AIBU to refuse to play barbies/princesses with DD?

[JustBeachy]

I will happily craft, bake, lego, board games etc but making barbie/princess dolls talk to each other in faux american accents just literally bores me to tears. She is 5 and will not play with them alone. AIBU to refuse and make her save that game for when friends/grannies come over and do it with her? I feel mean but I really can't face it!!

"we all have to play games that don't appeal to us to make our kids happy".

"YABVU and I hope you don't feel put out when she's 10 and would rather speak to her friends than you"

"Sometimes playing with children is boring, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it."

My God, no wonder that there are some spoiled brats (young and old) out there.

We are adults. We do not have to play Barbie with our children. Children do not die because they sometimes get told that they cannot get what they want. Get a grip!

I don't play barbie type games either but dd has never tried to make me. I think I would have been a bit put out if adults had tried to play with my barbies because it was my world to share with my friends iykwim. Its more fun to play those games with other children. I find it difficult to play stuff like that and not direct the play suffacate their imagination.

And brains might be better than beauty but they are not mutually exclusive.

Sorry may not have posted clearly, too busy flaying myself with barb wire , what I meant was that time passes so quickly and I have found that before long children would rather spend time with their friends than parents and I would long for game of barbies, I personally have nothing but the outmost respect for those that can do crafty things, I would rather watch paint dry.

I think I will conclude that IANBU - guilt assuaged

Thanks all!

GP Pleased to hear it

JB - you're welcome

Barbies or otherwise, I just don't do role play. (5min and my imagination runs out, never mind my boredom threshold). Luckily I have 2 kids so when they were that age they'd do role play with each other. Get her to ask a friend round!

I don't think you aer being unreasonable - we're a way off Barbies yet, but there are books I refuse to read because I hate them - not many but a couple.

YABU get over it! You may not like it fine, but do it for her.

Totally agree with Colditz.

I am more than happy to facilitate DD doing crafts, train set, dolly hairdressing etc etc. But mostly I flit in and out, stopping to engage for a few minutes at a time - to mend a broken bridge, help with some gluing, do a few plaits. I certainly don't sit down for hours on end playing dollies.

I sit with DD about once a day (when DS is asleep) and do an activity that she could not do without me (puzzles, board games, face painting), but apart from that I am a facilitator/helper not a playdate.

Luckily DD is happy with this as I always 'get it wrong' anyway!!!

If I were you I'd secretly get rid of barbie and say that she's emigrated to the USA... or something along those lines

I have recently felt that I don't play enough with DD1 (3yo) though so interesting to hear everyone's thoughts.

Plus DD much prefers taunting her slave playing with her little brother!

Just thought back and my mum never played with us. She'd take us to all sorts of exciting places but she didn't sit down on the floor doing role play or build train tracks. I didn't mind, I was quite happy playing on my own or with my brother.

We do beat ourselves up too much about whether we are doing the best for our children, don't we.

YANBU.

Message withdrawn

pft - OK, maybe I'll grumble a little less when Barbie gets mentioned!!

I am quite happy to play whatever the kids want to play, I have no desire to direct or control their games. I don't feel I HAVE to join in but if they want me to then I just go with it. Can't understand what all the fuss is about!

theminky Well, that's great for your kids isn't it

However, after a few minutes I can actually feel my brain cells dying off ... and I prefer to preserve as many as possible