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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To NOT want my mum to buy dd toys! And to want my rules respected?

278 replies

EnterWittyNicknameHere · 06/08/2012 12:55

I'm so annoyed. My mum took dd out for the day yesterday. When she came to collect her, i specifically asked her not to buy dd anything today (she normally gets her a little toy or a magazine) as i'd felt she'd had enough treats so far this week (i'd taken her to pizza hut the day before, and the cinema the day before that). My mum throws money around constantly and my youngest brother has ended up a spoilt brat because of it - and i don't want my own child ending up that way.

Anyway, my dad dropped dd off yesterday at dinnertime, and she was in tears. She told me it's because granny had bought her a mini dollshouse thing (a brand name one so approx £10-£20) and she wasn't allowed to bring it home, it had to stay in granny's house. Now, obviously the reason she's not allowed to bring it home is because my mum knew i'd be angry she bought her something. She probably didn't think that dd would tell me about the toy. IMO toys like this are for birthdays and Christmases, not a casual weekend thing.

Another reason i'm angry about this is that i've started buying in Christmas presents for dd in the sales. So what would have happened if i'd picked this dollhouse up and was keeping it by til December, then my mum just gave her the same one yesterday willy nilly?

The other thing i'm angry about yesterday is this - i live on a main road. And when my dad dropped her off yesterday, he told me i'd have to have a word with dd about running along main roads. I told him that i don't let her do such a thing, and i'll definitely have a word with her. He then said 'yes you do, i've seen it happen whenever i drop you both off. You let her run ahead to the main door' (We live in a flat). Basically, what he's refering to is letting dd run approx 10feet ahead of me and going up the path to the main door, while i'm getting bags etc out the boot. He feels i should have her hold my hand from the second we get out the car, even when he parks right at the gate!

He got huffy with me when i refused to do this, and when i told him i'd not tell her off for it. It's not as if i let her run riot at main roads, but when we're 10 feet away from the gate, then i let her run ahead.

AAAARRRRRGH! Am i being unreasonable to feel this way, or being silly? It's getting to the stage where i'm thinking of pretending dd's sick next time they ask to have her as i don't trust them not to buy her anything else etc.

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 06/08/2012 13:49

I expect the OP's mum has decided that it's up to her as to what she buys for use in her own house.

I think anybody who is so bothered about their 'rules' and 'boundaries' that they even contemplate keeping their child away from loving relatives needs to seriously rethink their attitude tbh.

pigletmania · 06/08/2012 13:49

Yabvu and harsh. I hardly call a pizza, pictures and a mag spoiling. There are so many thread on here about parents not giving a monkeys arse a out their grandkids. Isent te roll of grandparents to treat their grandkids. Lighten up and be thankful your parents are caring

KellyElly · 06/08/2012 13:50

She sounds like a lucky little girl who have grandparents who dote on her. I personally don't see the big deal to be honest.

EnterWittyNicknameHere · 06/08/2012 13:50

Thanks for the replies.

To the poster who assumed i was young and only had one child... yes, dd is my only child but i'm in my thirties. Not sure if this is classed as 'young', though i hope so.

I'm not jealous either, i have a good job and earn good money. if i wanted to buy dd loads of things i could, i just choose not to as i worry about her being spoilt.

I grew up with five other siblings roughly the same age as me. Back then, my mum was a SAHM, there were no such thing as tax credits etc and my dad was on minimum wage.

We rarely got treats, or lots of money spent on us. We got the cheapest of the cheap and our yearly trip to the cinema on Christmas Eve was something i looked forward to all year!

When we all grew up, my parents then had my youngest brother. He's 13 now. When he was about 5, my dad got a new job and became rather well-off. i think my parents went a bit mad and spoilt him so much because they weren't able to when we were little.

My brother was at my house the other day and we got chatting. He told me he gets £15 a week pocket money for doing naff all. I was so shocked. When i was his age, i had a paperround and earned my own money. I then noticed he'd dropped a pound out his pocket and i tried to give him it back. He laughed and said 'don't be daft, it's only a pound, let X (my dd) have it'. Fair enough this was a nice gesture, but when i was his age, a pound was a fortune!

My mum gets him a computer game every month, new toys willy nilly, and then complains at Christmas and birthdays etc because she can't think of what to buy him.

In fact, i should have mentioned this in my op. When i confronted my dad about the dollshouse yesterday, he said my mum bought it because she felt guilty, as my brother was there too and getting a new computer game. So my mum didn't want dd seeing another child get something and her getting nothing! What a load of crap. She's in the shops several times a week with me and we see lots of people buying lots of nice things. Doesn't mean we have to get them too.

And yes, my mum's house is filled with toys and books and arts stuff for dd. In fact, i doubt there's any room for much else so goodness knows where she's planked this dollshouse. Each time she buys dd something, she ALWAYS send it back home with her, so i don't see why she'd suddenly decide to keep this one at her own home unless it's to stop me knowing about it.

My dd sees her GP's about 1-2 times a week. And yes, at least one of these days my mum takes her into the city and out for lunch and she usually comes back with a toy. At least once a month its a big toy like this dollshouse, last month it was something from the disney shop. Other times, it's toys approx £2 etc.

I really think it is starting to affect my dd because every time we go into a shop, she asks for something. When i say no, she gets upset and asks why not? Please? Why not? She keeps pestering. My parents just can't say no to her.

I'd much rather she ended up like me when she's older, knowing the real value of money, than like my youngest brother.

My mum just doesn't listen when i say no. Every summer and winter, she pops up with (and i'm not kidding) a FULL wardrobe of clothes for dd from Next. It must cost her a fortune. Of course, i'm grateful and realise i'm lucky about this, but I want to buy dd clothes too. However, i don't see the point when she doesn't need them because my parents have already got her too much. DD is now five and i've only been able to get her the odd outfit here and there, because my mum always gets in there first and buy things. This summer, i've put my foot down and said no, or i'll seriously fall out with them over it. And if they insist, then the clothes will have to stay in their house as i really don't have the space. (Her clothes fill her double wardrobe and drawers and half my wardrobe). So then my mum gave me a Next giftcard instead with £250 on it! She doesn't even need clothes. Half the stuff my mum bought her last summer are too big and only now fitting her.

She also took the huff becaue i wouldn't let her buy all of dd's school uniform. This is dd going into P.1 - first year at school - and i was all excited about getting her uniform, bag etc. My mum said 'fine. I'll put money on a gift card. That way i'm paying for it, but you'll still be buying it. I'll drop it off next week.' So that day, i ran out and bought all her uniform before she had chance to get the giftcard. Might sound childish, but i really didn't want her money. Even though it's a giftcard, she'd still be interfering and dictating how much i should spend and what shop to buy from. I tried compromising beforehand by saying she can get her blazer, or shoes etc, but this wasn't good enough, she wanted to buy it all.

Sorry. I've gone off on a rant. I just wish they'd respect my wishes a bit more.

OP posts:
gotthemoononastick · 06/08/2012 13:51

Northernlurker is very wise

whattocallmyself · 06/08/2012 13:51

You sound absolutely spiteful frankly.

And jealous.

So what if they get something - I get things and put them away for Christmas - I don't expect my mum to magically know what.

In addition re road - she is 3 you dad is right. I take my kids in then unload the car - and that's on my own drive.

MyTitsAreBetterThanYours · 06/08/2012 13:52

yeah you're ridiculous and controlling

whathellcall · 06/08/2012 13:53

So Hairy, GM sounds like a lovely woman then. Deliberately buys gift that she knows will upset her own daughter and then upsets granddaughter by insisting that she can't take said gift home!! Good job Hmm

Chandon · 06/08/2012 13:54

Agree with northern lurker.

Yabu

Treblesallround · 06/08/2012 13:54

OP, it does sound a bit OTT on your mother's part. Could you talk to her about why you'd like her to rein it in a bit?

whattocallmyself · 06/08/2012 13:55

We've cross posted - but you sound ridiculous in the latest post.

Honestly you just sound jealous as well as massively ungrateful.

Nor do I think you understand how bloody lucky your parents probably feel that they can spend money like this.

Have you ever stopped to think how hard it was for them not to be able to treat you and how much your mum enjoys treating DD now.

MyTitsAreBetterThanYours · 06/08/2012 13:56

how awful for you! your parents buying things for their grandchild

my parents are wealthy. they spend thousands over the year on my children... last month alone they bought my 14 year old dd a new laptop, paid for her expensive hair highlights, gave her 150 for spends during the holidays, paid for all of my 5 year olds clubs this holiday and spent much more on other bits.

My children appreciate it, know they wont get that level of stuff from me, they are grateful and not spoilt.

they are very lucky - and they know it

i wouldnt dream of falling out with my mum over it

MardyArsedMidlander · 06/08/2012 13:57

'I then noticed he'd dropped a pound out his pocket and i tried to give him it back. He laughed and said 'don't be daft, it's only a pound, let X (my dd) have it'. Fair enough this was a nice gesture, but when i was his age, a pound was a fortune! '

Oh- just WAIT until your lovely little girl, now content with £2 toys, becomes a teenager Wink

PenisVanLesbian · 06/08/2012 13:58

you sound jealous and petty. And incredibly unfair to your parents.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 06/08/2012 13:59

You are jealous OP.

hairylemon · 06/08/2012 14:00

Sorry even with the updated dossier you do sound jealous and spiteful, I mean rushing out to buy a uniform just so your mum couldn't, and you're in your thirties?!

roundtable · 06/08/2012 14:00

Eh?

Just say no thank you if you're that bothered.

akaemmafrost · 06/08/2012 14:01

God I'd love my parents to buy ALL my kids clothes! They are great already though, buy all undies and PJ's etc. Help out with money for school shoes. I feel very, very lucky.

I don't want to flame you but I think you are being both unreasonable, unrealistic and mean spirited. Maybe your parents want to do for your dd what they would have liked to do for you? Also rightly or wrongly things are different now, I no more would have got a little toy or sweets everytime we went shopping when I was a child than fly to the moon, but my kids do.

I honestly think your dd will start to resent you, not because she is spoilt but because it's pointless to be so mean spirited about this.

ByTheWay1 · 06/08/2012 14:01

If the kid's mum says no more presents this week, it is mean of the GPs to buy them, but not send them home - the child would assume it was a present to them - does not sound like the GPs said it was just for playing at their house. Sounds a bit like GP being antsy "I'll buy what I bloomin well like" It is still a present really, just one that has upset everybody.

Would everyone really let GPs buy what they like when they like? What about food/sweets/fizzy drinks/cola/toys with a message/function the parents don't like - Bratz/Barbie/guns/water soakers/ computer games/a TV "for their room" where would you draw a boundary?

It does sound a bit petty - but what if it is one of a never ending line of "power" struggles...

akaemmafrost · 06/08/2012 14:02

I don't even think she was being sly by telling dd not to take the dolls house home. Probably just wanted to avoid your Lemon Face!

cantspel · 06/08/2012 14:02

Your mum sounds a lovely generous grandmother and your brother is really sweet to offer your dd a pound. If he was as spoilt as you seem to think he would have grabbed it back off you.

I think you are jealous as you never had what your parents can now afford to give your brother and dd.

You dont become spoilt just because you get bought stuff.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 06/08/2012 14:03

Has it occurred to you, that this is your parents - and your Mum especially - trying to compensate for what they couldn't give you when you were little that they have been able to give your brother?

It is normal for DCs to ask for things in shops, I suspect that has absolutely nothing to do with your parents.

Why don't you have a sensible conversation with your parents about them putting some money into an account for your DD so that she has something to have a gap year/go to university/buy a home/first car? That would be better than being all petty and sulky and spiteful about it.

Alarielle · 06/08/2012 14:03

You know, maybe your parents feel guilty as they couldn't give you as much as they could give your younger brother and this is their way of making up for it.

There is a large age gap between myself and older siblings and my parents had a lot more money when I was little so I got to have holidays abroad, all the latest fashion and numerous toys etc. Fortunately my older siblings were not resentful and are glad I didn't grow up in poverty like they did.

Your brother doesn't sound that spoiled if he drops a pound and gives it to his niece. That's pretty generous of him.

MadgeHarvey · 06/08/2012 14:03

Oh God YABU and you sound pretty upright and nasty. Of course you won't 'get' this until you are a GM yourself so you really should listen to the collective wisdom of the posters here and save yourself a whole shitload of angst. And all that anger? Ditch it - it's going to make you ill in the long run.

Softlysoftly · 06/08/2012 14:04

Sorry but nowhere in that post does your brother sound like he's exhibiting spoilt behaviour Confused??

He gets a lot of stuff yes but that doesn't automatically make him a spoilt brat or am I missing something? You sound like you think your hard sackcloth upbringing is the only way to instil morals values and a sense of money, it isn't!

Oh and how old is dd sorry if I missed it, because the holding hand things whether it's 10feet or 10 miles down a road children can do stupid things like drop or see something and dash out to get it getting knocked over, so age dependent YABU about that sorry!

DD1 is nearly 3, I let go of her hand for a second outside our front door stood still while dealing with dd2s pushchair and she ran the road as she saw a friend, luckily there were no cars but she knows not to do this, never does and still did, I still can't breath when I think of it!

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