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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send back that Jubilee book?

351 replies

YahBooFucks · 09/07/2022 20:51

My DS came back with the Jubilee book this week. I didn't know anything about it (the Jubilee wasn't something that I was remotely bothered by) but apparently every family with a primary aged child is getting one. I'm massively annoyed by this book... It strikes me as an enormous waste of money, especially at a time when so many people/organisations/schools etc are struggling. I also hate having patriotism shoved down my (and my kids') throat. But it's mainly the money...

WIBU to send the book back (haven't figured out to whom yet. I'm guessing not the queen) with a note saying 'no, thank you'?

OP posts:
TimeToGoUpAGear · 09/07/2022 21:03

It isn't yours to send back.

If I was your son I'd be very annoyed! It's a memento.

I really couldn't get a opted about it. In fact, both of mine got one and I think it's a rather nice keepsake for when they are adults.

They celebrated the Jubilee at school and at Scouts and had a lovely time.

YABU

Acaseofthemondays · 09/07/2022 21:04

The swan eater’s party cost the tax payer 4B didn’t it!? I suppose this book made up some of that.

What with energy prices, maybe you can use it for kindling.

Original poster
YahBooFucks · 09/07/2022 21:04

My DS (5) is not remotely bothered by the book. My older DD (she's 9) is in total agreement with me

OP posts:
TimeToGoUpAGear · 09/07/2022 21:04

I couldn't get worked up about it. Grr predictive text.

Womencanlift · 09/07/2022 21:04

Also all these unwanted books could be given to the children in Scotland and Wales who actually wanted them but their school decided to opt out

Maybe a collection and redistribution system could be set up 🤷‍♀️

TimeToGoUpAGear · 09/07/2022 21:06

Mine are 6 and 9.

They may not care now but they might when they are older!

Your 9 your old really had the same opinion as you without you giving her yours first? I find that hard to believe.

TheCanyon · 09/07/2022 21:06

YahBooFucks · 09/07/2022 20:53

It's obviously not saving money. I'm just making a point, having a little tiny protest.

You sound like a few of my bigoted football friends, fuck the queen, the schools getting told where to shove this heap of shit, I'll burn it....

Glitterspy · 09/07/2022 21:08

I wonder about the waste of money too. Neither of my kids seems bothered about the book and it all feels a bit after the fact anyway, despite the fact they enjoyed the jubilee weekend and appreciate that the length of Liz’s reign is a special thing in their lifetime.

Id rather they’d been given puzzler books or activity books to do over the summer hols.

wlpaisj · 09/07/2022 21:08

I personally thought it was really nice, honestly people love to moan about every little thing they can these days!

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 09/07/2022 21:08

If you have such an issue living in a country with a monarchy then feel free to go live somewhere else. This country wouldn't be in the poor state it's in if less people with such unpatriotic mindsets lived in it.

PerrinAybara · 09/07/2022 21:08

I've got primary aged DC and we didn't get any. I wonder if their school opted out. Or just got forgotten.

PoisonedIvydaffs · 09/07/2022 21:08

It might not be to your taste, but is a free book really that awful? (I’ve not seen one, don’t think anyone near us got one).

If you don’t want it then stuck it in the bin, or on eBay, or in a charity shop. Of all of the things that money is wasted on, I don’t think books for children are a particularly awful thing. You clearly don’t appreciate it, but hopefully some of them found their way into homes that don’t have a lot of books.

Bungg1e · 09/07/2022 21:09

All our kids were really excited to receive it. I thought it was a lovely book and really educational. They all knew about the jubilee and the book was a great historical resource.

Original poster
YahBooFucks · 09/07/2022 21:09

Sorry, to be clear, I didn't mean I'd send it back to the school... I meant I'd return it to whoever decided to waste a fuck ton of money on the books in the first place. The school are totally irrelevant in this.

I honestly couldn't care less about a) the queen b) her jubilee or c) a souvenir to commemorate the whole thing. I'm guessing I would have felt the same about a mug or whatever had I been around in previous jubilees.

Anyway, I see that lots of you think I'm being unreasonable so I guess that's it then 😊.

OP posts:
SurpriseSurprise · 09/07/2022 21:10

i don’t have primary school kids but would love one if anyone would like to sell me one!

ByeByeBoree · 09/07/2022 21:10

Nobody will care if you send it back.

Actually there seem to be a fair few people, at least on here, who care very much indeed, enough to insult the OP and get really quite cross about her posting books to the queen.

puddingandsun · 09/07/2022 21:11

Im in two minds about this one.

The book is really not child friendly. We hardly got passed the first page.
They could've done something better and cheaper.

Needmorelego · 09/07/2022 21:11

Did they actually cost anything or did the publisher make them for free? Who are they published by? A big publisher (or several of the biggie ones combined) could probably afford to donate the books.

leotardrock · 09/07/2022 21:12

I'm 55 & I still have my Silver Jubilee mug from 1977!

Send it back if you want to but really! 🤷‍♀️ Do you not have bigger stuff to be protesting about?

Warmorangesunset · 09/07/2022 21:13

Feel free to send it our way if you don’t want the book! DD’s school still waiting for theirs 🧐

BirdWatch · 09/07/2022 21:13

I am sure many people do want them so why don't you put it up for sale as free item, plus the cost of postage.

Twizbe · 09/07/2022 21:14

FFS! Did you actually read it? It's a nice book about British history. What's wrong with kids learning about their own national history? Like them or not, the royal family are a huge part of that history.

Bungg1e · 09/07/2022 21:14

It really is child friendly and the kind key stage 2 kids (which all kids will become ) are well used to reading and using.

Thursday37 · 09/07/2022 21:15

I don’t see how giving children a book can ever be a waste of money. Books give so much. I’m astounded that anyone can be such a twat tbh!

We got free books when DD was tiny from the HV, is that a waste of money too? Or is it only an issue because it’s connected to the queen??!

Original poster
YahBooFucks · 09/07/2022 21:15

@PoisonedIvydaffs I realise you aren't to know this but I actually work with books within education and am a huge advocate for their importance to children.

I LOVE the idea of free books. In fact... 12 million quid on buying a book for every family would be amazing... I'd be totally behind that scheme. Just not this book, thanks.

OP posts: