pay for is mean," I answered.

I ranted about this on Facebook, and I find she's not the only kid who constantly loses things. Granted, there are some parents who are all, "Well, my child appreciates what they have and treat them well," and I'm like, "Great for you, Susan."




Anyway, if Natalie loses stuff, I won't always replace them. For example, her gloves. Luckily she had a pair from last year, but if she loses those, she'll deal with cold fingers.

I haven't replaced her lunchbox so she's been bringing her meal in a paper bag, which she says she actually prefers. "Now I don't have the stress about worrying about a lunchbox!"

Her earphones were only $4.99 from Walmart, because I'm not stupid enough to let her bring anything of value to school. (Her phone being the exception.) Have I replaced those? Nope. But she had an old pair that she's been using. It only works on one side, but sorry kid. If she wants a better pair, she can save her allowance.

She has to use an umbrella with Elsa on it since she lost my good one. She is pretty embarrassed. "You expect me to use something I used in third grade?"

"Yup," I answered, passing her the umbrella.

So far she hasn't lost anything in one week. Progress! Maybe?

And yes, she has left her homework at home and no, I haven't brought that to the school because she has to learn to be better organized. I can't baby her even though it's my instinct. She has to learn. Somehow.



I will point out that my son, who is 16, rarely loses his stuff. But he has autism, so he can be particular about his personal belongings.



So what about your kid? Do they lose things? Or if you don't have kids, did you lose things?




67 comments:

  1. I don't have kids, but I can imagine this would be so frustrating!!! I hate losing things myself!

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  2. I think this is the thing that turns our hair grey as parents! I don't replace stuff when it gets lost, and if it is something that they need that gets sucked into the void, they get the cheapest replacement I can find. It's a case of tough, don't like the replacement, then don't lose your stuff.

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  3. I remember when I was a kid, I left my jacket together with my new pair of glasses on the football field. Of course I didn't find it when I went back for it. I am still forgetting things but it's a good lesson though, as the replacements do cost money.

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  4. Tell me about it!!! We even managed to loose some runners at the beach! they were only a few weeks old! So frustrating!

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  5. I think it is practice for when they get older. My husband is always asking me to help him find something.

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  6. I'm a believer that kids lose things because they aren't paying attention. Your tactic is the best because it makes her see what happens when she doesn't have the things that she takes for granted.

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  7. OH HONEY my kids are the QUEENS of lost stuff. I gave up trying at one point and would simply check the lost and found every single time I went to the school. It is mildly comical. They both have ADHD so organization is not their strength but they are getting better the older they get so that's something. One time my younger girl left her trumpet on the school bus. Our bus driver knew her well and he also knew she was so disorganized she's keep losing things if people didn't help her out occasionally. He delivered that instrument right to my front door after dropping all the kids on his route off. HE WAS GOLDEN. That guy was a lifesaver. I gave him great XMAS presents every year. One year also he returned my iPad which was not to leave this house. I was on a trip that was a fellowship writing from South Africa. I didn't lock it up apparently. He brought back so much stuff. Loved that guy.

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  8. I won't call names but one of my kids constantly lost stuff when she was growing up - from jackets to car keys to phones and everything in between. Now that she's all grown up and married, I'm going to ask her husband if she still loses stuff. LOL

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  9. My kids seem to lose EVERYTHING! My oldest is only 5 but her shoes, socks, toys, and toothbrush always seems to go missing!

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  10. This is so my kiddos! They would always lose stuff. Especially, items like hats and gloves during the colder months.

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  11. First of all, the gif of Judge Judy made me laugh out loud. I love her. My son is good about not losing things, so I am blessed. The whole family is good about not losing items. Do they grow out of that?

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  12. I think I am still on the look out for three lunchboxes, 2 hats and a sweater. So you are not alone.

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  13. When my kids lose things I won't replace it unless I absolutely have to. Then they get a lesson about why we shouldn't lose things. It's maddening.

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  14. This is totally my friend's story! She always tells and complains to me about that her daughter always lose little things like pencils or gloves all the time!

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  15. Ahahah this post is so relatable! I mean i am not a kid anymore but i still lose everything! back then too!

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  16. My kids lose everything! Mostly socks and toys because they are little but I swear we buy new socks every month!

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  17. I'm always wondering this as well. I think it must be part of the brain that allows us to keep track of our things that needs years and years to develop. Now I'm entering the age where I'm losing things myself all over again!

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  18. I know right!?! It drives me nuts! I just think they aren't mature enough or something? I swear it drives me nuts!

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  19. I don't have kids, but my wife constantly loses things. Does that count? They eventually show up where you least expect them. I try to set up things to make it easier and that does help. Like a basket at the door for the keys.

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  20. Yes, kids do misplace things a lot. Hopefully, by the time she is a senior and ready for prom, that will be behind her and she will able to keep track of her phone to take great pics like our prom bound seniors over at PromGuide. Keshia Richmond

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  21. My kids lost everything they touched when they were younger. Seriously, they would lose things and I had no idea how they could have disappeared.

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  22. I have triplet boys, and they are constantly losing items. Water bottles are the main culprit!

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  23. It's really frustrating when kids constantly lose stuff in school. We are facing the same issue. Sometime we punish our kids too. Hope this post help me out in this. Thanks for sharing

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  24. My youngest has lost just about everything. She wears uniform and I have had to replace the uniform items more than thrice.

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  25. Did you know that the habit of losing stuff seems to be genetic? One of my parents did it even after getting married and settling down and now even one of my children does it. Annoying but if it is in the genes what can I do?

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  26. Oh, yes! I would like to know the answer to this question, too! My daughters loose the stuffs all the time: an umbrella, gloves - 2 pairs this season!, a lot of pens... :)

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  27. My kids were notorious for losing socks and charger but it gotten better after we didn't buy them replacements anymore ha ha. Now they take care of their stuff.

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  28. I like your philosophy. I am a first time parent and I can not lie...I would probably do whatever I could to replace lost items. Forgiveness you know. But, I like the principles you are teaching here. Responsibility! I love connecting with parents that think alike.

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  29. I think kids can be so different.. some are very conscientious about being neat and careful, others are not. I have one who puts something down and can't find it 5 minutes later, and one who is very aware of where she leaves things. It is definitely a challenge having to chase down stuff all the time!

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  30. Yes, both do! And I get so annoyed. Once Scarlet took MY hat and lost it. That said, our school lost and found is full of stuff that is so obviously ours - like neon, Harry Potter or unicorn stuff..

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  31. Some kids are just prone to losing things! A friend commented today that her son said he wanted a haircut ... she said, so get one, you're working. He said he didn't want to spend his money on a haircut. LOL She said - she didn't want to spend her money on things like rent and electricity, but here we are! I think you're right in the game when you say, if she loses her earphones, she has to use old, broken ones. They still work, sorta.

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  32. hahahaha same here. haha the kids always lose everything and they expect me to look for their stuff. it's as if I have all the answers. haha sigh...motherhood.

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  33. Haha! Kids really lose stuff, even the most expensive ones and gets you so frustrated at times. I did too when I was young a lot of times! Oops!

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  34. I used to keep losing things as a kid much to my mothers dismay. I have lost money, lunch boxes, clothes, etc. It’s now made me get into this habit where I check for something multiple times a day to ensure it’s not lost.

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  35. Oh my goodness, ALL THE TIME! Shoes, brushes, everything! I don't get it either!

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  36. I'm always losing stuff! My son does too! All the time! Loved reading your post!

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  37. Haha, MrsFrugalSamurai loses stuff ALL the time, just today she lost our mailbox keys - IS IT GENETIC? OH GOSH I HOPE NOT!!!

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  38. I don't have kids but I always loose my stuff lol!

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  39. My kiddos lose things that are in plain sight! I can't really complain though because I'm just as bad about losing stuff.

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  40. Oh it's definitely frustrating when the kids lose things. It seems like gloves go pretty frequently!

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  41. We homeschool, so less chance of losing things, but I've still got a kiddo who keeps track of things well, and another who never knows where anything is (even if it's right in front of him). Hahaha. Kids are so much fun.....

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  42. It is so sad when my son or daughter loses something that is useful and also could be expensive to replace like a calculator. I always stress to my son to watch al, his stuff and not to forget things if possible.

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  43. It can be frustrating, I know. I don't have kids of my own, but I remember that when I was a kid I used to lose my sunglasses everywhere. And it wasn't just sunglasses, it was almost anything lol It wasn't intentional or irresponsible. I honestly forgot so easily where I placed my things. It gets better... or at least in my case it got better when I was 16 years. Hopefully that's her case too!

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  44. Sooooo..... in my family I am the one who loses stuff. I am scatterbrained and think about too many things at once. However, I am the one who can FIND things while the rest of my family cannot.

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  45. My girls were pretty good about not losing things when they were growing up. I however am constantly misplacing things left and right. Ugggg... I need to get more organized!

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  46. Thanks for sharing this post with your experience.I learned some tips on how to react when the kids lose stuff.My kid is still 6 yrs old.But he always lose his cap.Whenever we want to go outdoors,he doesn't have a cap.Still there are no other things missing because he is still a kindergartner and we are behind him to and from the preschool.

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  47. We go through this too all the time. It's frustrating when it happens often and then we all have to stop what we're doing to find a stuffed animal lol.

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  48. You know what's more frustrating? When your HUSBAND constantly loses stuff! Drives me absolutely insane!

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  49. My kids are grown but they would lose EVERYTHING! Now it's their turn to have to replace these things over and over lol. (Rena)

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  50. Those are great ways to raise them well. So they will learn from their mistakes although I don't have a kids yet I know those things when I was young, I am very careful to my things.

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  51. SERIOUSLY! For gods sake, I think we lost 4 water bottles and 3 hoodies last year! UGH!

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  52. My son lost a bunch of things when he was younger. I think that's a kid thing. He's a teen now and so far, nothing has been lost yet. LOL.

    -LYNNDEE

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  53. I would think it's because they are distracted with so many stuff. I used to lose a lot of things when I was young. Quite some good memories actually.

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  54. My kids never really did lose stuff. But my grandkids are a whole other story. Especially at camp. We know they're not coming back with everything so we are particular about what we send now.

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  55. My daughter is terrible at this, he's unorganized and doesn't remember things where she left it. My son on the contrary is thankfully not like his sister.

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  56. I just had this issue with my oldest. I informed her that she had to pay her overdue fines at the library because she lost her stuff. She lost her mind.

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  57. My sister was good at losing things, except when they were associated with school. She did manage to lose a favorite sweatshirt of mine, although it reality it was actually stolen.

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  58. Ugh it's so frustrating when kids lose their stuff. They don't understand how much we work to pay for the things they have and don't take care of, which end up being lost. I feel for you mama.

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  59. I can totally relate to this. My little often come home losing things. I hope she will understand and bit organized.

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  60. Glad you opened this topic. Is it a kids nature losing stuff haha. My kids I always ended up going to a lost and found whenever we are at the mall.

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  61. My daughter is almost a 4 year old and she is already losing stuff.She likes taking small toys to school, she plays with them in the car ride and then puts it away in her little backpack when we get to school and yet somehow, sometimes the toys never make it back home. I guess it will only gets worse as she gets older. Not giving me very good hopes here lol

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  62. The question about losing stuff is right up there with 'why cant kids see things that are right in front of their nose?' I will never understand kids sometimes hahaha - Vicky

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  63. Fortunately, I can't say the same about my kids. They're both very particular about their stuff. Although I can't say the same for myself. I was always losing stuff when I was younger as well, lol

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  64. You forgot to list the socks :( My kids keep losing socks and water bottles. I am so frustrated!

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  65. My daughter literally accuses me of taking her stuff, and I can usually figure out where she has left it. She will put something down and can't find it, and then panic and say we took it from her! My kids don't lose a whole lot, but they are forgetful - like forget to put on their backpack when they go out the door to school, or forget their swimsuit when we go to swim practice!!

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  66. Omg I know the feeling! This year while out shopping I found a lunchbox that attaches to the backpack. I'm really hoping this does the trick and he doesnt loose his lunchbox!

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