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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to ask MIL not to buy an XBox for DS

31 replies

nomoredora · 08/11/2011 10:08

Sorry for another MIL thread..........

MIL has told DH that she will get DS an XBox for Christmas. DS is 2. Would I be unreasonable to point out that this is a massive waste of money and he would probably much prefer a toy?

Don't want to dripfeed so will point out that MIL always goes completely over the top at Christmas (and hardly bothers with DS the rest of the year) and is the type to go in a mood, make us feel like ungrateful buggers if we say anything.

I just think he is FAR too young for an XBox!!

OP posts:

LittleMissFlustered · 08/11/2011 10:10

Not unreasonable at all. Tell her that it's unsuitable and that if she does buy it, it will be sold and the money used for more appropriate gifts.

Good luck!

fedupofnamechanging · 08/11/2011 10:11

I agree that 2 is too young for an XBox. He won't be able to play it for a start and by the time he's big enough, it will probably be out of date and he'll want something entirely different. Total waste of money for a toddler.

Tuppence2 · 08/11/2011 10:12

Surely an XBox is a bit advanced for a 2 year old???

I understand GPs going all out at Xmas, but I don't understand buying something that you DS cannot use properly, for it to sit there for a couple of years collecting dust.

Maybe it's really for your DH?

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 08/11/2011 10:12

Maybe MiL just doesn't realise that 2 is too young - or maybe DH wants one and this is her way of buying him one? (our XBox was supposed to be shared between our two teens the year we bought it, and DH decided that "they will only fight over it, Santa can bring it for me because, well, he wanted one)
Perhaps if you think of something else fairly major/large that DS would play with and enjoy, you could suggest she buys that this year (VTech do lots of electronics for kids, they must have something?) and leave the Xbox for when he's a bit older.

Original poster

nomoredora · 08/11/2011 10:18

Good to know people agree with me! There's no way DS will even know what to do with it, I just think the whole thing is ridiculous. Don't think it is really for DH, he's not really interested in the whole gaming thing. Will get DH to gently suggest something else, I just KNOW she's going to make out like we are ungrateful though :(

OP posts:

PersonalClown · 08/11/2011 10:18

An Xbox at 2??? What does she think he'll be doing with it?
He'll be posting toast into the disc slot and buggering up the warranty before it can be used.

Or is that DH wants it and MIL thinks you won't object if she buys it for DS?

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 08/11/2011 10:19

2? Really? That's nuts.

A Wii would also be nuts, but slightly less so (and cheaper).

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 08/11/2011 10:20

Mind you could accept it graciously (whilst mumbling about nuttiness under you breath) and enjoy it yourself (which is what I'd do).

MrsHuxtable · 08/11/2011 10:22

Your child, your rules. A lot of parents may not want an X-box for their child even if a few years older. I'd just tell her, he won't get the X-Box and if she gives it to him, will be sold. If she kicks up a fuss, her problem...

grovel · 08/11/2011 10:23

She's bonkers if she's offended by the technology point. By the time your DS is ready for gaming the 2011 X-Box won't be cool. Tell her that new games will not be compatible etc.

sozzledchops · 08/11/2011 10:27

No way, tell her it won't be given to him and it's unsuitable (maybe she doesn't realise), in a Nicaea way of course.

handbagCrab · 08/11/2011 10:35

If you ask her to get one with kinect then you'd have an excuse to buy the kinectamals game where you pretend to be a tiger :) Though I think this is for 4+ not 2!

Perhaps suggest that it's a bit complex for a 2 year old and suggest something more suitable such as an Aston Martin :)

LikeACandleButNotQuite · 08/11/2011 10:41

Even if your DS was 14 (IMO the appropriate age for an xbox) you would still be entitled to say "please do not get him it as it is against our wishes/to expensive/not something we want in our home".

I would be demanding DH speak with her immediatly to explin that you do not want a games console in your house until DS is old enough to enjoy one. Maybe he could say "DS would actually be pretty sad about not getting toys, as he just wouldn't know what to do with an X Box, so would, in essense, end up without a useable gift"

If she still buys it, sell it or store it until he gets to 14

zipzap · 08/11/2011 10:41

Ask her if she has found any games that are suitable for 2 yr olds as your fictional Mnet friends haven't found anything that their 3 yr olds can play on it despite looking and they find it all very frustrating even playing games that are supposed to be from 3+. Obviously the xbox is for the fictional friend's fictional older children.

However you could go on to say that they have found their 3 yr old loves the [insert whichever toy/game you reckon your ds would like] and that you're wondering if your ds would like it too. (or whichever keyphrase is guaranteed to make your mil decide to spite you and get it herself!)

For what it's worth my 3 yr old uses a leapfrog explorer and loves it. Depends how old your 2 yr old is; if he's just 2 then it still might be a bit old but if he's almost 3 then he'd soon be using it even if not immediately.

Original poster

nomoredora · 08/11/2011 10:53

He's almost 3 and not in the slightest bit interested in computer games or even watching DVD's or anything. He's always on the go and couldn't sit still long enough to play with it. DH will be seeing her later so have told him to ask her not to get it and maybe get him some Brio instead as his friend has some and he loves it. Am waiting on him telling me she is kicking off and is a "cool nan" who can buy him whatever she wants. Have decided that if she does get him one it'll be on Ebay by the new year.

OP posts:

grovel · 08/11/2011 10:58

Well it's not cool to buy technology which will be obsolete by the time he's old enough. It's betraying your lack of savvy.

mummytotwoboys · 08/11/2011 11:00

Let her get it!!! DS can go and play with his Thomas Trains while YOU and DH play on it - you're not thinking ahead lol!

TeWihara · 08/11/2011 11:07

My 2yo fed pennies into the disc slot of our wii.

She does however use the xbox! (As a DVD player...)

It is a total and utter waste of money and she is mad. I would suggest an age appropriate alternative, and if she doesn't go for that just keep it all sealed up and sell it on/take it back for something more suitable.

pigletmania · 08/11/2011 13:42

Fine if he is a few years older, gradparents usually live to spoil their dg, but for a 2 year old noway! Not an appropriate gift

CherylWillBounceBack · 08/11/2011 13:57

Keep schtum for an easy life. Accept it and either enjoy it yourself or sell it later.

thatboysmum · 08/11/2011 13:57

Not unreasonable at all.
Mine is the same, never listens to anything I say. She wanted to buy DS who is 4 a wii, I said no, she offered to buy games he could play on DP's xbox (that he doesn't use anymore), I said no. At this age I think it is completely unnecessary, he doesn't have a clue how to work the controls for a start and it worries me that if he has all this stuff now, what the hell is he going to be asking for when he gets older?
I've told mine no and explained reasons, if she insists on going against it, I will tell her that I will be putting it away for him until he is old enough for it.

LuckyRocketshipUnderpants · 08/11/2011 14:08

She's nuts. You're right, it's a totally inappropriate gift at this age and an obscene waste of money. I really cannot fathom why she thinks it would be a good thing to do...!!

FoiledAgain · 08/11/2011 14:20

Tell her it needs to have internet access so that DS can link up with other two year olds worldwide as they play Call of Duty.

SecretNutellaFix · 08/11/2011 14:23

What's wrong with a Bob the Builder workbench, or a sandtable for when the weather gets better, or even a trike, if she wants to go expensive?

An xbox? What would she think is appropriate for him when he's 12 if she gets him that as a 2 year old?

YANBU- sounds like she feels a bit insecure and wants to be lovely granny who gets big pressies.

TheScaryJessie · 08/11/2011 14:29

Terrible waste of money- two year olds just don't want games consoles!

If she goes ahead with it, and you keep it for yourself, , here's the one game I know of, that's suitable for a two year old. It's DLC (Downloadable Content) only.
It's basically a game where the baby/toddler presses the green button, and the voice says "green", as the green blob dances about on the screen.

link

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