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AIBU?

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Original poster

Raised eyebrow at niece’s Christmas list

251 replies

Princessmushroom · 14/11/2018 22:31

Mostly posting for traffic. For context we are an early 30s childfree couple.

We received our niece’s Christmas wish list, (well husband’s niece), she’s just turned 13 and I have to admit that I raised an eye brow that 95% of her wishlist were some plastic horse toys of some sort. Popped on to Amazon to buy some and the recommended age was 4-10 years old IIRC. The upper suggested age was definitely 10.

It made me think about toys when I was 13 years old. I didn’t really have any apart from my favourite stuffed animals. I was all about make up, music, posters, books and magazines. I don’t have any siblings to compare to (20 year age gap) and my friends didn’t really have toys at 13 either.

So my question is if you or your children still had lots of toys or got new toys like this (plastic horses, Barbies etc) aged 13?

(We obviously did buy something from her wishlist, just to clarify).

OP posts:
PhilMitchellsBeard · 14/11/2018 22:34

I think it is that age that they still like some toys, but would never admit this in front of their peers at school. Or she may collect these horses, or be horse mad. I don’t really see a problem with it, some girls mature faster than others.

Lazypuppy · 14/11/2018 22:34

I did! I didn't get into make up until i was 17.

I'd be so happy if that is my daughters xmas list when she is that age!

Bimmy76 · 14/11/2018 22:35

I think it’s quite refreshing that she wants something so innocent. Is she generally horsey? I think that can often be quite all-consuming so interest in make up etc is delayed.

Believeitornot · 14/11/2018 22:36

Yabu

It matters not what other children like. She likes toys! End of story. Stop judging.

indigo13 · 14/11/2018 22:38

You didn't need to tell us you're child free, it's obvious. Have a heart will you

homeishere · 14/11/2018 22:38

Meh. If it’s what she wants the great. You can buy her a boob tube and some slap next year.

Oddsocksandmeatballs · 14/11/2018 22:40

Maybe she collects them? I wouldn't have a problem with buying a 13 year old toys if that was what they wanted.

Ilovehamabeads · 14/11/2018 22:40

I’d love to see toys on my DD13’s. Hers consists of expensive makeup, expensive shoes and expensive clothes Confused.

chocolatecoveredraisons · 14/11/2018 22:41

YANBU you should be buying her make up and fashion stuff instead. That's what happens to girls the minute they become teenagers Hmm

Tbh though it's sweet she feels able to ask for a 'young' toy. I think she will appreciate you buying her it

KurriKurri · 14/11/2018 22:41

Mine did - she enjoyed toys at that age and older, and I was really pleased that she continued to be herself and have her own preferences without feeling anypeer pressure to grow up quickly just because some of her friends were.
She wasn't into make up etc until much later (and actually not really much then). Some of her friends stayed 'younger' in their preferences for longer as she did, some moved on to more traditionally 'teenage' things a bit earlier. They've all managed to grow up fine in their own way and theirown time.

You spend the majority of your life as a grown up, there's nothing wrong with enjoying your childhood, and it's a sad state of affairs if a child of 13 isn't allowed to be a child any more.

RedPandaMama · 14/11/2018 22:42

Aww I think it's really mean that you're judging her! It's nice she wants to collect toys still!

At 13 I was somewhere in the middle - I liked makeup and clothes but also enjoyed the fact my best friend and sister were 1 and 3 years younger than me respectively so I had an excuse to play 'younger' games!

Medea13 · 14/11/2018 22:42

You sound quite mean. You're effectively making fun of a child because you think she has babyish interests, and presumably you were hoping other posters would also pile on being like "yeah, what a dumb baby she is for liking XXX". That's very much school bully tactics...

KurriKurri · 14/11/2018 22:42

And recommended ages are a suggestion, not a rule that must not be broken.

Bimmy76 · 14/11/2018 22:43

Think people are being slightly harsh- OP was only asking a question.

Alwaysbekind2014 · 14/11/2018 22:43

Seriously 😂😂I came on thinking this would be the opposite and it would be about someone wanting make up and fake eye lashes to young hahaa

confusednorthner · 14/11/2018 22:44

Dd is nearly 13, she's still known to play playmobil stables. I'm assuming these are the collectable pony figures? I know my dd would still get pleasure from them.

Claireshh · 14/11/2018 22:45

My 9 year old would love the bar or play house but I thought she was too old for it. A lot of her friends at school seem far more mature and I worry they would tease her for having a doll house. Is that mad?

EmeraldShamrock · 14/11/2018 22:45

I would keep your opinion to yourself. You sound really judgy she is 13 ffs. Not everyone is in rush to grow up.

BenjiB · 14/11/2018 22:45

My son is 11 and my daughter 12. Neither of them have asked for any toys this year. My 12 year old daughter only wants makeup, clothes and trainers.

SuburbanRhonda · 14/11/2018 22:45

DD was still playing with Playmobil when she was that age.

She’s 23 now and has left home - she’s forbidden me from getting rid of any of it Grin

Claireshh · 14/11/2018 22:45

Barbie not bar or!

ThunderInMyHeart · 14/11/2018 22:45

OP, I don’t think you’re being mean... I just think you don’t have any experience with 13 year olds.

I loved my Barbies up until at least 10...but knew never to admit that to schoolfriends.

I find it a little odd she has a wish list though!

Doobigetta · 14/11/2018 22:46

Why don’t you get her a horsey present that’s a bit more grown up, if it bothers you? Like a riding lesson?

Flobalob · 14/11/2018 22:46

I think it's really sweet. I still enjoyed playing with my dolls until around 14. Didn't realise other kids didn't for a while.

Missm00 · 14/11/2018 22:47

I was still collecting sylvanian families at 17, i only stopped in the end as I got pregnant.
I mostly collected the older, rarer ones, and spend hours painstaking setting them up in my bedroom.
Might seem weird, but after a deeply traumatic early childhood, i found it a helpful coping mechanism.

Now my dd is 6 and into Lottie Dolls, and I’m starting to secretly build my own collection alongside hers,
This time as I’m now chronically ill, I’m hoping that I can use our dolls to help my dd cope with my condition and frequent hospital trips etc.