How do I get the culprit to own up?

annie0000 | 23:30 Mon 08th Nov 2010 | ChatterBank

52 Answers

While the boys were brushing their teeth tonight, the blind in the bathroom (small roman blind) all unfolded - when I checked the strings, they were both frayed at the same point - the other end where it wraps around the cleat was frayed a few inches up from the point where it was wound onto the cleat. There was a piece of the string lying on the windowsil and the bit at the end of the string with a fancy wee wooden ball thing fell off into my hand when I touched it. The nail scissors were also lying on the windowsil. This blind is for show and is never actually raised or lowered - it hasn't been moved since it was fitted.

I believe that this just didn't happen due to wear and tear.

I know I didn't cut it and nor did mr annie - if we presume that I don't have a poltergeist, that leaves No1 son (age 10) and No 2 son (age 9) in the frame. Both deny touching it.

It bears all the hallmarks of no 1 son, but I shouldn't just assume it was him.

How do I get the culprit to won up? I have explained at this point to them that I will be more angry with them for lying than for cutting the blind but no joy - they've gone to bed to sleep on it and I've told them I expect a confession in the morning.

Any tricks to get them to tell the truth?

Do you have a talent? I don't mean an exceptional one..

If you were the Secret Millionaire, who would you help?

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askyourgran

And when the culprit is about 34 he'll say to you "it was me mum". Been there.

sara3

I'll look forward to that with my son, ayg. I'll put aside 12 months for his confessions!

I've had enough of this bad behaviour.. I'm off to bed. night all x

annie0000

Question Author

maybe gran ;o)

annie0000

Question Author

night sara - off myself shortly - got the dentist in the morning.....and he is quite handsome so I am looking forward to it!

joko

could it in fact have been mice?

what..the?

Is there any house out the window could you bluff and pretend the neighbour saw in an attempt to make them come forward, mannnnn just realised window probably frosted

Plan a treat they will get a video game or something like xmas and if the person doesnt come forward you will cancel it.......start pretending to cancel things with friends and family.

annie0000

Question Author

joko - pretty sure it wasn't mice - cat doesn't let a spider survive never mind a mous.

what..the - not sure if i'd be prepared to follow through the threat, so won't make it.

I am going to offer the culprit the opportunity to fix the blind....he wont be able to resist!!!

ummmm

Didn't read all the answers but this is a common problem in my house. I have one very destructive son...I also have another son who would destroy something just so his brother would get into trouble.

annie0000

Question Author

so what do you do then Ummmm?

Still no confession - I have said that nobody is in trouble, I just want to know, but latest is that it was the cat!! - I did point out that she doesn't have opposable thumbs.

milly143

Didn't read all the answers either but the Q reminded me of something when I was younger. We were all staying at my Grandparents house and in one of the spare rooms there was a little teddy sitting on the top of a set of drawers. One afternoon my extrememly angry Grandma came downstairs with the teddy in hand, and it's torn off ear in the other hand having just found it stuffed behind the set of drawers. She gathered me and my brothers and sisters in the conservatory (all 7 of us) and went round asking each one of us who did it. She went round us all repeatedly until the culprit broke and confessed. I don't remember how long we were there for but it felt like hours! It worked though. Idiot brother.

madmaggot

I wouldn't have asked whether they did it (as you say it had to be one of them) I would have spoken to both of them together and asked them WHY they did it and tell them the punishment that I had decided on.
I expect it was actually one of them, not both, so the one being wrongly punished will soon 'dob' the other one.
I always think it's a mistake to give kids an option when actually there isn't one.
IE don't say 'will you do this' when you really mean 'I want you to do this'.
If you say 'will you' it gives the option of saying no!

annie0000

Question Author

Scary grandma milly :o)

I see what you are saying madmaggot - I was kind of taken by surprise, cos they were both standing brushing their teeth when it collapsed - kind of looked like it had been rubbed at with the scissors rather than cut straight across, so my first thought was that it had worn, but where the break is, it just can't have - and then I found the bits and the scissors.

I think it will remain a msytery. I have the same blind up in another bathroom - both fitted at the same time and there is no sign of wear anywhere, still looks brand new, because they are for show not for use. Windows are opaque and on side of house, neighbours house not that close because the garage is inbetween and their side windows are bathrooms too.

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