Is my mother mad?

[DublinMammy]

Am 38 weeks pregnant so may be a bit irrational (!) but my mother has just dropped off our Christmas presents and there is one for our DS who is 3.5 yrs - she said "It's a trampoline, it's for using indoors or outdoors". I was a bit stunned and said "Oh, er, really?" We have a TINY back yard which I don't know it will fit in properly and when I said this she said, well he can use it inside then. On our nice wooden floors. Does that sound like the sort of thing someone about to have a new baby wold like to have in their house, the relaxing thud thud sodding thud of a trampoline INSIDE!!!? AIBU to be pissed off or fully justified in being irritated? And what the hell should I do with it straight into a charity shop

[RandomMess]

Keep it at granny's?

[GozerTheGozerian]

Sounds like one of those excited grandparent presents, where they haven't actually thought about the practicalities AT ALL. If you do decide to return it or get rid of it I'd try and make sure your DS doesn't know about it first otherwise you'll be the bad guy!

But no, in your situation, I wouldn't have it inside or outside the house!

[Svrider]

I think she just didn't think it thru properly
Perhaps she thought your toddler would use up energy on trampoline rather than getting under your feet
Why not try it out, then see what you think ?

[Svrider]

Oh yes random
Excellent idea!!

[ImperialSantaKnickers]

Your mother isn't mad but is infuriating. Mine is trained to ask before purchasing big stuff, although she still gets sudden rushes of blood to the head and appears with small bits of tat presents.

Could you ask her to swap it for something that ds will be able to use without driving you demented?

I don't like those mini tramps anyway, ddtwins tended to bounce off onto hard things and bash themselves.

[DublinMammy]

Good thinking Random, straight to theirs with it!! I know, it is probably an over-excited grandparent present and also an energy-expender but just so irritating. He has already seen her bring it into the house so knows there is a big present for him and if I don't let him have it will ask and ask about it.... Gah! Grrr!

[DublinMammy]

Well that's the other thing Imperial our little back yard is paved, so a nice, hard surface to bounce onto. I just wish she had asked me, I would have asked her to pick something else or given her plenty of other ideas.

[DontmindifIdo]

Present for Granny's house. Definately.

[shesariver]

How big is it? Generally decent size trampolines have an enclosure so falling on the ground isnt likely, or is it one of those smaller ones with a bar?

[CalamityJ]

Great idea from Granny to be kept at Granny's house! Problem solved! YANBU.

[DublinMammy]

Haven't opened it but she said it has a bar so I guess a smaller one....

[gail734]

I would take it straight to a charity shop, today! Or maybe let DS have it, help him to write a nice thank you to granny, take a photo of him on it. Then wait the half hour it'll take him to get bored with it and then straight onto Gumtree!

[Roseformeplease]

We had a small one indoors in a small sitting room. It was a really great. The handle folds down and it was able to be put away behind the sofa and it was great for exercising children when it was dark and raining. Not much help, I know, but lots of people do have them indoors.

Alternatively, "lend" it to a friend with more space and tell your Mum your children have let friends borrow it for a while.

[DontmindifIdo]

oh, one of those small ones? Those are ok indoors, not big at all, about the size of a coffee table, they are easy to put up and down as well. (let him play for a bit then put away until there's sunshine...

[Yama]

The rule 'Big presents bought by Granny stay at Granny's' is an excellent rule.

[Lavenderhoney]

These are fun:) they do fold down and it's nice for when it's raining or a special treat. They have to hold the bar though. And not bounce too madly... Round a newborn might not be much fun, but when granny is there and can supervise, perhaps ? you can put a mat under it?

[Kalisi]

We have a trampoline indoors. It's really small ( which is good as we have a tiny living room) and has rubber soles so it doesn't damage the wooden floor. I'd suggest putting it up one evening to see if it really is as noisy and bulky as you imagine. If it is then yes, def one for grannys house

[Pandemoniaa]

It's a very timely question since I'm just about to buy dgd a very small indoor trampoline. But it has always been intended for here where's there's lots more space and no neighbours downstairs to drive demented. I checked with ds2 and ddil first and they are very happy with the idea. But if I'd rolled up at their place and dumped it on them they'd have thought I was bonkers too.

It strikes me that your dm has fallen victim to Doting Grandmother Syndrome when practicality goes straight out of the door. As indeed would this particular gift, I suspect.

[Sparkletastic]

Oh those little ones with a bar are ace. My DDs got loads of use out of theirs - inside and out. Stick it on a yoga mat if you're worried about the floor.

[QuickLookBusy]

Do you have room for it inside?

We had a small one with a holding bar, in the house when DDs were 4 and 1.

It was brilliant, lots of fun for them on wet days. we had oak floors too so we put cushions around it, incase anyone fell off. We then put it outside in the summer.

The following winter we bought a small plastic slide and they hours of fun on that too.

[QuickLookBusy]

I meant the slide went inside too!

[DublinMammy]

Hmmm, perhaps I am being noise-averse-bitch-mummy!!! I just don't want him bouncing around on it inside with a little newborn there and I cannot bear the constant thudding. If it goes outside he will want someone with him all the time (you know what they're like) and again, don't want to stand about in the cold watching him bounce/fall on hard paved surface, cry, rinse, repeat....

Pandemonium you were so wise to ask in advance! Am tempted to give it a go and see how bad it is but the thing is, if we try it out here and then decide it has to go to Granny's there may well be a LOT of tears so not sure what to do now...

[MsElleTow]

Could you buy something like this to put it on, inside the house, so it doesn't mark the floor and keeps the noise down? That way, he uses up some energy while you see to the baby etc!