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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to give up Narnia?

374 replies

dobermeister · 21/03/2023 10:48

When DD was a toddler I created a Narnia in her room. Basically there was an adjoining room from her bedroom, I removed the door, put a wardrobe on either side, and made the other room into Narnia. It has snowy woodland painted on all the walls, a bookcase, cushions on the floor and is basically a “snug”. DD adores in still and is always in there.

DH now wants to get rid of Narnia and turn it into a storeroom for DDs stuff. This is totally unnecessary as we have 3 other spare bedrooms as well as a cellar.

DD wants to keep Narnia. DH thinks it’s babyish and a waste of space as her bedroom is already a big room.

His issue is that his kids don’t have stuff like this at their mum’s house but that’s not mine or DDs fault is it?!

What do you think?

OP posts:
cava14una · 21/03/2023 11:06

Keep it as long as your DD wants it

CoconutJamSpongeAndPinkCustard · 21/03/2023 11:06

It doesn't matter how old she is.
And it doesn't matter whether his kids have a Narnia. (it doesn't sound like they'd want one anyway)
You let H sounds a bit joyless in this respect.
If your dad still wants it and there is no compelling reason to change it, I don't know why you would.

(I would also really like to see it 😜)

FinallyHere · 21/03/2023 11:07

His issue is that his kids don’t have stuff like this at their mum’s house

This is such a horrible attitude from him. I'm very sorry for you and DD that he takes this terrible approach.

I'm not sure I could get past him wanting to drag down DD's lifestyle so it isn't better than what his kids have at their mother's house.

Whatever happened to the approach that says 'in this house, we...'

CoconutJamSpongeAndPinkCustard · 21/03/2023 11:07
  • your dd

Damn you autocorrect

L1ttledrummergirl · 21/03/2023 11:07

Keep Narnia, make sure your dp is paying proper maintenance so his other dc have the same opportunities.

2013isback · 21/03/2023 11:07

I thought you were going to say your DD had outgrown Narnia and wanted to redecorate and you were sad about that. If she still loves and uses it, it would be crazy to let her be bullied or shamed out of it when there's no need. It doesn't sound like your husband (not sure if he's your daughter's dad, but guessing not?) has any real arguments, which is probably why he keeps saying random different things.

frazzledasarock · 21/03/2023 11:07

Is DD his child also?

he sounds like a disinterested crap parent.

he’d rather all his children have nothing than make an effort.

I’d keep Narnia. In fact if I can find a house big enough my forever home I’m gonig to build a Narnia too.

it’s such a clever imaginative idea!

pointythings · 21/03/2023 11:08

Your husband sounds like a major fun sponge - I mean, what's with not letting his own children decorate their rooms because it would be 'showing off'? Does he wear a hair shirt and deliberately leave the bread to get stale because you must all suffer?

Don't get rid of Narnia.

FetchezLaVache · 21/03/2023 11:08

He sounds like a shit dad, on two counts:

  1. Couldn't be arsed to help his children personalise their bedrooms at your house

  2. Wants his youngest child to give up a very special thing she adores to make him feel less guilty about #1.

You on the other hand sound amazing! I too would love to see a picture of Narnia and am so jealous of your DD!

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 21/03/2023 11:09

Keep Narnia.

Your dh sounds like a dickhead.

GoodChat · 21/03/2023 11:10

You're amazing and he's a knob.

Tinypetunia · 21/03/2023 11:12

A Narnia bedroom sounds amazing! I would have loved one when I was a child. Let her keep it.

MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 21/03/2023 11:12

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 21/03/2023 11:09

Keep Narnia.

Your dh sounds like a dickhead.

This. He's an arsehole.

DancyNancy · 21/03/2023 11:16

If you get rid of it can I have it?!

Amazing!!!!

Can't she store things in secret chests inside Narnia?

thesugarbumfairy · 21/03/2023 11:17

I think we could all do with a Narnia. Do not deprive your DD of it because your DH is a dick. She will probably love it forever.

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 21/03/2023 11:18

If your dd wants to keep it she should its her room it's nothing to do with him

Bunnyhascovidnoteggs · 21/03/2023 11:20

Sacrifice the twat to Aslan... And tell him he needs to remove dsc phone /tech /other until dd is old enough to have them as it isn't fair...

latetothefisting · 21/03/2023 11:21

If literally his only reason to get rid of narnia is to have more storage but surely she does store most of her stuff in her bedroom anyway? I can't work out how much extra stuff a child would need to be kept stored, it just seems a bit weird for that to be his reasoning. Can't you either have a sort out or buy something that will fit into the narnia theme (a big wooden trunk or just use the 2 wardrobes) and move what ever is in the outbuilding that's annoying him so much into narnia/her bedroom?

He is being unreasonable but it is also a bit ott for a child to essentially have 2 bedrooms and still need to store more stuff elsewhere in the house.

Marblessolveeverything · 21/03/2023 11:21

Well isn't he a little ray of sunshine. So this creative, thoughtful and child friendly project didn't even trigger him to pop up a few posters/set a particular colour scheme etc. And do even the score he wants DD's removed - eh nope!.

I would be asking him exactly what issue he has where he gets to dictates another persons decision on what suits them. ? Is he always so controlling - why is having a themed space childish ? I could be swayed if it was something like Peppa pig etc but Narnia is a classic tale which could appeal to any age?

IrrelevantNameChange · 21/03/2023 11:23

oh my GOD I want a Narnia room 😭😭😭

nokidshere · 21/03/2023 11:26

Keep Narnia, it doesn't sound like there are any space issues which would absolutely be the only reason for changing it (and even then if there really was no other options)

I painted a duck pond mural on sons wall when he was 2. It's still there 23yrs later and we paint round it when decorating. Yes it's babyish but it's his and he loves it so it stays. When he went to uni he took a picture of it and stuck it on his wall lol.

noimaginationforausername · 21/03/2023 11:26

IrrelevantNameChange · 21/03/2023 11:23

oh my GOD I want a Narnia room 😭😭😭

Same! And I'm 44 😂

JustMaggie · 21/03/2023 11:27

Keep Narmia! Who cares what his other kids have or don't have. That's his problem, not yours.

Livebythecoast · 21/03/2023 11:28

IrrelevantNameChange · 21/03/2023 11:23

oh my GOD I want a Narnia room 😭😭😭

Me too - sounds amazing!!

OP, keep your DD's Narnia room as long as she wants it.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/03/2023 11:29

How on Earth would decorating the other rooms for his kids have been 'showing off'? Confused
If the problem is that you have more disposable income to spend on your house than his other children's mother has on hers - how is making your house less nice of any advantage to anyone? Maybe he should pay to redecorate their rooms in her house as a present to them or something... I just can't figure out his mindset beyond 'dog in the manger'.

There's no reason whatever to spoil Narnia.