No in my opinion, at nine years old he knew what he was doing; and seemed to be doing it on purpose.

As an artist, if I had a commissioned pc that was stowed away in my studio an told guests not to go into my studio and someone did and ruined the artwork, first off they should apologize. Second offer to pay something for my time or supplies (especially if it was due to a parent not watching their child and then the child ruined it and my supplies), and third, I would also send them a bull if they weren't taking it seriously knowing that was how I made a living. Glad dad is on board. Maybe he could explain to mom an sis how much time an effort let alone years of practice make the value of that art. She's a c word (sis) an needs to at least make an effort to repay the damages.

Same thing happened with me I was crying as hell bc the clay sculpture toook me about 29 hrs

Parents pay for the things their children ruin, that is the end of the story. Also, the kid is 9 so they are far old enough to know better than do that sort of thing.

I have a liability insurance on my kid. If he pulled such a stunt I would need an itemised bill for the insurance company. My kid my responsibility. Sis would be reimbursed, everything would calm down quickly.

Here people are bashing someone for getting pregnant at 15, meanwhile there could be hundres of reasons for someone having a baby at that age: shame, fear of abortion, not support for getting an abortion, no access to an abortion clinic, laws (looking at you, southern states), community pressure, parental pressure, failed contraceptives (they're not 100% effective), fear in general, cultural views, religious views or perhaps just free choice. I'm disappointed reading that some write her off as not being right in the head. Imagine your own daughter getting pregnant at 15 and you telling her she must not be right in the head. I'd like to hear about the proper, well-thought-through decisions people here apparently were able to make at that age. On topic: NTA.

That's not a normal 9 year old

Your sister sounds like a lazy, entitled b*tch. I've had clearly stated "adults only" parties where a friend/acquaintance brought their child (in one case 3 of them). They were, as politely as possible, turned away at the door. One friend showed up to my "adults only" WEDDING with her 3 children in tow. (We had a nicely worded notice in all the invitations basically saying absolutely no children under the age of 12. My sister's wedding was ruined by a wailing baby, the parents of which had to actually be told to take the child outside. Duh.) As the bride, I was busy getting my makeup done, but a quick thinking relative headed her off in the parking lot before she could actually get to the church. She had the nerve to tell said relative that I had given permission, which he knew to be bullshit because I had reiterated the NO KIDS rule when the bridal party got there. She called me the following week and lit into me for not allowing her to be at my wedding. I returned the gift she had already sent me and released her from our friendship, citing that I just really couldn't be friends with a grown woman who obviously couldn't read.

I can't conceibe such a messed up family. Sorry, everything in this story is weird. A family reunion banishing kids? That would never happen in my country. The kid's action is a scream from attention and he needs discipline. His mother is mental and had him far too young. The sisters have a strange relationship... I don't know...Just my opinion, all is weird.

Well, first of all, that's why you insure things (liability can be insured too and is not a luxury with such a child) and second I do not appreciate the way she tells that story, I don't like the way she speaks of others and I don't appreciate the whole idea of such a bill. But man... a 9 year old destroying a painting on purpose, a "mother" who could not care less and being an ass about it. Personally I think they are three people cut from the same cloth. Artists don't appreciate their work like that, sometimes it's a hit, sometimes a miss, even commissioned work can just not work out for what you had in mind. Value really is in the eye of the beholder and to be a working artist your value is in being somewhat original and developing skills so people appreciate that value. So yeah, one piece is a lot of work, but the value is bigger than that. So to me she sounds like a bitter older sister that looks down on her sister. And to be honest she's right! Her sister is a prick. No winners here if you ask me.

I think this is a made up story.

What a revolting little brat! And the mother sounds like a real piece of work too. Art being destroyed makes me so angry.

Totally NTA! If he had broken a stereo for that amount of money, they'd have to reimburse you, same goes for the art. And especially so because he ruined a piece that you were specifically making for a client…a commission!

Something like this happened to me, not this extreme but still. I was at a liquor store, and they allow dogs to come, they love it when the customers bring there dogs in. Well my little guy last night knocked over two bottles of Vodka, and the lid broke, guess who had to but two bottles of vodka lol

I really take issue with parents letting their offspring run amok. Look your wee demon may be the absolute gem in your eyes but to everyone else they are just annoying little shites.

The person who mentions kids in car dealerships is so spot on. The showroom cars are usually there because we want to showcase them and not leave them outside. They are NOT a McDonald's play area! Unfortunately we can't scold kids when their parents are buying a different car. God forbid we lose them as a customer for asking them not to damage a $60k car someone else is going to buy. (Also some adults are just as bad!) Treat everything as if you paid for it even if it's not yours!

The thing that shocks me is the abusive delight the kid seemed to get out of destroying things. He's gotten away with this kind of behavior for a long time (sis couldn't find a sitter? Wonder why....) The sister sounds like she just enables it. This kid has a lot of problems. If sis thinks it's cute now, wait till he hits puberty. It'll be DIsneyland. Meanwhile, you can't really charge her what a finished work or art would be. You can charge her for the destroyed paints and price of clean up. Maybe that's "compromising" a bit but if this kid broke an expensive item at your mom's or other relative I'm sure they wouldn't just smile and shrug it off. "Art" is often seen as a cute little hobby to people, and not the hard work, sweat and time it really is. So, they're disrespecting you on so many levels. Your sis is a toxic mess and so is the kid. Stand your ground. Ask for compensation. Then put a lot of distance between them and those thinking it's ok.

In my family this would have gone along the lines of:- "oh s**t... i'm so sorry... obviously I'll pay for the damage' "thanks but no... but lesson learned yeah? next time i say no entry, or no kids.. stick to it, cause this is what happens" 'yeah, will do.. and sorry again'. and everyone would have been butt hurt for about an hour, but it probably wouldn't happen every again.

That’s lost income, what else is she to do? And a 9 year old is really not small enough to see no accountability for bad behaviour. He knew what he was doing.

I'm only a few years older than that kid and at 9 yrs old I knew to shut up at someones house (unless it's friends) listen to music on headphones and not bother people especially if they have a massive sign saying DO NOT ENTER like wtf NTA

Can't find a sitter, yeah right.

I would lock the room. So even adults would not mess my things