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AIBU?

To not give up my Playmobil and cut cousins hands off if she tries to take it?

378 replies

Qantaqa · 19/03/2023 13:15

Ok Ok .. the last part is possibly U....

I have an extensive collection of playmobil which has been boxed up for many years. I briefly got it out 10 years ago when my DSs were 7/8ish but after a particularly traumatising incident where they broke some I boxed it all back up and put it away and never got it back out. I say this to show that my attachment to it is frankly ridiculous.

My cousins daughter is 6. She is in many ways an mini version of me at that age and I adore her and obviously indulge her and am silly with her in ways her parents can't be. I (obviously) have been buying her Playmobil for birthdays and Xmas which she loves. My collection came up in a discussion at a birthday meal recently and cousins daughter asked if she could come over and play. I said it was boxed away and that was it.

Except it isn't. Cousin has asked about "getting some sets for her DC since I aren't using it". I've politely said various versions of no with excuses, but this morning I had this message,

Hey Q. Any more thoughts over the Playmobile? DC is beside herself with excitement ay the thought of having some of yours! We are out for Mothers Day this afternoon but I'll give you a bell later. xx

Clearly I need a stronger "No over my dead body" response but having moaned mentioned this to DM at lunch she thinks IABU to not "pass it down".

DB thinks I should just go buy a box off Facebook and hand that over which I am considering.

So AIBU to want to keep my Playmobil?

OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

AIBU

You have one vote. All votes are anonymous.

SoMuchToBits · 20/03/2023 15:48

This is actually one of the sets ds had when he was 6, amongst others from the construction theme (crane, cement mixer, bulldozer etc). It seemed perfectly normal to us! Smile

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neitherofthem · 20/03/2023 15:58

I once got my (early 1970's) Sindy collection out when dd's friend was round to play.

30 seconds in, my reaction was "Hell, no!!!!" and packed it all away again. Some toys are vintage and collectable, and will have a sentimental attachment. I also have some (similar vintage) Britains Floral Garden stuff, and there is no way on earth I would let any child play with it.

Your cousin has an absolute bloody cheek. I bet there wouldn't be anything like the same fuss if you were male and your collection was of pristine vintage Star Wars toys. Cousin would recognise that they were not suitable for a kid of 6 to play with willy-nilly.

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Noodles1234 · 20/03/2023 16:51

I hate it when people try to push the boundaries, they clearly are so focused on their endgame they can’t see what’s in front of them or worse they do but keep blithering on.
just laugh and say “yeah right”, if they persist be firmer as in “no I don’t lend those out, they’re of importance to me”.

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TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 20/03/2023 16:57

We're watching you, DCousin.
You make sure you watch your hands now.

To not give up my Playmobil and cut cousins hands off if she tries to take it?
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Whichwhatnow · 20/03/2023 17:22

SoMuchToBits · 20/03/2023 15:25

We have a portaloo! As well as Norman the Foreman's portakabin. Very useful when you've had one or two Playmobil blue wines...

😆

That is amazing. Lovely that they're allowed a Christmas tree and blue wine (or is that WKD??) on site too!

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SoMuchToBits · 20/03/2023 17:37

@Whichwhatnow it's blue wine! Grin

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Bib1234 · 20/03/2023 18:20

NOT unreasonable at all!
tell her you aren’t giving it to her - end of story
I’m raging for you

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LouLou198 · 20/03/2023 18:44

Not unreasonable at all. Your cousin is a CF. Why did she assume you would want to give it to her daughter! Tell her you are saving for potential grandchildren and for her to back off! I would be exactly the same with my Lego Grin

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myfaceismyown · 20/03/2023 18:56

When my DD was 5 or 6 I found what I thought was the bottom of the galleon Pirate ship in a charity shop for £2, intending for her to play with it in the bath. (it floats and also has wheels) When I got it home I found it had all the rigging, characters, treasure etc in the base. Playmobil at the time sold the sails as spares so I sent off for that - then some trigger went off in my head, and I started buying all the other pirate Playmobil, hunting them down like treasure... The collection has spent almost 2 decades on top of the bookcases in the sunroom on display. The boxes of the purchased items are stored in the loft. Both DCs are adult, and although the collection was bought for them, neither played with it. When asked about this it is because they thought I would get upset if they lost any of the tiny coins, jewels etc. We need to declutter for a move in the future, but am oddly attatched to this Pirate Playmobile, so do understand where you are coming from. Its so detailed and really cute! You can show your DN your collectionif you want, and help her find things on eBay, but really don't feel you should give it to her. It is yours. It is not weird, people collect all sorts of things.

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toxic44 · 20/03/2023 19:08

It's yours. It's your shout where you keep it, whether you play with it, whom you allow to see/touch it. Don't be bullied. It's yours. End of story.

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oosha · 20/03/2023 19:18

I hate it when people push boundaries, she surely knows the answer but just doesn’t care and is pushing anyway. I like the “leave it to her in my will response”. You have every right to be irrational about something that’s important to you.

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Toomuchtrouble4me · 20/03/2023 19:28

I would give away my new Prada pumps before I let a child play with my Sindy’s.
just say ‘No, they are my collection and they are not to be played with.’

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Missingpop · 20/03/2023 19:31

The real reason your cousin wants to get her sweaty paws on it is because she knows it’s worth a few quid politely tell her to fuck off & that when they are sold on they will be sold for the benefit of you & yours not her & hers !!!

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flame69 · 20/03/2023 20:03

YANBU, tell her to fuck off.. I'm 53 with a huge Disney collection all boxed up in the loft. Ain't nobody touching it, it's mine! I don't display it or use it but it doesn't mean I'm going to give it away, hell, I won't even sell it.
Tell her to dig deep and go buy that expensive stuff herself, then just for shits and giggles, ask her if you can have it for free 😂

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Trudij123 · 20/03/2023 20:24

SoMuchToBits · 20/03/2023 15:25

We have a portaloo! As well as Norman the Foreman's portakabin. Very useful when you've had one or two Playmobil blue wines...

Somehow I read that as Norman’s foreskin

🫣🫣🤦🏼‍♀️

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SoMuchToBits · 20/03/2023 21:04

@Trudij123 hilarious! Grin

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T1Dmama · 20/03/2023 21:50

Just say ‘sorry, I know it’s a long standing joke about my attachment. To the playmobil, but I didn’t even let my own DSs play with it…
I won’t be letting anyone have it, I hope to display it again one day.

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SchoolTripDrama · 21/03/2023 10:47

Not unreasonable to not give to cousin’s child but VU to not let your own kids play with it 😳 What on earth are you saving it for if not for your own kids???

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SchoolTripDrama · 21/03/2023 10:48

Sweaty? Hmm

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toomuchlaundry · 21/03/2023 11:04

What enjoyment do people get from toy collections boxed up and never seen? Will it stay in boxes until you die? What poor sod is going to have to then decide what to with it. More than likely the children who were never allowed to play with or look at it!

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whumpthereitis · 21/03/2023 11:25

toomuchlaundry · 21/03/2023 11:04

What enjoyment do people get from toy collections boxed up and never seen? Will it stay in boxes until you die? What poor sod is going to have to then decide what to with it. More than likely the children who were never allowed to play with or look at it!

I don’t understand what enjoyment people get from camping, but that doesn’t mean it’s a mental stretch to figure out that not everyone shares my preferences, and that my understanding isn’t actually essential.

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toomuchlaundry · 21/03/2023 11:28

@whumpthereitis but wouldn’t the equivalent of someone who likes their boxed collection of playmobil be someone who enjoys camping but just having the tent in the loft until they die

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whumpthereitis · 21/03/2023 11:33

toomuchlaundry · 21/03/2023 11:28

@whumpthereitis but wouldn’t the equivalent of someone who likes their boxed collection of playmobil be someone who enjoys camping but just having the tent in the loft until they die

No, the point is entirely that you aren’t required to understand why or how someone else enjoys something, and that their enjoyment isn’t depending on your understanding.

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whumpthereitis · 21/03/2023 11:33

*dependent

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SoMuchToBits · 21/03/2023 11:39

The OP states in her second post that she would have it all out on display if she had somewhere to put it, but she doesn't currently. It's not that she wants to keep it boxed up permanently.

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