To not want a jacket from the 1990s? Who's BU?

[Notinterested19]

Just that really. MIL is a hoarder and has still kept most of DHs stuff from his childhood. She bought round a leather jacket that he wore in 1999 when he was 9 years old, we're both 28 and have a DS who's 6, DH and MIL insist we keep it til DS can fit it. She's also a smoker, and smokes in her house so anything she brings round reeks of smoke. I don't want it, AIBU? I don't mind toys, but clothes really? From the 90s?

Oh poor you OP. Imagine having a MiL who dares to ask her son if he wants any of his old stuff for his kids. Esp as he does. What a drag, what a bitch, what a mummy's boy etc etc

Feel better now?

You know, sometimes 'hoarder' means 'someone who is less wasteful, unimaginative and conformist than the average mundane'. My mum had kept some of my baby clothes and some of my brother's for about 40 years before passing them on to me when DS was little. A pair of plimsoles and a couple of coats were worn by DS for about a year; some of the stuff went to PG friends or those with newborns, and the rest to a vintage clothing dealer for a decent chunk of change.

I suggest you let your DS have a look and, if he wants to keep it, get it dry-cleaned.

I’d have it on eBay quicker than you can say Greased Lightning.

Definitely don't bin it OP! A real leather vintage jacket? Wipe it down, air it out, then put it on eBay or give it to a charity shop - Trinity Hospice or Traid in London often have quite trendy, vintagey items; they'd definitely take it!

I used to work as a home help companion type job (it was great I loved it) anyway one day I was taking a lady to an appointment, when I went to pick her up she was wearing a beautiful jacket, really nice and a classic piece I would think, I told her it was gorgeous and really suited her she said

"Thanks Ellen, it was my mothers"

The lady I was helping was 90

Some clothes really do last and don't age, I think the leather jacket is the same.

It's not a denim jaisket from the glory days but is it?

YANBU Regarding it reeking of smoke though, I know leather can be wiped down and possibly done on a cool wash but I doubt that would get rid of the smell. My mum gives us stuff and apologises for the smell of smoke but it's always stuff we can wash (and wash again sometimes, the smell lingers).

I have a couple of my jackets from the 90s

A real vintage leather jacket! Just clean it, for god's sake. It's a classic style, it's meant to last for decades. Far nicer than your cheap rubbish that only lasts a year.

I have a little checked shirt that was bought for my eldest brother when he was about 4. It was passed down all four of us siblings, and ended up on a large teddy bear. When my nephew was about 3, my sister tried it on him for a joke and he loved it so much she kept it for him, then passed it on to me for my DS.
It’s so old it has ‘Empire Made’ in the collar, but it’s still in perfectly good condition. I now have a great nephew- he’s only 9 months old so far, but it will be going back to him in a few years time.

My husband’s aunt was 90 and came over to us for lunch in an open top car, on a cold spring day, wearing her father’s leather jacket! She looked remarkable - tall and elegant. I think she wins the oldest leather jacket comp!

Just give it wash. Your son can wear it, leather jackets are not cheap

I think it looks a really nice jacket, not dated at all. If you can get the smell out keep it.

5foot5
Fri 07-Dec-18 13:25:10
To all those saying "bin it" - why does the OP get the final say over what does and doesn't come in to the house? Her DH wants to keep it to hand on to his DS, so why does she get to overrule this?

Can you imagine the outcry on here if someone said her DM had come round with some items she fondly remembered from her childhood and which she wanted to pass on to her DD and then the DH threw it out.

Exactly! Why doesn't the dad get a say in what clothes his child wears? It can be cleaned.

I think it’s nice and still be trendy now. Id try washing it too

I honestly like it. I think I would send it through the wash in the hope that it survives. I wouldn't let DS wear smokey clothes after just airing them and wiping them down, they will still smell.
I think that it's reasonable to insist to DH that despite his wishes your child not be allowed to smell, but I definitely agree binning his childhood momento would be a nasty thing to do.

MIL is having a bit of a clear out. She phoned to see if we'd like DH's school reports from all through Primary School. Er, no, thanks, don't want your old hoarded clutter

Yeah I've got to say, on the face of it that sounds fine. He could take them, have.a read through for old times' sake and then bin them, but if she had them there and she didn't offer him the option that would seem a bit sad.

MIL is having a bit of a clear out. She phoned to see if we'd like DH's school reports from all through Primary School. Er, no, thanks, don't want your old hoarded clutter
That's a daughter-in-law from hell, right there. More evidence for my theory that people who type out "umm" and "er" to preface their internet forum comments are a hideous plague upon the earth.

DD wore my 1990s balldress to her prom (themed event which the dress happened to suit) - she spent the dress budget on Irregular Choice shoes to go with it and everyone was happy.

It sounds so gross. I don't know any parent who would want to put their child in decade old clothing

What a ridiculous attitude. I can completely understand why OP wouldn’t want to put her DC in smoky clothing, but for anyone to discount clothing purely because of its age is ridiculous. My mum saved lots of my childhood dresses, packaged them all up nicely and then gave them a wash when they came out of storage and they’re like new. In fact, the quality of the clothing is much better than what I can afford so it’s really helped us out and it’s a really lovely thing to see my daughters wearing them. And some of those dresses are 30 years old!

coaltit I agree I thought that comment was harsh! I'd love to have a read through of my DH's school reports!

I have a nanny friend that looks after a little boy (aged 5) who wears a leather jacket like that. His mum (who runs a children’s clothing boutique so dresses her children very fashionably) spent a small bloody fortune on it. I’d at least try and sell it, rather than chuck it, if you really don’t want it and it can’t be cleaned.

I agree that the old jacket and old school reports would be things I would treasure.

Having no value for the past, for the memories of old people, for the childhood experiences of our loved ones, seems symbolic of our throwaway culture.

I wouldn’t want stuff that stank of smoke in my house, the reek gets everywhere and makes me feel sick.

Not getting why cleaning and storing this jacket is OPs job. If DH wants to keep it, he can take responsibility for getting rid of the disgusting smell , and store it with his stuff.

Sell it on ebay