I have lent my machine to my young teen neighbor who learned to sew on said machine at my house. The machine her mom had was not working well and both of us wanted the teen to finish her quilt. She is smart, sure, quick to learn and I knew she'd take as good care of it as I do....the machine I lent her is a vintage Bernina 830. It's such a workhorse I used to say in my shop that it could be dropped off the table, picked, and would work just fine again. Of course, that's NOT something I'd like to have happen!! But the point was made to the students who were hesitant to use it in a class we taught.
I makes me crazy to have to lend my own mother my machines as I don't think she *does* take care of them. She just tries to 'force' her way thru any problem; she's of the "kick-it-if-it-doesn't-work school. But she makes me feel so guilty because her three older machines don't work - due to the above school of thought - and she really can't afford any more to take them for constant repair or to buy a new one. I try to make sure she uses them at my house, and even then I have to "fix" something every time she's here.
Jan in VA