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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:
TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 21/03/2023 13:35

TuesdayJulyNever · 21/03/2023 13:05

Feed him nothing but Turkish Delight until he improves his attitude.

😂😂😂

butterfliedtwo · 21/03/2023 13:38

dobermeister · 21/03/2023 11:02

Exactly! When I told him to decorate their rooms he said it just looks like we’re showing off!?

Show quote history

He sounds utterly miserable, ugh. Keep Narnia.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 21/03/2023 13:40

Keep Narnia

Give up DH

i am half joking

GoodChat · 21/03/2023 13:45

LittleLegsKeepGoing · 21/03/2023 13:34

Extra suggestion - convert your cellar into Mordor and tell your husband he can be a miserable Orc down there tenuous link based on CS Lewis and Tolkien being friends

Hahaaaa!

Lovelyring · 21/03/2023 13:47

That sounds amazing! I don't understand why you'd get rid of it if she loves it and uses it.

If she has so much stuff that an extra room is needed to store it though, could you and DD compromise with DH by having a huge declutter? Thus no storage room required.

Santasoorplooms · 21/03/2023 13:50

Your DD’s Narnia sounds utterly amazing. YANBU

SemperIdem · 21/03/2023 13:50

What a strange man.

Couldn’t be arsed with his older children so wants to make sure his younger child doesn’t have this lovely thing too.

YoungBritishPissArtist · 21/03/2023 13:50

Oh, it sounds magical! I would love to see a photo.

kittensinthekitchen · 21/03/2023 13:57

You have what sounds like one child in a house that has at least seven bedrooms. He wants to take away something she loves to make a storage room?

Eh?

Greensage · 21/03/2023 13:57

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?!

I hate it when parents say that. His children have 2 bedrooms and 2 birthdays and toys in 2 houses. If anything they have more stuff than the kid who lives with both parents.

MysteryBelle · 21/03/2023 13:58

Don’t ever change it! Why?? CS Lewis would approve of keeping it into adulthood, ‘when I became a man I put away childish things including the desire to be grown up’ and also the reading fairy tales when you’re old quote.

Do not allow dh and others’ jealousy ruin your daughter’s Narnia snug. it would be a crime. That woodland magic is your love for daughter right in front of her eyes. Don’t take it away to make bitter people happy.

You’ve got plenty of bedrooms and storage. No need to.

MysteryBelle · 21/03/2023 13:59

I would question the marriage, Op. He sounds malicious to me.

Raineth · 21/03/2023 14:02

Definitely keep it until DD is old enough to want something else instead. Taking away such a wonderful thing is a huge deal for a child and quite cruel. I still remember my parents getting rid of my dolls house 😔

Your DH sounds controlling and like he resents your child having something so good and wants to drag her down to the level of his other kids. This is about him, not you or DD. Keep an eye on him, he sounds mean and nasty.

Raineth · 21/03/2023 14:04

Ps I know a grown man who recently made himself a secret room behind a bookcase. He uses it as a study and is thrilled to bits with it.

It isn’t childish to have a cool secret room - it’s just cool.

crimsonpeak · 21/03/2023 14:06

You’re amazing. Tell your DH that it’s staying!

Jonei · 21/03/2023 14:07

Keep Narnia. Get rid of DH.

Boogismyname · 21/03/2023 14:13

This is totally your DH's issue.
Decorating you child's room nicely and with love is not showing off.
You also have plenty of other rooms for storage, as you've said.

ZoeCM · 21/03/2023 14:15

I'm another one who would love this even as an adult!

Madcats · 21/03/2023 14:17

I have to say that there are some rather splendid designs on Pinterest.

Op, I do hope you have a standard lamp in the guise of a lampost.

MarshaBradyo · 21/03/2023 14:18

Crazy, yanbu just leave it.

WiddlinDiddlin · 21/03/2023 14:21

Team Narnia here - its her room, it sounds like you have sufficient rooms for all, and presumably when his now adult kids were her age they had decorated rooms somewhere and for some time had rooms with mum AND at yours so two lots of bedrooms...

If your DD wants to change it, thats another matter, but he can absolutely bog off until then!

WingingItSince1973 · 21/03/2023 14:22

Pinterest is now busy will middle age women like myself searching for Narnia a themed rooms! My youngest dd used to watch the Narnia movies over and over again. You have lots of room please keep her magical space for her xxx

WingingItSince1973 · 21/03/2023 14:22

With not will!

HermioneKipper · 21/03/2023 14:27

Keep it. He sounds like a complete misery

Notjustabrunette · 21/03/2023 14:27

Your husband sounds like a bit of a kill joy.