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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is a desk an acceptable birthday present?

83 replies

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 19:50

Dd turns 10 just after christmas. She doesnt know what she wants for her birthday aside from one single thing that her Grandmother has already arranged to buy her.

Dd loves writing and drawing and does a lot of it both in her room and downstairs at the coffee table.

I have an idea of buying her a desk for her room, swivel chair (which she loves sitting in whenever we go anywhere with one), and filling the desk with lots of different paper, pens, a nice lamp etc.

It's a head start on her needing one for secondary school anyways, but is it naff to give it as a gift?

We are also swapping her bed (single) to the spare double when we are off over christmas, so that plus the desk will make her room more grown up.

Is this naff?

OP posts:
notangelinajolie · 01/12/2021 20:17

My most memorable Christmas present ever as a child was a desk and a blackboard, a gift from my Grandma. I was not spoilt as a child, quite the opposite. I still remember that wonderous, amazing feeling when I came down on Christmas morning. I couldn't believe they were for me.

Doofas · 01/12/2021 20:31

I got a desk as a joint birthday and Christmas present one year. My birthday is half way through the year, I thought it was a great present as I was just starting to get more homework add felt very grown up to get a present that I could use for that as my own space, but I can see that she children might not think of it as a great thing. It was half built when I received it so easy mind and big under the tree) in the tree present pile, which as one of three siblings felt very important that it looked like I had one of the best presents!

MinnieJackson · 01/12/2021 20:37

My 7 year old asked for a desk last Christmas, and a rug. It looks great and he displays his pop figures on it and has a little light.

Notonthenewrug · 01/12/2021 20:38

My 11 year old is getting a desk and chair for Christmas. I do worry it's a boring gift but he doesn't want or need anything else...although he is also getting a gaming monitor. As they get older I'd rathe rget things he needs (I know he doesn't need a gaming monitor, I mean he needs a desk and chair).

colourfulpuddles · 01/12/2021 20:40

Sorry but a desk is not a gift; it is a basic necessity she needs to do schoolwork on. Similarly naice paper, pens etc are not gifts; they’re essentials.

JorisBonson · 01/12/2021 20:40

I would have loved that at her age. I remember getting a word processor and it was the best thing ever (I was strange).

Original poster
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 20:48

Great to hear from everyone, and looks like, in the main, it's a good idea. Especially like hearing so many of you who loved getting a desk at a similar age.

On the double bed - yes, she wants to swap beds. Her room is ridiculously long (runs the width of the house in the attic) so no concerns re loss of floor space.

I accept that, eventually, she will need a desk as a basic necessity. We also have plenty of stationary supplies in the living room for the whole family to dip in and out of.

But I do know that she will love her own supply of things that she can use, keep organised, and not have to share with us all. Plus, I just keep the bog standard stuff in. But if it's a gift, then she can have the gimmicky bits that arent generally needed day to day like funny shaped post it notes, quirky pens etc. She goes through reams of tracing paper just as a pass time - I will happily fill a full desk drawer with the stuff.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 01/12/2021 20:51

If it has a back board she'll need battery operated fairy lights too. It's the law.

Original poster
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 20:53

@megletthesecond

If it has a back board she'll need battery operated fairy lights too. It's the law.
Good plan!!
OP posts:
RagzReturnsRebooted · 01/12/2021 20:54

That's exactly what we got DD for her 10th birthday. That and a swivel chair. She loved them.

tinofbeans · 01/12/2021 21:04

Both my kids have asked for desks at around age 8, and they've both loved them! Great idea!

OnTheBoardwalk · 01/12/2021 21:10

Looking at title I was going to say YABU until I read you were getting fancy paper, pens etc rather than just a piece of furniture for Christmas . I think it’s a great idea

Agree fairy lights are a must as are some fancy rubbers. Do they still sell the fruit ones anymore or are they banned after we all tried eating them in primary school 😂

lunar1 · 01/12/2021 21:14

I got the same for ds1 when he was 9, added lots of paper, stationery, pot of sweets and a lamp. He loved it.

Definitelynotanathlete · 01/12/2021 21:16

We did exactly the same for DD 9th Birthday last month (new desk, chair and double bed). It transformed her room and she loved it! Got the desk from Jysk as it didn't look too office-y and could be used as a dressing table if she wanted too. Its a great idea OP

Original poster
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2021 21:17

Yes fruity erasers!! And highlighters. She has yet to have a need for them, but necessary right?

OP posts:
elfycat · 01/12/2021 21:22

We bought DD2 (10 last year) a proper office swivel chair last year for her Xmas present. She has a cabin bed with a desk bit that pulls out.

She absolutely loves it still.

DD1 (12) saw a huge, and I mean HUGE antique desk. The kind an old-fashioned bank manager would have had to differentiate himself from the lesser managers with their decent but not HUGE desks. She begged and cajoled etc etc. We would not have the room in out 1930s bungalow, so said no. She suggested she use the top of it as her bed (it was big enough) but still no. She threw me reproachful glares for the rest of the day.

We're remodelling her room... I might go look for the HUGE desk's smaller cousin.

OnTheBoardwalk · 01/12/2021 21:29

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Yes fruity erasers!! And highlighters. She has yet to have a need for them, but necessary right?
Absolutely

I’d be well happy to get fruity erasers and highlighters as pressies this year!

Icantremembermyusername · 01/12/2021 21:34

I, too, loved MFI!

A desk is a great idea from what you've said about your daughter DD got one for her birthday last year. She feels very important sitting at it :-)

Thwackit · 01/12/2021 21:35

It’s lovely and grown up

HelloDoris · 01/12/2021 21:40

My DD asked for one for her 7th birthday we took her to IKEA and she chose it along with a mirror and a chair. She still adores it now 3 years on, she has her ring light set up on it and she displays all her precious things/ pictures on it. She loves to sit and draw, do her crystal art and her homework at it. Brilliant gift plus you can buy so many extras to go on it!

toconclude · 01/12/2021 22:14

@PlumManor

I would too! And in time it will evolve into a dressing table too.

Brilliant idea.

Why should it 'evolve' into anything? What, she'll soon grow out of that creativity crap and get on to the real business of girls which is primping and posing in front of a mirror? 🙄🙄
MrsSkylerWhite · 01/12/2021 22:27

colourfulpuddles

Sorry but a desk is not a gift; it is a basic necessity she needs to do schoolwork on. Similarly naice paper, pens etc are not gifts; they’re essentials.“

Sorry, miseryguts, you’re massively out-voted.

(On a more serious note, your idea of an “essential” is another person’s financial stretch - not suggesting you OP. Don’t be a knob.)

cortex10 · 01/12/2021 22:32

I also received a desk when I was 10 and still have it now - definitely one of my favourite presents ever.

Armychefbethebest · 01/12/2021 22:34

I've just got my son a corner computer desk and a swivel chair as part of his Christmas stuff not naff at all it's practical but also they love the grown upness of having their own nice things x

Bimblybomeyelash · 01/12/2021 22:40

I think a desk is a teeny bit boring. But a desk stocked with fancy paper and stationery is a very different kettle of fish! And a swivel chair too! Great presents. What about a giant pinboard for displaying all her creations? I personally like a desk top storage solution for all my many pens and pencils rather than having them in drawers.