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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU that my child is not the unusual one !

279 replies

Lostmymarbles25 · 03/10/2023 14:36

group mum chat today and we were discussing the birthday parties coming up and Christmas ( they do a class secret Santa ) quite a few were suggesting the girls wanted vouchers for Sephora etc for some face cream routine stuff and some kind of elephant cream 😅 they have just gone in to year 5 so mainly 9 approaching 10.
I was explaining that for DD that she would be happy with any sort of squishy / anime surprise bags / fidget toys / rocks. This was described as unusual ?
I don’t think it’s that unusual - she would not know what Sephora is or the difference in face creams !
will she start to fall behind in what her peers are growing in to ? If I suggested face cream for Christmas she would probably cry 😂😂😂
she is not in to her dolls as much anymore but more like Sanrio character / anime figures / slime / fidgets / art sets / rocks / mini brands / mini verse etc
I don’t remember it being this unusual at this age.

OP posts:
SherbetDips · 03/10/2023 14:39

She sounds like a Normal 9/10 year old. The only thing I could think a 9/10 year old might want from a shop like that is lip balm or nail polish.

BabyofMine · 03/10/2023 14:41

Sounds absolutely normal, grown adults encouraging expensive face creams for 9 years olds and shaming a mother for their child liking age-appropriate toys should be ashamed of themselves.

piscesangel · 03/10/2023 14:46

I had my eyes opened to this only this weekend - we had a shopping trip with my 11 year old niece (so a little older than your DD but not much) and she wanted to head to Space NK to look at Drunk Elephant and other skincare. We were taken aback but when we got there we were fighting through crowds of tweens! It seems times are definitely changing

PuttingDownRoots · 03/10/2023 14:51

My 12yo would look at you as if you were bonkers.
10yo likes a bit of eye shadow or lip gloss but has no idea on brands.

Most of their friends seem similar

Sunshineclouds11 · 03/10/2023 14:53

All down to tiktok!

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 03/10/2023 14:53

My 13 year old loves skincare and all the cult brands but in year 5 would have been the same as your DD so YANBU.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 03/10/2023 14:54

Your DD definitely doesn't sound unusual. Even my 15yr old wouldn't have a clue about Sephora!

margotrose · 03/10/2023 14:55

I remember messing around with make-up and skincare at that age - I don't think it's hugely unusual for 9-10 year olds to want to play at being a grown up.

ohdamnitjanet · 03/10/2023 14:56

BabyofMine · 03/10/2023 14:41

Sounds absolutely normal, grown adults encouraging expensive face creams for 9 years olds and shaming a mother for their child liking age-appropriate toys should be ashamed of themselves.

Exactly.

Notagains · 03/10/2023 14:56

I would way a nine year old wanting face cream is very unusual and also very sad.
They are still young children they shouldn't be worrying about face cream!

ToriCostner · 03/10/2023 14:57

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TheGoogleMum · 03/10/2023 14:57

I would have been more like your DD (in fact i still am!). Face cream is a very boring present to me.

Wolvesart · 03/10/2023 14:57

Oh gosh, they really should be kids a bit younger and the parents attitude towards a child with more appr interests, eeek 😦

I do feel blessed to be the mother of a boy. I would not cope with purchasing expensive skin creams and feel seriously upset about leg shaving in the under 14 category 😂

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 03/10/2023 14:57

My just turned 10 year old was thrilled with Crafting sets, Lego, a squishy key ring etc for her birthday. She likes a face mask or sparkly nail varnish, but Sephora? Nope.

Finteq · 03/10/2023 14:59

Sunshineclouds11 · 03/10/2023 14:53

All down to tiktok!

Glad mine isn't on tiktok.

She doesn't know any of these brands

BoohooWoohoo · 03/10/2023 14:59

Your dd sounds normal. My dd is 20 now and would have wanted the same as yours at age 9. She started experimenting with makeup in year 6 but until then only had pedicures at home and manicures at sleepovers.
The other girls wanting Sephora vouchers is very sad and probably indicative or what they watch on YouTube (makeup content for adults)

Finteq · 03/10/2023 14:59

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Same?

sillymd · 03/10/2023 15:00

She sounds pure like children should be

Yes I had cleanser at like 11, that bloody stingy stuff I think it was called clearasil,

Looking back I reckon it's what gave me little zits

Preserve her childhood, we have so so so much to worry about as adults in terms of our image

She's not unusual, she's pure!

Wolvesart · 03/10/2023 15:01

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It’s rather an inappropriate name for a product beloved of tweens. Also, odd name for skincare on so many levels …. elephants not known for their beautiful smooth skin, drunkeness-skincare what’s the relevance, implies not very good skincare. Ok enough overthinking 😂

Sehenswürdigkeiten · 03/10/2023 15:01

margotrose · 03/10/2023 14:55

I remember messing around with make-up and skincare at that age - I don't think it's hugely unusual for 9-10 year olds to want to play at being a grown up.

Not with all the really expensive brands though!

thaegumathteth · 03/10/2023 15:01

Dd is into all the skincare etc but she's just turned 13. Definitely wasn't at 9/10.

Gymmum82 · 03/10/2023 15:03

My 9yo would want the same as yours. She’s no interest in make up or skin care. She’d also be happy with barbies

Sehenswürdigkeiten · 03/10/2023 15:03

Wolvesart · 03/10/2023 14:57

Oh gosh, they really should be kids a bit younger and the parents attitude towards a child with more appr interests, eeek 😦

I do feel blessed to be the mother of a boy. I would not cope with purchasing expensive skin creams and feel seriously upset about leg shaving in the under 14 category 😂

Some boys are getting more and more into this too, perhaps at a slightly later age and to less extreme levels.

waterrat · 03/10/2023 15:03

I have a year 5 daughter and they ask for cuddlies squishies or art stuff etc at parties ive been to !

samupnorth · 03/10/2023 15:04

Sunshineclouds11 · 03/10/2023 14:53

All down to tiktok!

This exactly. Our children (and our credit cards ) are being taken for a ride by influencers. It’s embarrassing how easily we are conned.