Am I the only one that is lost?

My son lost his new ds3d that he just recieved for his 7th birthday after asking for one for a whole year. I?

• one for a whole year. He just went down the street to his friends, and when I went to get him, it must have fell out of his pocket as we were walking home. Two hours later I realized it was missing, It was my fault that I did not put it in my pocket, or check it when we got home, everything was so busy, and I never allow him to take toys out to friends, but they were so excited, and all his friends have one, and it's his special day. He sang happy birthday to himself all day! Anyhow I told his dad that it is lost and he said noooo way is he getting another, as we live on a small budget since his dad moved out. I have been squirreling a few bucks away for an emergency, but I don't even know how much an NDS3D costs, as he received it as a gift from a distant friend of mine who had asked what he wanted from santa, and all he wanted was , you guessed it. It was supposed to be for christmas, but I saved it for his birthday, and now he only had it 3 hours! I have retraced our path, but no luck, someone saw it and picked it up I'm sure, and could it even survive in-25 C? We live in a poor area, so I'm sure anybody would keep it, but my son is adamant on putting up posters, at every house, asking for it's return. I feel very sad for him, more so after I heard him tell his little brother that today was better that christmas cause he wanted a ds for xmas and never got it, and now he lost it, and his brother was telling him not to be sad. AAARRGG. My problem is this, do I go buy him a new one and say someone returned it, and in turn lie to his dad also? I hate to lie and deceive, as I believe it will affect my karma, but have I affected it already by sneaking money away for a rainy day?, I could never understand people who lie, and judged them, but here I am, ready to lie to the most important people. I could never tell them what I did, but will this affect me badly? I don't know what to do, I know it's just a game, but he was sooooo sad, It broke my heart, and after what we have been going through, he deserves some kind of happy. Now I feel like I'm trying to justify myself, for lying. Is it ever ok? It's not like I'm going to turn into this big deceiver, and I never ask for financial help, as I have too much pride, and isn't that a fault in itself? I will ask his grandpa to pitch in if I have to, all he can say is no, and I have never asked him for anything before, and I'm sure he will give a few bucks, but even that makes me queasy. What is a parent prepared to do to keep their little ones happy? He is such a good, kind, respectful little boy, who always tries his best to help out, and I know we all learned a good lesson, and his dad reamed me out for letting him leave the house with it, so I feel extra bad about everything. We don't have much, and having lots was never important to me, but because he wanted this for so long, and finally got one, and lost it, and I'm to blame also, I feel I have to do whatever it takes to fix it. Do other parents feel this way also? Is my karma going to be messed up? I just feel that if I tell one lie, I will have to tell another, that's the way it goes I'm sure, and is this worth lying about? I just want my little boy to be happy, and I know he will never lose something again, as this is really the first thing he's lost. It was an unfortunate accident, and I am willing to pay the price, but I'm still a little weak in my philosophy. What would you do?

• Answer:

  Your budget must come first. Help your son put up posters...etc. The school of hard knocks teaches lessons that are never forgotten. This is one of them. You won't have to remind him to be careful about losing something for the rest of his life.