Money advice: Who should be on the hook when a soccer ball destroys a neighbor's prized possession?

Pay Dirt is Slate’s money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Kristin and Ilyce here . (It’s anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

A month ago, our 10-year-old son “Adam” accidentally kicked a soccer ball into our neighbor’s yard. Ever since, my wife “Ellen” and I have been in a dispute about the fallout.

The ball knocked a glass sun catcher from a tree, causing it to shatter on their patio. Unfortunately, it was an expensive sun catcher—$200. We paid our neighbors so they could replace it. The dispute is about whether Adam should pay us back.

Adam gets $20 in allowance per week, and I think he should have to reimburse us. Ellen doesn’t think Adam should have to be on the hook for it since it was an accident because “that’s what happens with kids sometimes.” I think 10 is old