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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to share my children's belongings?

39 replies

PodClock · 16/07/2015 10:19

We live in a flat in a small block. It has a room for bikes and things that everyone in the block can share.

My DC got a bike for their 4th birthday a couple of months ago.

Yesterday evening, after DC were in bed, I looked out and saw our neighbour's son riding the bike around the car park with his older brothers, crashing it and things. I heard the crashing and the squeaking of the brake, that's why I looked out. The whole family were out there, and weren't stopping him, or telling him to be careful.

So DH went out, and asked (very politely) that they put the bike back in the bike shed, and then he locked the door.

There was loads of screaming and shouting for ages. I felt a bit bad, the boy is only about 4 or 5. I'm more annoyed with his parents for letting him take what was obviously a brand new bike that wasn't his, and ride it like that where it might get damaged.

I saw one of the neighbours this morning, and she seemed a bit off with me. We were right to step in though, weren't we? The little boy was really, really upset, but I know that if we hadn't nipped it in the bud, he'd be using it all the time. But on the other hand, I do feel a bit mean taking it off the boy.

OP posts:
Yokohamajojo · 16/07/2015 10:21

Weird thing to do of them yes! get a little lock for the bike

Collaborate · 16/07/2015 10:21

Don't feel mean. It's his parents who were at fault. What a cheek!

I take it the bike shed is communal. Perhaps you ought to be keeping your bikes locked up in there.

JinglyJanglyJungleBigGameTours · 16/07/2015 10:22

YA so NBU

I'd be tempted to chain all your belongings together in the shed so they can't be borrowed.

ReginaBlitz · 16/07/2015 10:22

Yanbu that is rude... But why wasn't it locked away in the first place?

Ahemily · 16/07/2015 10:23

YANBU - you absolutely did the right thing. Honestly, some people!

floatyflo · 16/07/2015 10:23

No I agree with you and think you were fine to take the bike back.

I was always taught you don't touch other people things without asking permission first!

Would they do that with your car? Just jump in and go for a drive? Cheeky beggars.

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 16/07/2015 10:24

If it's a communal shed then lock the bike. A chain through the wheels is enough to prevent others from using it.

AngryBeaver · 16/07/2015 10:25

Very strange thing to do! How entitled. You were completely right.

Hardtoknow · 16/07/2015 10:26

I'm confused. You say there is a room "for bikes & things that everyone can share", it sounds as though you are keeping the bike in there and yet don't want shared. I think you need to keep it somewhere else if you want to avoid this happening again.

BestZebbie · 16/07/2015 10:27

YANBU to go and reclaim it - but YABVU to not have it locked up in the first place! Wouldn't your DC be upset if it had been stolen rather than just borrowed?

SoupDragon · 16/07/2015 10:28

You say there is a room "for bikes & things that everyone can share", it sounds as though you are keeping the bike in there and yet don't want shared.

I imagine it is shared storage space, not communal items.

ludog · 16/07/2015 10:29

I think it's a shared storage space as opposed to being a space for shared property.

Original poster
PodClock · 16/07/2015 10:29

Yes, I think we'll have to get a bike lock for it.

The bike shed itself was locked, but the bike wasn't locked up inside it iyswim. I guess the one of the older boys had opened it to get their own bikes out, and the little boy took DC's.

OP posts:
Original poster
PodClock · 16/07/2015 10:32

I don't mean people can share the bikes in the room.
I mean we all share the room and all have a key to it- people keep their bikes, buggies, scooters, ground floor flat keep their lawnmower in there etc.

OP posts:
nocabbageinmyeye · 16/07/2015 10:37

I'm confused. You say there is a room "for bikes & things that everyone can share", it sounds as though you are keeping the bike in there and yet don't want shared. I think you need to keep it somewhere else if you want to avoid this happening again.

Confused Clearly the shed is for residents to share not the contents are there to share

nocabbageinmyeye · 16/07/2015 10:38

YANBU op as you said if you didn't do it now it would have gone on, get a chain just to avoid it in the future. They were very cheeky imo

SaucyJack · 16/07/2015 10:42

YANBU.

Don't worry about his mum tho. Some people get embarrassed which comes out as over-defensiveness when others have cause to tell their child off.

Or else she's just an entitled biatch.

Goshthatsspicy · 16/07/2015 10:44

On a recent thread here, my opinion was that we must reach our children to share food.
This, (on the other hand) is totally unacceptable.

It isn't fair to have your personal items abused. YANBU.
Tough situation when kids are involved though. :)

Hardtoknow · 16/07/2015 10:49

My misunderstanding. When (pre-DC) I lived in a block of flats, there was a shed with communal toys which seemed like a great idea to me & people would add toys to it from time to time.

Graciescotland · 16/07/2015 11:01

I love the idea of a communal toy shed hardtoknow. We once lived near a park that had diggers and dumper trucks donated by the locals in the sandpit.

Booboostoo · 16/07/2015 11:10

The parents were very rude not to intervene and put the bike back.

On the other hand we go to a public playground by two houses. One of the houses has children and they leave all of their toys in the playground all of the time. It is very difficult to get the DCs not to touch them and makes the whole experience of going to this playground annoying.

KinkyAfro · 16/07/2015 11:16

Lock the bikes together OP, that's the only solution

Misslgl88 · 16/07/2015 13:32

YANBU

There are 2 little boys actually come in my garden and take DD scooter etc even when she isn't here! I've taken to going out and taking it back as soon as I see it happen as they batter it off the pavements etc. this is my private garden with a gate they are entering!

SophiePendragon · 16/07/2015 13:34

I think if I could and had space to, I'd put it in the house. People like that clearly are liable to take stuff and perhaps will do so even if it is locked - they might even cut through the lock.

How soon can you move??!

Gileswithachainsaw · 16/07/2015 13:34
Shock

how bloody rude. definitely chain the bike up. I'd be tempted to keep it in the flat now tbh