When DS2 was due, we were given a lot of hand-me-downs, which was lovely. I basically just had to fill in the gaps with a couple of new items, and was about to buy a moses basket when DP told me his friends had offered their son's basket. At two months old, their baby was already in a cot, in his own room, in a routine, etc etc.
Very different style of parenting to my own, but I was grateful for the freebie.
Now, DS2 is 4 months, and they want the basket back for their daughter to use for her dollies. They tell DP when he goes to see them, and he awkwardly passes on the message when he gets home.
(There had been no discussion about long-term ownership of the basket, I assumed we would use it until we had finished, then ask whether they wanted it or whether we should pass it along to other expectant friends.)
I had planned to have DS2 in our room up to 6 months, but now we're going to have to come up with a plan B earlier than expected. I'll probably use the pram cot on the floor, but I resent being forced to adapt.
If they wanted it back so soon, why offer it at all? I was quite happy to buy one - but now it's not worth it just for the next two months!
I'll admit - interlaced with all this is the annoyance at the fact that DP comes back telling me about how they are raising their baby, lacing his bottles with rusk, leaving him to cry, and how he's much better "trained" than our own exclusively breastfed DS2, and I get really annoyed at the comparison.
The basket is Milton'ed, the trimmings have been washed and ironed, and it's all ready to go back, I just feel like I've been manipulated. :(