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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think I should be allowed buy whatever I want for ds?

602 replies

WolfInSlutsClothing · 13/05/2020 13:35

My ds is 18 months old, he is constantly putting his favourite Teddy into his pushchair and trying to wheel it around the house. He will then get really frustrated because the pushchair is so big he can't manouver it properly and will end up throwing a tantrum after a while. This is a daily occurance.

Thismorning I ordered him a little blue dolls pushchair on amazon, but when I told DH I'd bought it he went abseloutley mental. He rang me up telling me to cancel it and shouted down the phone at me telling me to stop trying to instill my own personal values on him, even though, in my opinion, that's what he is doing not me.

I told him I wasn't cancelling it and after shouting at me and telling me to stop being so controlling (?), that he's told me before he doesn't want him having it and he'll buy him a wheelbarrow, he went onto the amazon account, cancelled the order and changed the password so I can't get onto it now.

I'm honestly so upset over this, I know it seems like such a stupid trivial thing, but I really don't appreciate being shouted at and told what I can and can't buy for my own child. Iv had to stop talking to him because he just won't listen and keeps shouting, and being almost 8 months pregnant with a toddler to look after, I really can't take the stress of being screamed at over a children's toy.

He says if ds grows up and asks him to buy him a dolls pram, then he will buy one. But that he's not going to just let me decide for him that that's what he wants... My argument is, he didn't ask for any of the trucks, cars, toolsets etc that he has, but he bought them for him. Because ds has around 20 words and is not yet capable of asking for such things so we go on what we think he would like.

I'm rambling now but I'm just so worked up about all this, would you personally buy a 'girls' toy for your son? Am I wrong in buying him a pushchair that he hasn't specifically asked for?

OP posts:
Neolara · 13/05/2020 18:16

My D's loved his toy buggy. Was one of his best toys.

Nanalisa60 · 13/05/2020 18:19

Well one of my boys who is now a rugby playing ,heterosexual, beer drinking hairy man, just love his dolls buggy that he pushed his teddy around in for about a year I bought it for him for his second birthday because he just kept nicking the little girls next doors pink one.

Lucky I managed to get a red striped one. My husband (now EX) was really annoyed with me saying it was for girls to play with a pushchair not his son, well I could not careless he was happy that’s was good enough for me.

That was over way over thirty years ago.
Can’t believe a Dad would still get upset about a boy playing with a pushchair, really hoped things had moved forward.

Lelophants · 13/05/2020 18:19

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous. Firstly its clear your son would enjoy this toy. Secondly, isn't the idea to but a range of toys so that he can pick and choose? If he doesn't like the pram, he won't play with it. Same as the trucks. If he does play with it, then supposedly your dh is happy with him having it all along.

Wearywithteens · 13/05/2020 18:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

WolfInSlutsClothing · 13/05/2020 18:20

CatNoBag that's really nice of you thank you, I don't mind ordering it though, I'm not afraid of him. The only think I'm afraid of is that he'll wear me down enough by telling me I'm wrong that many times that I end up giving in..

I do have people to support me but tbh right now I don't feel like talking to anyone, I've spent the day going between tears and anger and it's just not fair on ds to be like this when I'm looking after him, so I'm trying to calm myself down for now.

Haven't heard from him since about 4pm, I'd imagine he'll call around 10 o'clock when I'm going to bed to talk but I'm done talking about it. Anyone who can be so flippant about seeing my son or not seeing him is not someone I want to be sorting things out out with. I'm sure he said it in anger and didn't mean it, but anger is no excuse when it comes to your kids in my opinion. Ds is far too important to me to allow anyone to treat him or me thís way.

OP posts:
MarieIVanArkleStinks · 13/05/2020 18:20

The homophobia observation is interesting.

Effeminacy doesn't necessarily equate with homosexuality. Some effeminate men are as straight as they come. And some gay blokes are very masculine. That's toxic masculinity talking, and it's become such an ingrained cultural assumption that it's often accepted without question. The idea is that 'real' men are not effeminate. That they'll freuqently be bullied if they are. And that a distinct, but arbitrary line divides the masculine from the feminine, and that non-conformity (even in such a way as to decline to label ourselves as non-binary/gender non-conforming) is an unforgivable sin.

Referring to this point as well as some of those upthread, 'culture' has a hell of a lot to answer for.

Chottie · 13/05/2020 18:21

How ridiculous

Ariseandsmellthetea99 · 13/05/2020 18:23

He might grow up to be a daddy that shares parental leave...[shock horror!]

NatalieLollipop · 13/05/2020 18:24

My son's favourite toy at that age was a cleaning trolley. Unfortunately now he's 17 the appeal seems to have worn off! I'd start a new Amazon account and order the pushchair, I bet your DS will love it.

opticaldelusion · 13/05/2020 18:26

Aww. This is heart-breaking. My son loved his dolls' pushchair when he was little and we should be encouraging all our little boys to be kind men who look after babies well.

My son's dad, sadly now passed, was a real man. Comfortable with himself and his role in life. He totally embraced any sort of toy for his son and found these arbitrary gender distinctions ridiculous.

jiminycricket14 · 13/05/2020 18:26

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OnlyJudyCanJudgeMe · 13/05/2020 18:27

Turn your phone off before you go to bed.

anothernamereally · 13/05/2020 18:29

Another 1 here joining the ranks of parents with 'girls' toys for boys and 'boys' toys for girls
3 year old ds has pink pram, cot bed and high chair set for his baby dolls and also has super heroes and dinosaurs.
Dd loved her dolls and Thomas the tank set equally
I give no fucks who they have sex with when they are old enough just so long as they're happy
I am sorry that you are dealing with this op - the control is definitely the bigger issue I think, both of you and your ds- I hope you can find a way forward

Musmerian · 13/05/2020 18:31

Create your own account and order the pushchair. Don’t let him push you around.

DrDavidBanner · 13/05/2020 18:31

I was thinking that too Weary. In all my years of employment I can't think of a time I've ever given a shiny shit what someone else buys for their child, even when working in an office full of 'gossipy women' (Spoiler alert, men can be just as much if not more gossipy than women). I would take exception to and have before questioned a colleague who chose to berate their spouse in such a way on the phone at work. That is way more unacceptable.

Op this must be a terrible shock to you that he has behaved in such a way, has he shown this kind of behaviour before. You seem to be doing the right thing just focusing on your health and your little boy, just take things one step at a time and reach out to people when you feel ready, but don't feel you have to do it alone. You'll make it through.

Rhianna1980 · 13/05/2020 18:32

At my daughters’ former nursery, it was often that I saw the boys pretending to be princesses pushing a pram, playing with dollies, pretend playing all sorts of stuff. Kids love it. The highest form of learning is playing, in early years development.

And to cancel your order is disrespectful and insulting to you.

Your husband is an old fashioned controlling old fart.
I would be surprised if you haven’t noticed it already.

WolfInSlutsClothing · 13/05/2020 18:33

So he just rang me, I ignored it the first 2 times, ended up answering on the 3rd. He sounds like he's calmed down a lot, started asking if the baby was OK, if I'd eaten something (I'm struggling to eat much atm) and if I gave ds a bath, because he knows it's really fucking difficult for me bathing him right now.

I answered his questions and just said' are you done' to which he said he was just checking in. So I hung up. He sounds so sheepish it's honestly annoying me now, he can go off and calm down and then ring me and ask questions like everything is fucking normal.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 13/05/2020 18:34

@WolfInSlutsClothing

I think if his mother or anyone else contacts you you need to be very calm and factual.

Your DH was perfectly welcome to stay but on the proviso that he allowed you access to your joint amazon account and didn't try and control your toy purchases.

Instead he's stormed out as apparently his need to control your purchases is more important than seeing his own son.

I think you need to not contact him for a day or two. When you do speak you need to be calm and factual. Why is his SO afraid of your son playing with a specific toy that he thinks it is necessary to restrict your access to Amazon and abandon you and his son?

He is being ludicrous. And deeply bigoted. I'd be wondering exactly how he might respond on the offchance your DS did grow up to be gay.

NamesNamesSoManyNames · 13/05/2020 18:35

The bigger issue is your husband.
Resisting your access to (a shared?) account is abusive.

BackseatCookers · 13/05/2020 18:36

God there isn't much less attractive than someone thinking behaving like a disagreement never happened is equal to an apology.

Funnily enough it's usually the one on the "has clearly been an absolute dickhead" side of the argument who want to just forget about it and move on.

He could have rung you and said sorry, I should never have spoken to you that way I can't believe I called you a cunt and stopped you getting DS a toy he would enjoy. What can I do to make you feel better?

But he didn't. He's playing the caring husband and father while actually only really caring about himself.

Is he usually pretty selfish OP? I would guess yes.

SunshineCake · 13/05/2020 18:36

When my youngest was two I would push him on the school run in his buggy with him holding his toy microwave. Every day. One day some stupid woman made a comment and was taken aback when I asked her what the issue was. Apparently I should take notice of a complete stranger regarding my son Hmm.

NamesNamesSoManyNames · 13/05/2020 18:36

Sorry, I didn't read the thread it's obviously moved on.
Hope you are OK, OP.

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/05/2020 18:37

You’re doing really well. Right now your advocating for your children!

NamesNamesSoManyNames · 13/05/2020 18:37

When my youngest was two I would push him on the school run in his buggy with him holding his toy microwave. Every day. One day some stupid woman made a comment and was taken aback when I asked her what the issue was. Apparently I should take notice of a complete stranger regarding my son

Must remind all the men I know not to use the microwave... stupid woman!

Thisismytimetoshine · 13/05/2020 18:38

Are microwaves only for ladies?!