DH letting kids ride bikes in living room

[ZforZebra]

DH bought youngest DC4 a bike today without letting me know - I was unwell and resting when she woke me up to show me. DC doesn’t know how to ride, and he hadn’t bought a helmet. He didn’t realize the ones we have are not working as the straps are broken. DC4 was very excited despite having fallen once already and bumping her head. The bike seems too big as well but I let it go and told them both not to use it until we got some helmets.

I went back to bed and DH went to pick DC6 up from a play date. I woke up to shrieks and realized both DC were riding the bike in circles round the living room unsupervised. DH had moved all the furniture to the middle of the room. My plant was completely damaged because they’d crashed into it. He was upstairs playing on his computer.

When I confronted him he said he thought it was fine, because they wanted to ride and he “didn’t want to take them outside.”. I am furious for so many reasons. First that he was letting them ride round unsupervised with no helmets. Second that my beautiful plant is now destroyed (he said a cursory sorry but clearly doesn’t give a crap). And third that he bought them the bike but wasn’t prepared to take proper responsibility for supervising them on it. So he opted to let them do something so stupid - obstacle course in living room for two kids who don’t really know how to ride!? Finally I am unwell and it feels like I can’t just rest in peace, I now can’t relax as the living room is a mess and I am so angry, its almost like weaponized incompetence - how could any parent think this was sensible? He keeps insisting that the living room is flat and it’s not a big deal, that I am overreacting. AIBU?

Fuck, no. My line is outside toys/equipment go outside. That includes balls. Bikes wouldn’t even be questioned. They are OUTSIDE equipment. DH needs to get himself and kids down to Halfords or somewhere to get proper helmets pronto. And chains. And a new plant while he is out, too.

And then he gets to stand in the street until that kid can ride!

I’m not again kids getting bikes. Like swimming, riding a bike is a life skill. I grew up when, without a bike, you went nowhere. However, like potty training, time and attention is needed so a discussion between mum and dad needs to be had to allocate that time.

I’d be cross that he was gaming when supposed to be looking after children, he should at least be around and on hand.

But I wouldn’t be upset at the living room riding. DH does things like this occasionally, he’s enormous fun and I’m quite serious. So while I feel a little uncomfortable over time I’ve learn to stand back and appreciate the experience the children are having. But he would be fully committed and supervising, not gaming upstairs!

You have a Disney Dad on your hands,

Oh gosh.

The kid next door rode his bike into their patio door that was off the living room and shattered it - he was only about 3 at the time.

It's a good job it was safety glass so it all stayed in, but it could've been really nasty.

I bet they had loads of fun though. Wouldn't have bothered me.

YANBU he's a fucking idiot and lazy father.

Nope. No outdoor toys to be allowed inside ever. Not even balls.

Bikes are outside toys - see also hard footballs and cricket balls!

You're not a fun suck for expecting people not to do stuff that has the potential to damage your TV, plants, carpet.

Other forms of entertainment are available.

Outside toys outside. Having said that I would probably let them do it once as s novelty but supervised. He's a lazy arse.

I'm assuming you live in Downton Abbey to have a living room big enough for a velodrome.
But hell no would this be happening in my house.

ok HE clears up, HE replaces your plant. He stops gaming and takes proper care of his children. Is he always a dickhead?

He’s a lazy idiot. Of course it’s not ok to let kids ride bike in the lounge. You’re unwell he needs to take them out.

In letting the children ride their bicycles in the living room, without helmets whilst he's somewhere else on his gameboy, your"D"H has proved that he's a lazy, feckless thoughtless father. Has he any redeeming features?
I hope that you feel better soon.

This made me laugh 😆. Our living room is normal sized unfortunately. I went downstairs and looked at my poor plant again and honestly wanted to cry. It’s completely wrecked, not even sure how to salvage it. I’ve been growing it for over 4 years!!!

DC were watching TV and apologized but I told them I wasn’t upset with them I was upset with their dad for letting them do something so silly. I am so angry!!!!! I still can’t believe he could be so thoughtless and stupid. And him trying to act like I’m a fun sponge/overreacting to detract from his irresponsibility is even more infuriating. He’s taking them out for dinner now. I am laid in bed googling how to fix destroyed olive plants. Thanks all for validating my rage!

Think how much fun they could have had if their dad had given them his time and attention and taken them out so they could ride properly? And then the living room wouldn't have got trashed, the plant would still be alive and the kids would have had experienced some good parenting from him.

I admit that I'm another one who thought, "How big is your living room?!" You might get away with riding bikes indoors if you live in Buckingham Palace, but perhaps not your average house!

Also, I hope that if he has taken the DC out for dinner, that he brings you something back to apologise (even if you're not up to eating right now!).

Did he put the living room back properly or did you?
Is he buying you a new plant or working to fix it?

I absolutely agree with everything you’ve said.

He’s not taking responsibility, he’s not taking accountability and he sounds like an immature boy. Brilliant.

They didn't have helmets to ride outside though. Its not worth getting annoyed over as a one off.

It would have been bad enough if he had been supervising them doing it but to set it up for them and then leave them to it, is really bad.