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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think children deserve to feel a sense of ownership in the family home?

83 replies

AmoIsNoLongerEmo · 13/03/2017 03:32

Or is the home "mums and dads", they just get to live here? Along with the toys and everything in this house is "half mums and half dad's". Everything they have is borrowed iyswim.
Best friend and I both feel it's kinda a sick way to look at things.

OP posts:
EineKleine · 13/03/2017 10:02

I can't get DS to have any interest in choosing his own pants, so I will not be involving him in kitchen tile decisions in the foreseeable. I honestly don't think it would help him feel any more secure, he just doesn't see the world in those terms.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 13/03/2017 10:04

My DCs are still quite young. The older one was 2 when their room was decorated. I chose the decor in line with what he liked at the time, and what was practical long term. It's plain, so things like bedding and pictures could easily be updated should the DCs express a wish about it. The decor is still good, so when that needs renewing they will be an appropriate age to have input into what we do. I probably would veto black as I've had unpleasant experience involving painting over black in the past Grin

The playroom is an area that's frequently left to be (then has a blitz to rediscover the floor). The lounge is more of an adult space. Toys are allowed in, but less of them and removed frequently. I'm failing to maintain my bedroom and bed as adult space as it's subject to nocturnal invasion!

They choose their clothes, but I manage them- washing and filtering out the out grown stuff. Their toys are theirs, although DS2 latched on to one of my special teddies from my childhood. She is his to love, but mine to keep if he doesn't love her any more.

We talk about sharing a lot. Both DCs are boys of close age gap and similar interests, so sharing works in general. Special things like drawings, particular cuddly toy must be respected as an individual's. Currently technology like the tablet and laptop are shared. This helps with monitoring too.

I think we fall very much into mine and DH's house, but our family home. The input of the DCs will change as they get older.

Whatthefoxgoingon · 13/03/2017 11:40

I don't consult my children about home decor decisions in communal areas. They are allowed to express what they would like their rooms to look like, but I have final say (bar something completely crazy, I will agree).

My parents certainly won't ask me first before changing anything in their home, because I no longer live there. I can however go there whenever I like, eat whatever I like and they can do the same in our house. That's about being family, not about feeling that it's our home, because it isn't.

My parents never made me feel like it wasn't my home, but I had to fully respect that they were the adults and paid for everything and so that meant I had to respect the things they bought me. I hope to instil the same values in my children, especially since they are lucky enough to have so many personal things to their name.

Wingsofdesire · 13/03/2017 11:46

The kids should feel it is as much their home - tbh the whole (grown-up) issue of who actually owns/pays for it isn't their world - not their concern. I wouldn't want my little ones to worry about that kind of thing. OMG we spend enough of our adult lives worrying about it! I'm delighted to save them that stress for now!

HookandSwan · 13/03/2017 12:02

In my nanny jobs all the children have their own "special things" and the rest are shared I guess. When we had play dates I would always tell the older boy to put anything "special"

ShoutOutToMyEx · 13/03/2017 12:05

My parents' house was definitely 'theirs' - my room was theirs but they let me use it. That's why they were able to dictate what it should look like etc.

Absolute bullshit, I'm never saying shit like that to my kids.

witsender · 13/03/2017 12:07

I grew up in a house where it was very clear that it was my parents'. Messy rooms weren't allowed as it was their house, etc. Our kids know that we pay for the house, but it is equally theirs. They feel ownership of it too. It actually helps encourage looking after! Besides, it isn't like they have the choice and can move out is it?

SparkleSunshine201 · 13/03/2017 16:55

Bluntness100 I loved reading your post as it's exactly the kind of relationship I have with my mum. She always asks my opinion on things, and I her, but we always seem to agree. It's so wonderful to have that best friend relationship.

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