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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think dh has bought a completely unsuitable telescope for ds1 and thereby ruined Christmas?

67 replies

lecce · 03/12/2013 22:08

Ok, I am exaggerating about the ruined Christmas bit, but I have just looked under the bed and am completely taken aback by the size of the telescope dh has got for ds1 (will be 7 in March).

Ds asked for a telescope for Christmas and dh and I chose one together from Amazon (it was the National Geographic one for children). Then dh, on chasing it up when the delivery date came and went, found that the seller had gone bust so he got a refund and bought another one.

It came today and it's massive. It is about half the length of our bed and looks quite bulky overall, though I haven't taken it out of the box. I can't see how ds will be able to do anything with it alone as it will be so unwieldy and difficult to manage, from what I can tell. I don't know where we will have the space to set it up or store it. I am also worried it will be too powerful, as dh excitedly tells me it has a filter for looking at the moon.

I am so worried it is going to be a massive flop after ds has been so excited about the prospect of gertting one (he doesn't know he definitely is.) Is dh an idiot for not thinking this through? He told me when he bought it that it wasn't 'really' for children, but that a few of the reviewers had mentioned it being good for 'younger astronomers', but not 6 year olds, I'm guessing...

OP posts:
LadyBeagleEyes · 03/12/2013 22:10

Sounds like he got the real thing, your ds will grow into it and it'll be something they can do together.

Chrysanthemum5 · 03/12/2013 22:10

We have a telescope and the DCs only use it with us as its hard to use a telescope properly. Maybe you can view it as something your DCs can do as a hobby with your DH?

BackforGood · 03/12/2013 22:11

Yup - YABU

ancientbuchanan · 03/12/2013 22:12

Bit extravagant, but get the one from the science museum and use them together. Much more fun.

valiumredhead · 03/12/2013 22:13

Actually I think if you're going to get a telescopic then the bigger the better tbh. Piddly little ones are so disappointing.

Presents don't HAVE to be the best thing ever every single time, sometimes you get it wrong, it's not the end of the world and you never know ds might love it!

fluffyraggies · 03/12/2013 22:13

I think often a 'child's version' of a thing is often a disappointment. As long as your DH is willing to invest some time with DS and this thing then it could be a wonderful gift.

If it's a flop you can flog it Grin

Ifcatshadthumbs · 03/12/2013 22:14

To be fair I bought ds the national geographic one, it's rather pants and never gets used either.

ancientbuchanan · 03/12/2013 22:14

Or buy quite powerful binoculars at the same time, and they can have fun swapping.

Changebagsregeneratedgladrags · 03/12/2013 22:15

It sounds fab, it really does. The other one sounds like he'd grow out of it. He will be amazed on Christmas morning.

Cutitup · 03/12/2013 22:16

I think you could re-frame this to make it more positive. Your husband was pro-active and took the time and effort to buy something that is going to exceed your DS's expectations. He will be thrilled (the bigger the better).

I do understand your point about the size though. I hate it when 'large' things enter the house as we are already crammed to the max.

I think your DH sounds sweet and did something lovely for your DS. How great too that it's not a bloody X-box! As my mum would say, 'good, clean family fun!'.

Hassled · 03/12/2013 22:16

I think the fact it's massive will really appeal to a 7 year old. And it's sort of enforced Quality Time Together, isn't it? Your DH will have to step up and join in when it's telescope time, and that might end up being fantastic for them.

bundaberg · 03/12/2013 22:17

noooo i think it'll be great!!!

if he really wants to look at stuff in the sky he needs a decent telescope. I think it's MUCH better than having a "kids" one that won't allow him to see so much and potentially will be quite disappointed.

quite frankly, the bigger the better Grin

it'll have a tripod or something I presume? so he should be able to move it around and angle it easily enough.

starlight1234 · 03/12/2013 22:19

I have bought the national geographic one for DS off ebay..I expect mine to be a 2 minute wonder if I didn't I would of bought him a far better one

breatheslowly · 03/12/2013 22:21

Definitely a case of the bigger the better. I think it will be absolutely as good as the smaller one, but might require a bit more parental input to put up/move. At 7 I think you would need a lot of parental input to use a telescope anyway as it is probably quite hard to find. I would have loved at telescope when I was young, though I am not entirely convinced that I would have used it after the first few goes.

BadLad · 03/12/2013 22:22

How great too that it's not a bloody X-box!

Absolutely. The PlayStation 4 is much better and cheaper too.

bundaberg · 03/12/2013 22:24

i always dreamed of having a house with a loft conversion so i could stick a telescope out of the window

BlingBang · 03/12/2013 22:26

I'D love a telescope for the kids (us) but imagine that the cheaper more child orientated ones are probably a bit crap. I'D love a proper one - think it's a great idea.

mychildrenarebarmy · 03/12/2013 22:27

We, like Ifcatshadthumbs, also have the NG one. It is indeed rubbish. If you were able to compare the two in use you would most likely end up praising your DH.

bellybuttonfairy · 03/12/2013 22:31

I think your ds will be amazed and overwhelmed on xmas morning. What a wonderful present for a 7 year old boy.

Purplefrogshoe · 03/12/2013 22:32

yabu the national geographic one is rubbish, i bought it for my nephew and he was so disappointed, my dh bought him a proper one and its awesome and dh is now the favourite, my nephew is 6

ICameOnTheJitney · 03/12/2013 22:32

Why on earth would a real telescope be a flop? The National Geographic one is more likely to flop! What exactly do you imagine DS will struggle with?

thegreylady · 03/12/2013 22:34

The NG one is pretty useless actually my dgs's have that and the NG binoculars and they are just toys, no real use. Your dh has done well :)

ReallyGoodDrawer · 03/12/2013 22:34

We got a telescope for our dd last Xmas when she was 4. We didn't get a child's one cos I thought it would've a bit crap. The one we got her isn't huge but she (and I!) loves it. Dd's favourite things to see have been the moon (obvs) and Jupiter and it's moons. We'll be getting her an even more powerful one for her birthday.

Ifcatshadthumbs · 03/12/2013 22:35

Word to the wise national geographic metal detector also pants. (Apologies to the sucker who gave me £2 for it at the car boot)

lifesgreatquestions · 03/12/2013 22:38

Wonderful present IMO, sorry op.