AIBU to let my 12 year old son wear a dinosaur tshirt

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My dh thinks I shouldn't be buying him any more jurassic park t-shirts. Reckons he'd get bullied. I asked what he should be wearing then? Fred Perry or something similar he suggested. To be clear, ds chose the t-shirt, I didn't just get it. What do you think? I said if he thinks ds would get bullied then perhaps he was the sort of child who would have done the bullying! I guess I'm asking AIBU in allowing ds to wear what he wants and not what others expect?

According to the resident fashion oracle (my son), a Jurassic Park tshirt is a million times more acceptable than Fred Perry!

I have a 14yo DS and he wouldn't have a clue who Fred Perry is! He wears Adidas, Nike, under armour, he wouldn't wear a Jurassic park T-shirt or any other cartoon/film T-shirt but does wear pjs with them on!

DD (12) has a t-shirt drawer that is categorised band, character, and football. She has picked each one herself and her favourite at the moment is a Winnie the Pooh polka dot. DSD1 (27) was sooo excited that her dad bought her a Toy Story t-shirt and promptly wore it out on a date DSD2 (25) has loads of Eeyore t-shorts and DS (22) lives in his various Star Wars/Batman t-shirts. My favourite has Waldorf and Statler (Muppets). So far there has been no bullying of any of the them throughout high school and beyond, and woe betide anyone who dares to tell DD that her stuff is childish. The last time someone said that they got a raised eyebrow and the retort "well, I am a child" with a withering look

Some here are saying that buying brand names for your kids means they are shallow or easily led. But honestly, you have your opinions etc, but in some areas you’re making your kids targets for bullies to stand up for your values

I'd wear a Jurassic Park logo T-Shirt and I'm 20! They can look quite cool if you get vintage style ones.

@Jojobears what areas are these then where "designer" stuff must be worn on pain of bullying?

Why would anyone encourage brands??? None of us have ever owned a branded polo shirt, unless M&S blue harbour is a brand!

@Rosehip10 I grew up on a council estate in Glasgow. There was an awful lot of bullying (especially of kids who didn’t have cool clothes). It’s difficult for some kids to fit in. Wearing the same as everyone else helps kids to fit in and prevent bullying. I wish it wasn’t that way, but unfortunately for some it is

My DD age 11 wears lots of dinosaur and unicorn Tshirts. I expect by 13 she'll change her style to name brands, they'll let us know.
As long as he is happy.

I grew up in an area like that. It's one of the many, many reasons I moved when I was pregnant.

No one is making their child a target for bullying, that's down to the cretins and their parents to sort. Not everyone else.

Funnily enough JoJo, that's where I grew up too.

Most of those doing the bullying had parents who were up to their eyeballs in provident debts to provide them with that shit to save face.

Not an attitude worth bowing down to or promoting!

And also, as I said before.

My 13yo has been relentlessly bullied throughout his entire school life, to the extent that he has had to move school twice. None of it had anything to do with his clothes which are pretty standard wear for around here.

They'll always find something to pick at if they want.

One of my favourites t-shirts at the moment is my Disney Aristocats one. Have had several compliments on it, am old and don’t care what anyone thinks, my style, my image.

My ds really doesn't care. He types geek t-shirts into Amazon and buys whatever comes up......he's had some disasters (( very fetching cats shooting lasers from their eyes tee )) and some fab ones (( currently wearing a t-shirt that says 'never trust an atom, they make up everything'.

YANBU but your DH sounds like a nightmare! This is hardly an outlandish preference on the part of your DS. The idea of a grown man and supposed role model telling him that he can't wear what he likes because it isn't cool enough and will lead to bullying is really sad.

I think your DH needs to be aware that what he thought was cool when he was 12 is not what is cool for 12 year olds now.

Fred Perry - wtaf?
My ds - 15 - is annoyingly into labels now (he’s more or less fully grown so hopefully they will last) and I don’t think he’s heard of FP.
Not sure he’d wear a Jurassic Park t-shirt but would’ve at 12 I think.,

My eldest is only 8 and already started with brand names only now lol.

Good grief 🙄

My oh is the same except mine are 4 and 6!! Apparently I'm not to buy the six year old anything with any pictures on 🙄 I've refused to buy anything designer as he is six and doesn't have a clue and doesn't care but oh made us buy all tops plain for the summer. Mental!

My oh is the same except mine are 4 and 6!! Apparently I'm not to buy the six year old anything with any pictures on 🙄 I've refused to buy anything designer as he is six and doesn't have a clue and doesn't care but oh made us buy all tops plain for the summer. Mental!

Oh my goodness I didn't think this worked as mumsnet was down when I posted! Thank you for all your replies. The t-shirt in question is from next (as are all his others!) I'm glad his dad is aware of how cruel kids can be but thankfully ds has been fine and will hopefully continue that way. He isn't into football and is generally more of a gamer. I will continue to let him choose his clothes!

krustykittens, he would never say anything to ds just behind closed doors.

I think you allow DS to choose the clothing he wants.

hopefulandstrong i love your son's reaction! "You seem to know a lot about what gay people wear" classic!

Isn’t wearing brands uncool, though? I think it would be seen as a bit naff where I am. Jurassic Park is a lot better.