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

[Qantaqa]

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?

Why should the OP jump through hoops to find sets online? That's the job of the child's mother.

Again, SO tired of women having to do fucking backflips to placate entitled CFs. It's about time the CFs just learn how to deal with the word "No."

I thought op insinuated they would like to do this and would like to play playmobil with their DN. that’s why I suggested it.

Of course it shouldn’t be expected, just tone of the Ops posts suggest they do want to engage with the DN with playmobil just not risks their own sets.

I’m with you OP. I have lots of childhood stuff stored away. I like knowing I have it so even if I don’t use it it’s not going anywhere.

I think this is a really good lesson for your neice to learn about setting and maintaining boundaries, and that's how you should approach it if/when it comes up in conversation with her.

I recently bought the Victorian mansion house and all the bits to go with it for £20 on marketplace, surely your cousin can have a search if she’s desperate to get some!

YANBU lots of people collect things like this.

Bit mean of your cousin to let her child think she’s going to play with this treasure trove of toys she’s not allowed to touch.

This 👍

YANBU.

I was talked into giving away my Sindys (lovely 70s ones, used and imperfect and loved, but mine) and I regretted it for ever. I spent a lot of time and money searching ebay and replacing some of the same dolls and clothes, because I regretted it so much. The replacements aren't quite the same though, because they aren't MY Sindys. Don't let them pressure you.

I did exactly the same with regards to Sindy. Now Dd is done with the superhome and its getting moved to my room.

I would just say ‘it got broke last time I let someone play with it and I’m sorry but I won’t allow it to happen again’

I hear you OP. I was the same with my Sylvainian families

Tell her that you are keeping for your grandchildren.

Ds has boxes and boxes of Lego. All unopened all sat untouched and bubble wrapped and boxed up in various locations around the house. To him it is an investment.

I'd go with the 'it's also so old I'm not sure it wouldn't just snap'

There was an article about the safety of the plastic of vintage Lego and if it's over 20 years old I'm not sure it would handle being played with

Honestly we're entitled to be irrational as we like with our own toys abs belongings. The people giving the op are totally missing the point .

Here you go, tell her you're keeping her safe:

www.gu.se/en/news/a-health-risk-to-reuse-old-toys

What lovely memories, no wonder your attached to it. Your suggestion for a message sounds perfect. You’re allowed to have precious things, just because it’s unusual doesn’t make you unreasonable.

YANBU. I would be very careful about letting anyone except ds (who is now 22) play with my Playmobil, and certainly wouldn't give it away! It wasn't my childhood toy though, but ds's, although I have added a fair number of new sets since he stopped using it himself. It's a large collection and lives in boxes in the shed, although some of it comes out from time to time when I want to make scenes with it, so it does get used (by me)!

Whether or not she understands why you want to give it away, the fact is you've said no and I'd say it more strongly if necessary.

You had it on display

jesus weird

Totally understand. I’ve still got my 4 Gotz Sasha dolls from the 1970s all safely boxed up in my attic. Nobody gets to play with them, not even my DDs did.

I don’t think it’s irrational. It’s yours, you’re not sharing, end of. I’d say “love to chat later, definitely not about playmobil though, that’s staying boxed up and it’s not up for discussion or negotiation. Anyway we must get together soon, what time are you calling?”

Yanbu at all but I'm confident thr quickest and easiest way to sort it out is to buy a couple of sets off Facebook. Or buy her a new set with a nice bow and tell her its to start her collection. You can always add to it every birthday/Christmas.

DO NOT LET ANYONE DISRESPECT YOU AND YOUR LOVE FOR PLAYMOBIL! yes, I am shouting 😆

Things like this often represent a 'perfect' time in our life. A time where the perfect fantasy world in the toy was controlled, no stress and everything was safe and cosy and fun and loving. Of course you don't want someone trashing that.