Earlier this year my ex-husband asked if I wanted to go in with him and purchase each of our children an ipod touch for Christmas. I politely declined. He came right out and told the kids I declined to participate in the purchase and told them that as a result he was making some rules about their use of the ipods. One of the rules is that they are not allowed to bring them to my house and if they do and something happens to them, the kids will owe their father half the cost of the ipod. My knee jerk reaction is to protect them from any accidents and having to be on the hook by forbidding them from bringing the ipods here. They have been talking about these gifts since their father promised to get them over the summer and are incredibly excited about having them for their own and they are very, very unhappy about not being able to carry them between houses.

Should I let them bring the ipods here and if they break them or accidentally leave them let the chips fall where they may? Does the Collective have any ideas on how to handle this situation so the kids can enjoy their presents? FYI, the ex and I have what might best be described as volatile relationship so reasoning with him is not an option.

Topics: children, gifts, parenting, x-mas, Ex's