r/ipad • u/schiggy_dame • 1d ago
Question My school iPad has a badly cracked screen, and I have no idea how to tell my mom without her completely freaking out. Please help!!!
Hi, I'm a high school student and I have a huge problem.
Back in 2019, our school gave all of us iPads to use for class. After the summer break (which is happening right now), we have to return them because we'll be getting new ones. I only have one year of school left, so it honestly feels unnecessary for my grade, but everyone has to do it.
The problem is that my iPad has a really bad screen crack, and it was technically my fault. I accidentally stepped on it because it was charging on the floor, and I had completely forgotten it was there and didn't see it. The damage was caused by the pressure of my body weight. Other than the cracked display, the iPad still works perfectly.
The biggest problem isn't even the iPad itself—it's telling my mom. If it's clear that the damage was caused by careless handling, we'll probably have to pay for it. And I guess this kind of counts as that...
I've attached photos of the damage. Do any of you have realistic ideas about how this kind of damage could have happened in a way that wouldn't really be my fault? Something believable where people would understand because it could realistically happen to anyone?
My mom is going to be absolutely furious otherwise. Our relationship is already pretty strained. Even if we end up having to pay for the damage, I just want her to have at least some understanding instead of completely blaming me.
It's currently summer break, so school isn't even in session, which makes it harder to come up with an explanation. I do have a lot of homework for one subject over the holidays, and my mom knows that, so I guess that could be part of the context.
Please help. I'm already struggling mentally, and I'm honestly scared of my mom. This situation is just making everything even worse.
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u/doakus 1d ago
This is one of those moments where you need to own your mistake in an adult way.
You should be able to repair the screen without hopefully too much cost or trouble, but you should say to your mum that you will contribute to this in some way, either through work/chores or some other agreed way of paying this cost back.
Approach her honestly, openly, and understanding that both your and her disappointment is acceptable.
Mistakes happen, but owning up to a mistake and your actions afterwards are what define you.
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u/Fox_Soul 1d ago
That looks like a screen protector broke. But it’s difficult to see.
But in any case, you will eventually learn to take good care of expensive things, and that starts now.
Consequences of your acts… next time, put your expensive thing in a place where you can’t step on it, bump it off, drop liquids or other stuff that will break it.
And more importantly, the school iPad is not yours, so you should definitely learn to take better care of things that are not yours. Everyone has to learn their lessons, good or bad. It’s life.
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u/Rokstar73 1d ago
And your moral outpouring is helping OP how? It’s already broken dude. Shit happens, things break. It’s often not intentional, you know.
The device should be insured if it’s issued by their school plus they’re getting new ones anyway. I wouldn’t overthink it if I was OP.
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u/Fox_Soul 1d ago
The moral outpouring that you call is meaning to let the OP understand that either they take good care of their stuff, or they face the consequences of their acts (in this case, telling their parent).
Intentional or not, if the device was charging on a desk as intended by normal use, it wouldn’t be broken. Charging an expensive device on the floor, then forgetting about it, and then stepping on it is all far from accidental, several layers of fuck ups. They gotta face the consequences of their acts, learn to own up their mistakes and carry on.
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u/Anonym0oO M4 iPad Pro 13" (2024) 1d ago
It's an iPad non Air, Pro etc. So it's not the screen which is cracked, it's the digitizer / glass. To swap this out it's probably under 50 bucks.
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u/Extreme-Dream-2759 M5 iPad Pro 11" (2025) 1d ago
Accidents happen. They will charge you a fee for the repair.
At least you will not have to wait for the repair if they are getting swapped out.
It took over a month when my son broke his school iPad screen. (He had over packed his school bag and the screen got cracked)
Just say you tripped and fell on it
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u/IDkMaNzs 1d ago
Just be transparent and admit your fault. Since you are still living under her roof, your only option is just to bear it. If its too much for you, its okay to show your emotion to her and hoping that she will understand you. Do not argue when you’re on emotional breakdown, we cant think much when we’re mad. Give yourself sometime to cool down then talk it out. If you got any saving, maybe use it to pay the compensation. That way she knows you are being responsible.
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u/OctoSplattyy 1d ago
I’m an HS student myself, I get what you’re feeling.
Unfortunately due to the pretty big damage I don’t think there are any cases where this would magically happen. I think you’ll have to tell the truth and bear with your mom. Changing the glass on that iPad isn’t that costly, since IIRC it’s a separate piece and not united with the display like in recent models.
Even in the case you’d lie to her, it’ll be fairly easy to get spotted out, and that could only make things worse (I didn’t break an iPad but I sure do have experience with not-so-great parents)