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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to think that she should pay for a new switch and get her bloody kid one too?

227 replies

nikiforov · 06/08/2017 03:06

Quick backstory: I live with some friends who are parents, nowhere to fit a TV in my room (I got the downstairs smaller one because I'm not a parent and we rent the house together, I'm not a tagalong or anything). I knew living with a kid would be odd and I'm childfree but we agreed at the start that I wasn't a free babysitter, I'm a student and I need my own space, et cetera - usually I leave my door unlocked because we all trust each other and the router is in my bedroom due to it being the only place with router access, so it's awkward if I'm at uni and the internet goes down.

I also have a nintendo switch in my bedroom, which is mine and mine only. Her kid is 6 now, so he's old enough to play it and she's been bringing up the subject more and more hinting that I'm being selfish by not letting him play it and she can't afford one, I can afford more because I'm a student and she cooks meals for us (she doesn't cook meals for me, I buy my own food and make meals myself because I'm a vegan and they're meat eaters so that's a lie) and anyway, push came to shove and she let the kid use the switch without my permission today. The screen is scratched to hell.

WIBU to demand she buys me a new one after damaging my property? Or am I being a stingy childfree bitch? I don't want to take it to some shady place to get a new screen fitted, which would void my warranty completely, but this would also be classed under not damaged enough for a replacement/fix or sort of 'it's your own fault' damage. Moving out isn't really an option until the lease runs out and I honestly didn't have much choice. It was this or halls, and halls is infinitely more expensive and I wouldn't have had my own private bathroom.

OP posts:
Bunnyfuller · 06/08/2017 10:17

JUDGE RINDER!!!

Sinead9 · 06/08/2017 10:21

HeteronormativeHaybales

Ignoring thr condescending "millennial" bullshit that you got from the Daily Mail, what gives you the right to call OP immature for a playing video games? How is it any worse that posting shit on the Internet like you do?

MargaretTwatyer · 06/08/2017 10:29

You can have it repaired either by Nintendo or one of their approved suppliers without voiding the warranty. Contact them and they will let you know how to go about getting it repaired and she can pay for that. Problem solved.

Urubu · 06/08/2017 10:33

YANBU, and need to be very clear that your room is off limits and ask what they intend to do about the damage.

Re playing video games, I don't see what the issue is, just a hobby, not better or worse than other hobbies.

ShelaghTurner · 06/08/2017 10:36

I’d be bloody furious. I detest people touching my things. It’s bad enough when it’s my own kids but someone else’s... Angry Definitely door locking now and she should pay for it to be made good.

Maelstrop · 06/08/2017 10:40

Ask for a new one and put a lock on the door. I'd be sodding furious if someone else's kid had done that.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 06/08/2017 10:49

Jeeeesus, all those picking on op for her choice of leisure pursuits, lets substitute Book or art materials for Switch. Little x came in and ripped my book, used my art materials. Make it any better? Her choice, her property, disrespectful mum whatever.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 06/08/2017 10:49

Jeeeesus, all those picking on op for her choice of leisure pursuits, lets substitute Book or art materials for Switch. Little x came in and ripped my book, used my art materials. Make it any better? Her choice, her property, disrespectful mum whatever.

pictish · 06/08/2017 10:53

hetero - you have been very rude saying 'you sound immature, see gaming'.

What makes mumsnetting any more worthy and/or mature than gaming? Please explain that comment.

Rossigigi · 06/08/2017 10:55

I'm a parent and first of all would not allow my child to use it and secondly if he's scratched it would pay for a replacement for you. Would be my fault not yours. No wonder you are pissed off

diddl · 06/08/2017 10:55

" hinting that I'm being selfish by not letting him play it and she can't afford one, "

She's not a friend.

Friends don't begrudge what others have such that they just take them to use anyway.

I think I'd settle for as screen repair as the chances of her replacing seem non existant.

I'd certainly lock the roo without a backward glance.

She can sort out a new router/cable/whatever.

Not your problem.

LoniceraJaponica · 06/08/2017 10:57

If locking the room isn't sn option do you hsve a lockable suitcase you can hide it in?

MidnightAura · 06/08/2017 10:58

Yanbu! No one has the right to go into your personal space when you aren't there. She had no right letting her kid play the console. I would want a new one too.

And as for people who say gaming is immature, get a life it's a hobby.

pictish · 06/08/2017 11:01

P.s OP - just lock your door. You should have done so in the first place, when it became clear that mum pal wanted you to share your loot with her child but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Personally, I would politely ask her to pay for the damage but I wouldn't insist on it. If you have to live together you need to play the long game and having a furious row involving money will not a harmonious home make. You will have made the point that you are not ok with the damage and that's the most important thing. Rather make it clear you now consider her untrustworthy when it comes to your belonging and cheerfully but firmly lock that door every time you go out from now on. It will say your lot without a row.
Yanbu.

MrsGWay · 06/08/2017 11:07

Obviously she shouldn't have let her child pay and needs to pay for repair.

No Switches are to be found for a few weeks so ring Nintendo for advice about repair.

The save data is on your Switch so if you replace you'd lose all progress to date. Not good if you're 200hrs into BotW.

I worried about what I read about screensavers. I now have a tempered glass screen saver on mine and it hasn't caused problems in the dock.

RiversrunWoodville · 06/08/2017 11:15

My dd1 is 7 and I would be mortified if she damaged something in this way. I also agree with pp who says at 6 a child knows full well they aren't allowed something so it's the mum at fault here. I would immediately offer to replace and if I couldn't afford it in one go would do it in two halfs as quickly as possible and if that meant little x got less at Christmas boohoo. Oh and maybe I'm a hard mummy but I wouldn't be giving the damaged one to the child as I teach my dds to look after their property and if they don't it's not replaced (unless a complete accident obviously I'm not that bad!)

thegirlupnorth · 06/08/2017 11:16

I think the rule should be keep out while you're out. If a parent has to go in to reset router fair enough but for no other reason should they be in a room you are paying to use. I don't know about the equipment as I'm not familiar with it but can you disable it in some way, remove the handset, console or a piece of it that is needed for it to function properly?

Mrsmomo · 06/08/2017 11:17

*I think mum has been letting him use it regularly when you're not there.

Whether you do or don't confront, things are going to get worse I'm afraid. She's shown she puts her son above your wishes, and will now be resentful you cut his access to your device, regardless if you ask for reparation or not. And I suspect she isn't going to react well to asking for this - she will most likely get annoyed and say 'it's only the bloody screen ffs!'*
I agree with Bunny on this. It's also possible that she already knows about the damage and has decided not to say anything- who else could have placed it back onto the high shelf? Good luck OP getting it sorted, and be prepared for her to try to deny or blame shift on this.

Hissy · 06/08/2017 11:19

Have you asked her directly what she is going to do to put right the wrong she has caused?

She needs to fix this

MargaretTwatyer · 06/08/2017 12:10

I hate to say it, but I think most (nice) people would have realised that it wouldn't be a good idea to play with a games console you won't share in front of a small child. That's like putting food just out of reach of a starving man.

In future OP I would keep all things attractive to small children like that for use in your room only. It was inevitable this would happen and I think a little cruel to the child.

BanginChoons · 06/08/2017 12:14

Did she let her kid play with it, or did her kid go in through an unlocked door within his home and borrow it?

In future, lock your door. Kids play with stuff. Also, a few scratches isn't the end of the world. Worse things could have happened.

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 06/08/2017 12:18

Most nice people wouldn't play with their game in front of a kid? Wow that's a leap isn't it?

I can't see anywhere the ops said she did. It's been in her room. Her private room. Meaning someone had to go in there to get it.

Besides which the child is 6. Old enough to understand not everything is theirs to do as they want. My 5 year old gets it. What message are you giving the kid - oh that's OK to take someone else's stuff, they shouldn't have let you see it

Huffletuff · 06/08/2017 12:29

Astounded by the comment that no nice person wouldn't play a console in front of a child.

It's HER console, it's NOT her child and it's NOT his console! Entitled much?!

When my DS has had his screen time and I decide to have mine (we all stick to 2 hours a day) he can sit there and lump it if he's used his. And that's why children are growing up thinking the world owes them a favour.

LockedOutOfMN · 06/08/2017 12:32

OP, YANBU. Lock the door to your room and let the adult housemate know where to find a hidden key "for emergencies".

abigcupoffuckyou · 06/08/2017 12:33

8I hate to say it, but I think most (nice) people would have realised that it wouldn't be a good idea to play with a games console you won't share in front of a small child. That's like putting food just out of reach of a starving man*

Bullshit.