Who was right here?

[Rofhdj]

I went to a child’s party today. The birthday boy turned five. One guest was his seven year old cousin.

Birthday boy was given a gift from another guest and opened it. Ten minutes or so later his cousin began opening it and said he wanted to play with it. The birthday boy objected and the cousin was told not to play with it until bb had opened it and played with it, and was told to give it to bb.

Which is unreasonable?

YABU - birthday boy should get to play with it first and it was right to stop the cousin
YANBU - the cousin was doing no harm and bb wasn’t playing with it

Fuck me. I’ve already explained the relationships.

A 7 year old should be able to wait to play with his 5 year old's cousin's birthday presents.

You've presented this in a way that suggests you're supporting the 7 year old being allowed to open and play with his 5 year old cousin's new toys.

There are toys to play with already available. Opening a birthday present should be for the birthday child. The toy belongs to the newly 5 year old. Let the 7 year old play with all the other toys - even if the 5 year old hasn't touched the gift yet, it's his, and should be set aside for him to play with when he wants to.

It’s such a big deal though.

I just felt a bit sorry for him. Clearly the grandparents were right though.

Yes, agreed, and even at 55 I’d be seriously pissed off if someone opened a perfume gift to me and used it/smelled it before me. The lack of understanding of manners, boundaries and respect for others here is astounding!

Gift is for the birthday boy. Cousin needs to wait and be reminded that on his birthday he gets presents

I think this is a bit dramatic. It’s a kid trying to play with a toy.

It wasn’t his present to unbox. Part of the fun for the BB is taking his toys out of the box and looking at them for the first time.
I don’t feel sorry for the cousin being told to get off it.

The cousin is quite obviously your child isn’t it? Or you wouldn’t care this much.

Counts slowly to ten

I’ve already explained the relationships. Just read the posts.

Cousin should not have been even handling the presents, let alone trying to play with them. Was there nothing else for him to do at this party? Has he been taught that as the eldest he gets priority over his younger cousins?

ive read them, I just don’t believe you

If not you’re just weirdly invested. I wouldn’t have given this a second thought especially if my child wasn’t involved.

I’ve posted under different usernames numerous times about having no children if you want to ask Mumsnet to check.

Well, good for you.

Was the 7 year old yours?

There was loads for him to do. I don’t think he was being malicious, I think he just got his eye on it.

I’m not really sure where it comes from. I only see him once a year or so at nephew’s party. I know he’s going through a very naughty phase though.

No.

Nope, it’s basic manners. Which responsible adults have usually tried to teach a kid of 7.

Our job isn’t not to upset kids. Our job is to make kids grow up into nice pleasant humans. Parents or grandparents who are scared to upset their kids end up raising little shits that can’t handle when someone tells them no. Grandparents were right.

You keep adding to the story.

He was "dragged off" by his grandparents after trying to lock himself in a bathroom?

Were his parents present? How was this resolved? What are you actually trying to get out of this thread?

Not bathroom. Bedroom. That had nothing to do with the initial post though. Parents weren’t there. No idea how it was resolved.

I didn’t know we had to get something out of a thread.

Cousin was in the wrong (well their parents were, who should have firmly removed them away from the presents and explained they were Birthday Boys as soon as they went to play with them). Of course cousin doesn't get to unbox and play with Birthday Boys presents until he's played with them.

Very poor parenting from cousin's parents, and well done Gran for calling out cousins bad behaviour.

As it was BB's present and he chose not to let his cousin play with it, then his wishes should be followed.

The parents weren’t there to be fair to them.