DEAR ABBY: I'm 13, and about six months ago my mom confiscated my iPod because I misbehaved. When it was time to get my iPod back, my mom couldn't find it. We have been searching everywhere in the house for it -- but it's gone.
My iPod is very important to me because almost every cent I earned went into buying the music and applications. The amount of money I spent is greater than the cost of the iPod itself. I asked my mother to buy me a new one to replace the one she lost, but she said it was my fault that it was taken away, and she could not keep track of where it was.
I think it is unfair that my mom lost something I spent so much on. Who is responsible for buying a new one? -- MUSIC-STARVED IN OLYMPIA, WASH.
DEAR MUSIC-STARVED: Good parents model responsible behavior for their children; that's how children learn. You misbehaved and you were punished for it. If the agreement was that you would get your iPod back, and your mother lost it, then she should replace it -- including the money you invested in loading it. She should be ashamed of herself for trying to weasel out of it.