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Am I being unreasonable?
: ...to enjoy having different types of one thing without it being commented on by others in the school playground??
(137 messages)
However, surely it is up to me and if it keeps me happy then there is no harm done. Also, why is it that others assume that I have a whole 'fleet' of 20 different prams at home because I always have different ones. Well, approx. once a month maybe longer dependant on if I like them or not!
I rarely buy new and always sell one to buy another.
I only speak to one other Mum in the school playground, I just get looks and whispering from others. Until last week when one Mum plucked up the courage to speak by asking if I was a buggy tester and has never spoken since. Then on Friday I allowed dd to walk, (it only took us 2 hrs to do a 10 minute walk, lol!), and another Mum piped up 'Why you letting her walk when you have about 15 different prams'.
Whether its shoes, handbags, clothes etc.... Its all the same and I don't passs judgement on other Mums by having different handbags everyday or a different pair of shoes everyday??
Rant over but its my one little indulgence that I am sad to say I enjoy but wish people would speak to me instead of assume things.
Too bad that more people don't mind their own business when it comes to other peoples possesions. It's not like you are smoking crack at the school gates or something sheesh.
Ignore them. Saddos shouldnt spend so much time in the playground that they have time to notice and pass comment. The idea is arrive, drop off child, leave. Simple. I have at least 50 pairs of shoes. It is normal female behaviour to try until you find the perfect thing.
I'm amazed people actually notice what parm you have and whether its a different one. I don't think I could do 'name that pram' or tell you what people had this morning, let alone last week!
maybe if you compliment them on thier handbags and shoes, they will compliment you on your buggies, and you will talk WITH people instead of being talked about?
It is a bit noticeable. And not necessarily bad of them to notice or talk to you about it.
Glad you feel better for your rant - are you SURE they are whispering and looking?
Why am I crazy mad woman because I have different pushchairs?
Surely if there was no baby in it then I would be crazy mad??!
As I said, it is the same with anything. Why should it matter how many we have or why we decide to have or try a new one. Its up to us and would be the same whether it be shoes, handbags, clothes.
Now I think it's odd but that's just me. However I really really don't think anyone would ignore you or whisper on the basis of your pram habit . If they are I would ignore them, it's too silly for words.
I'm always amazed at people who have all these prams. I have used two for my four, although I am planning on getting one more buggy for DS4.
How is it a "little indulgence" prams aren't cheap?
Try not to be defensive. Laugh at yourself a little, see yourself as others might. It is unusual to have a different pram every month and I would be curious if I saw you. Especially if you never spoke to any body.
I noticed the other day that one of the mums from the school had a different pram, in fact I noticed tow of them did, but that's because they have both gone from big things to strollers and they are peopel I talk to, apart from that I wouldn't notice so I doubt anyone really notices your prams.
If I did notice however, I'd think you were crackers.
A pram a month - well it is a bit odd, cant you find something more exciting to spend that much money on
tbh I probably wouldnt notice (or care) what pram you were pushing even if it were a different one every day (now your shoes or handbag I would notice)
have just worked out part of my thought process and it is that buggies (and babies) are not fashion accessories hence the strength of feeling about it .. it sets you apart as someone who sees baby and paraphenalia as fashion accessory which I'm sure you don't
unlike shoes and handbags which are purely fashion accessories
What will you do when you have no toddler? Will you be one of those Mums with an (able-bodied) 6 year old sitting like a buddha in a pushchair.
Sounds time-consuming and definately stranger than buying shoes and handbags. I guess it's just because we are used to people only buying one or two. But whatever floats your boat - it is harmless. How many have you had overall? 'Fess up!
I think it would make me more likely to talk to you as I'd be somewhat intrigued. Perhaps that's what the 'buggy tester' woman was doing. How did you respond to her?
They don't know you're selling one and buying another. To most people this would appear like an awful lot of trouble to go to, which is why they assume that you have a fleet. If anyone dares mention it again, tell them what you do, have a laugh, make a friend.
TurnipHead1, once dd starts walking everywhere I will meet her. Definately not mad enough to push her in a pram longer than she needs one!
Will then have to move on to shoes and handbags no doubt, lol!
Um, don't know whether I should 'fess up!
I told the lady at school that I wasn't a buggy tester and just liked trying out new buggies. She then commented on how talkative my dd was and how clearly she spoke and we talked up until our dc's came out of school but since that day we haven't spoken again.
Twiglett, I don't think they are fashion accessories but do like my dd to be comfortable as I don't drive and so she can be in a pram for most of the day if we are out all day.
If I thought my dd wasa fashion accessory then she should be dolled up in Baby Dior and Gucci shouldn't she???? Lol!
It seems harmless to me but people are bound to comment as it is odd behaviour. I just wanted a serviceable buggy-as long as it did the job I was happy.
I would probably notice and think you were a bit odd. But that's not a criticism, I'd just think you were interesting and wonder why you changed your pram so much or whatever.
Maybe other people aren't being as nasty about it as you think they are, they're probably just curious. Next time they stare just give em a big grin and start a chat about where you got the new pram..
Happy - stuff them if they are rude and stuffy enough to pass (negative) comment on your pram swapping/buying. As you said (or someone said) people buy different things - some people will have a million handbags or shoes, or like my DH when he was younger change their cars alot, change the cushions on their sofa every season, change their hair colour... But I guess if it was any of the above you would be delightfully middle class, and people love that .
The other lady was nice. Will try talking again this afternoon. Our dc's house in their classroom has been turned into a salon and it is the parents turn to go in and have hair and make up done this week, that will give us sometihg to talk about, eeeek!!!
HAPPYFEET, DONT WORRY ABOUT IT. I THINK IT IS NORMAL(SORRY CAPS) why stick with one pushchair if a better one comes along? you spend so much using it and you are not totally happy with it, why not change it? in 2 and half years i have had 15 pushchairs and have had a few comments, but i dont care, i like changing them.
i bought a pair of kikker boots off the op, took 6 weeks to arrive, but she was very apologetic and that has passed now. alot of people have since bought off her and had no problem. i think that is irrelevent to this thread.
I went through a stage of being a bit buggy obsessed. I had about 12 in total for one child over a period of 2 years. Mainly because it was nigh on impossible to find the 'right one', the one that combined all of the features I required.
I wanted something well padded, that lay flat and faced me when DD was small, something lightweight to push but not flimsy, something easy to fold that folded to a non-behemoth size and something that I could hang shopping etc on without too much fuss. It is an impossible task, I tell you !
Like the other 'obsessives' I never had more than 2 at a time (a 'big pram' and a stroller). I bought and sold on Ebay and I almost always got my money back or more because they were in good nick.
NomDePlume, well said. Especially as I don't drive it is more important for dd to be comfortable and also something that I can get onto a bus that isn't almost identical to the size of the bus, lol!
i have found maclaren to be the best for me. really easy to steer and fold uo small and light. i bought a brand new quest a feww weeks ago and absoloutly love it. but think this will be my last one
Hmmm, only a few do. Others have better things to talk about!
Love your name, orangehead, only cos it makes me giggle. My dd had spaghetti bolognese the other week and proceeded to spread it all over her head. I dunked her striaght in the bath and scrubbed but her scalp was stained orange for a few days. Sorry completely o/t but it reminded me and I got pics as she sooo enjoyed herself!
It's a harmless enough passion, unless you're spacing the next 8 children to get maximum pram usage. It's slightly quirky but the world is more interesting for quirky people. I don't think I'd ever notice tbh unless it was pointed out to me; I might check out your 'wheels' but it would hardly be the focus of discussion - how dull would these waiting mums have to be?
Nor is there any law that says because you've got progeny you have to be friends with every other person whose managed to reproduce in the same catchment area.
No more kiddies for me! Would like one more but purely as I don't feel my family is quite complete and not because I can't bear to be without a pram!!!.
However dh has said our three dc's that we have already is enough, lol!
Oh and also my pram doesn't damage the environment quite as much as the mum who drives to school everyday in a 2.5 litre Jeep Cherokee with 2 chldren from 5 minutes down the road. That is a whole different subject!
I would talk to you in the playground . I don't see anything odd about it, I used to love looking at prams even after I'd bought mine. I can see why you like to change them-although I never did. I had a thing about changing bags too...do you change your changing bags too?lol
Wondering though ... what will happen when all your DCs have grown out of the pram-phase? Do you continue to have them to carry on with your pram obsession?
lol greenday, i am buggy obsessed. i was planning on getting a cool looking shopping trolly once dd3 is out of prams. she is walking most places now, so mine rarely get used. got 6months until i need another one.
Any behaviour that isn't what is generally considered "normal" will attract attention. Changing your pram every month is not generally what most would consider normal so, therefore, I wonder why your surprised that it has attracted the attention of other mums. I think you obviously know that it is unusual hence your reaction when others have commented. When other mum asked you about "buggy testing" you should have confessed that you were just a buugy nut and had a bit of a laugh about it. I'm not saying there's necessarily anything wrong with changing your pram every month ...hey what ever floats your boat. But I'm sure you are aware that it's not the type of thing that the general population do and so is bound to be seen as a bit odd by those who have noticed.
I'm curious, how many prams and buggies do you have? Do you sell the old ones? Do you get bored with them? Do you buy new ones or second hand? Do you give them away?
I think your behaviour is very interesting and can't understand why they whisper about it instead of interrogating you, I would. I am amazed.
I would talk to you, we could talk about our buggy obsession together lol. We could even swap buggys when we are bored of them!! I have 3 upstairs that i havent used for weeks. It is really hard work trying to talk to people at my dd old nursery there was loads of lovly mums who would stop and chat we even go out for drinks, meals etc together, but at dd's new nursery they all look at you like you have 2 heads even when you try a little hello you get nothing back. Just be polite ignore there comments. They are most probably jealous cause they think you have money to burn lol
But if its any comfort i think your habit is normal. Ps have you had a bugaboo or buzz and if so what did you think of them? lol xxx
the mums should not be mean but it is radio rental so have so many wheels.it is.it might look a bit odd.maybe they run a sweepstake on which of your fleet will turn up today
and i expect they would comment if you turned up in new styles/colour/brand shoes and accessories daily
maybe it inadvertently come across as flash or showy oh another buggy.
or maybe just radio rental about buggies
2littlemonkeys - i have had Buzz and it was a terrible pram, heavy @12kg, rickety, unstable on anything except a smooth pavement. sold it after 1month(bought when pg)and hated it. Now have bugaboo cameloen fantastic light weight @9kg
Hi Guys, Didn't realise my thread was still running!
I work on a one in and one out system (more cos hubby won't let me have a whole 'fleet'!!).
I did tell the other mum that I was just a buggy 'nut' and I like my prams.
Have had MANY Bugaboo's. The Cameleon was the best. The Bee is fab too. Not had a Buzz but the new ones with the normal seat and XL seat are going down quite well amongst friends.
Dd is 22 mths and have had nearly 50 prams .
I do buy and sell when I get bored or fancy a change.
That is just odd! Sorry - but I can understand why you get slightly strange looks at the school gate - especially if they don't know you sell one on to buy another.
But more generally, I really don't get the pram obssession - there can't be that many differences surely - and after 50, wouldn't you know what to choose in a pram/buggy so you could buy the perfect one?
I'm more of a 'push it till it falls to pieces' and not worry about it!
when my kids were little everyone had a maclaren striped thing absolutely everyone and if you had two close together you had the identicl version double
simple lol
thjey did change the stripe colour occsionally so you could tell roughly how old they were
I suppose my day to day life is boring so something needs to change to make it interesting!
Loads of different prams out there nowadays.
Lol, at the t-shirts zippitippitoes! Why would they assume though, thats my point, are you not allowed to have X amount of t-shirts. Do you have to conform to an 'only 3 t-shirts rule' cos others say so???!
i really like the bugaboo, it started when i went to new york last year every other person had one lol but my dd is 2 next month and no more babys for me, so i dont think dh will let me get one!! x
It must be very expensive though as well - supposing you made a £50 loss on each pram (assuming a £2-300 initial price) then that's £2500 you've thrown away. You could have bought the world's greatest pram for that...
I have now found the perfect one, and sticking with it (honest!)! Plus dd is nearly 2 so will be out of prams soon, hopefully!
The on and off of buses with a pram does my head in, especially with the horrible bus drivers we have around here! I try to walk most of the time!!
Well, I wasn't embarassed with my obsession as such until I worked out how many I had had. Not embarassed by having different ones all of the time just the amount, I was oblivious.
I can get quite enthusiastic about prams because a decent one makes a huge difference to life. A rickety one with bits dropping off or difficult to push etc is a nightmare!
But I think if people bitch about you they are pathetic and should be ignored. But they could be using your buggy hobby to strike up a conversation, you know the way if someone has a puppy or a new baby everyone will chat to them. People are shy.
I would think you were funny and nice and would want to chat with you about prams if I saw you at my school.
I can understand it. I had a little dally with prams myself! although not to same extent as you lol I am on my 10th pram in 2.7 years and 2 children. Have had my current one over a year though as I found my perfect match
Am very interested to hear what your perfect pram is if you are sticking with the current one because its perfect! Please tell!!!
(my perfect pram turned out t be the phil and teds )
Well it is very odd obsessive behaviour, which indicates you do not have enough else going on in your life!
So you can't be surprised when people steer clear of odd behaviour, its quite a natural instinct. Whereas compulsive pram purchasing is not
<come sit on ze chair "tell me about your childhood...I zink maybe you are really very broody and should have anozer child to get it out of your system!!"
sorry Im a pram mad lady too, but not as bad. I have same buggies most of the time but change covers around. I talk to most of the mums in the playground and have had 3 ask me for help with choosing different buggies, had someone ask if i was esting one out as she wanted it when i sold it. Each person has a different passion, be it dolls, prams and other things. No its no one elses bussiness but pushchairs are a bit bigger so bound to notice. Then again I have a collection of slings too, and also been asked about them. Take it as a good sign they are properly thinking how lovelyt they all are. One of my neighbours play spot the pram with her friend, she only told me the other day that they look out for me to see what beutiful pram I have that day
i like prams and ill look at them when i go shopping, i dont buy though as i have my perfect one (bugaboo cameleon) i do have a couple of different coloured fabrics for it so i hope people in my school yard dont think im mad personally i think 50 prams is excessive but hey what ever floats your boat
We use the term pram-whore affectionately in my neck of the woods. You'd get on well with one of my friends. She's never satisfied with he pram she has and is always eyeing up her next adventure in the pram world
Wow! 50 prams! I have 3 & I thought that was excessive (one single, one double & one all terrain)
I always look at other people's prams - I see the attraction - I quite like the look of Silver Cross - Could you do something with this? Set up an web-site giving reviews? Open a pram shop (or one on-line)? Seriously, think about it.
Zippi, if you are going to cut lawns, you simply have to get a petrol mower - no faffing about with wires - I have a self propelled (very important) Mountfield, it's great.
I think we have come to the conclusion that 3 is good. Mainly one single big pram, one single stroller and an all terrain.
I am only allowed to stick to one though (dh's rules!).
I do like to give advice on buying but only when it is asked for.
Which Silver Cross. I had the Dazzle which is a great stroller. I do love the Silver Cross coachbuilts but don't have the courage to be seen pushing one. You don't see alot of them nowadays. My mum had one for dd to sleep in in the garden when she was born 22 mths ago. We took it into our local town once and it took us about 3 hrs to get round cos everyone came over for a look and a chat about it. Mum pushed as she loved it!!
What's the pleasure in a pram? Seriously. I really don't get it. 
. If they are I would ignore them, it's too silly for words. 
handbags or shoes, or like my DH when he was younger change their cars alot, change the cushions on their sofa every season, change their hair colour... But I guess if it was any of the above you would be delightfully middle class, and people love that 
