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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Tinty · 15/11/2018 10:06

I was drinking and sexually active at that age. My sister played with Barbies until she was 14. Which would you prefer?

^ ^
THIS

brummiesue · 15/11/2018 10:08

Yabu and quite unkind, what would you rather buy her, fake eyelashes and make up? Let her develop as she wants and less judgement I think Hmm

slappinthebass · 15/11/2018 10:40

She might be in to painting them as a hobby too. Customising figures like My Little Pony is a hugely popular hobby on YouTube and there is a big market for selling them. But f she just wants to play with them, so what? By weird you've felt the need to ask if it's normal.

Trinity66 · 15/11/2018 10:44

My son is 14 and he used to love action figures, I remember when he got to 11/12 I would watch him playing with them knowing soon he'd stop, it made me really sad actually. leave the poor girl alone, you're a child for such a small amount of time

Mrsglitterfairy · 15/11/2018 10:50

I would love to see soemthing like this on 10 yr old ds’s list. I know it’s doffetent to girls but he’s all technology and trainers.
My dh’s cousin was out in tiny dresses & face full of make up at 13, looking 18! My friend’s daughter at the same age was still playing with toys and dressing in jeans and T-shirt’s and I know if I had a girl what I would rather her be into at that age

Loyaultemelie · 15/11/2018 11:02

Umm I bought some "toys" off amazon recommended for 10 year olds, they were for me Blush

Rednotwhite · 15/11/2018 11:12

I thought this thread was going to be completely different, ‘niece 13 going on 30’, spoilt and entitled. OP you don’t know your born! Enjoy your niece, she sounds absolutely lovely, just the way a 13yr old should be.

placebobebo · 15/11/2018 11:26

With your Mario derived username, you of all people should know there's no age limit really to the things people like. Glad you got them anyway.

Amanduh · 15/11/2018 11:51

I’d raise my eyebrows more at a 13 yo wearing a full face of makeup.

JudgeyMuch · 15/11/2018 11:52

YABU

it's sweet

justfloatingpast · 15/11/2018 11:57

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

There have been several threads recently regarding hurtful things people say to childless people. Perhaps the person who posted the above might read one of them and learn to be a bit more sensitive.

justfloatingpast · 15/11/2018 12:02

Oh and OP yes, it's unusual for a 13 year old to ask for toys. I don't see any harm in asking that question. You don't come across as criticising or sneering, just surprised.

It is nice that she's not bowing to peer pressure and focussing on make up, fashion and jewellery at that age. I think a lot of girls grow up far too quickly nowadays and seem to have any childhood before they're into grown up stuff.

justfloatingpast · 15/11/2018 12:02

and hardly seem to have any childhood

BumsexAtTheBingo · 15/11/2018 12:10

I would be thinking how lovely. She could be knocking back gin like the 12yo in the other thread 😂
You do realise that a recommended age is there as a guideline and doesn’t mean that anyone older isn’t allowed to play with them???

MissLadyM · 15/11/2018 12:13

I think it's lovely that she's into her own thing. Childhood is lovely and over so quickly so I'm all for children acting like children!

MiniMum97 · 15/11/2018 12:22

Why does it bother you what she likes?

LuvSmallDogs · 15/11/2018 12:29

I wasn’t a horsy person, but at 13 I still collected old Beano/Dandy/Wizzer and Chips annuals bought by mum and dad. I was also into Pokémon games, rollerblading, rope swings, exploring the old German tunnels. When my mate and I had sleepovers we watched stuff like Land Before Time rather than chick flicks.

My mum was quite disappointed I think, that puberty didn’t purge me of my tomboyish ways - she was always trying to make me like clothes and make up and boys.

KatherinaMinola · 15/11/2018 12:32

You sound really unpleasant. You asked what she wanted for a gift, she told you. Now you're bitching about it on the internet?

MaddieElla · 15/11/2018 13:00

My daughter is the same age and on her birthday and Christmas list she still has baby Annabel accessories and baby clothes. She would never tell her classmates this but she absolutely dotes on her doll at home. I love it and would never tell her she's too old.

justfloatingpast · 15/11/2018 13:02

I've just re-read the OP KatherineMinola to see if there was some bitchiness I'd missed. I didn't see any.

Your post on the other hand......

KatherinaMinola · 15/11/2018 13:28

Really? You can't see that she's come onto a national chat site to sneer at a little girl's Christmas present choices?

Eliza9917 · 15/11/2018 13:29

I think its nice that a kid that age is still a kid and hasn't asked for a ton of MAC or urban decay palettes or whatever.

picnicinnovember · 15/11/2018 13:30

"Really? You can't see that she's come onto a national chat site to sneer at a little girl's Christmas present choices?"

I can't see that either. Maybe you just look for the worst in posts.

KatherinaMinola · 15/11/2018 13:34

What do you think the raised eyebrows were all about then? What do you think is the purpose of her OP?

AnneOfCleavage · 15/11/2018 13:37

I think it's better to question something on an anonymous site than question the niece or niece's parents. I don't think the OP is being bitchy just double checking as she was surprised at the list.

I loved my dolls (baby like doll and barbies alike) and was still playing with them at 15 privately at home without my friends knowing

My 14 yr old DD is similar and loves her cuddly toys, occasionally plays with little bits (like polly pocket and littlest petshop) but adores Lego so has asked for some Lego Friends sets for Christmas.
She also loves her iphone, ipad and is really into Friends and Stranger Things so perfectly normal but likes to just play sometimes.

She will still make slime and her friends all play with it when they come over as she has so many types and it is so much fun.

It's lovely you bought her what she wanted and lovely she is still enjoying it. Plenty of time to grow up. I say to my DH that although we are adults we aren't particularly grown up as we love playing with stuff like Lego too so seems DD takes after us. 😀