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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To remove teen son's Netflix sofa

57 replies

cotswoldsblue · 10/01/2026 20:43

We have family friends with a house in Cornwall and a flat in Plymouth. They use the flat in Plymouth during the week- the dad needs to work Tuesday-Thursday so he comes to Plymouth Monday night and leaves Thursday night, and the mum comes as well so she isn't alone in the Cornwall house. The son, 17, stays full time in the flat in Plymouth where he goes to college. They are spare key holders for my flat as I live in the city, so I go to the flat once a month or so.

There's a large kitchen with a big table, where I'm usually invited to have a cup of tea, and a small sitting room a bit out of the way with two armchairs and a sofa. When the son is alone, he likes to lie on the sofa and watch Netflix on his laptop. It's pretty old and dilapidated, with rips, so he's put cushions and a blanket on it.

The mum wants to get rid of the sofa as it's an eyesore, and add another chair instead- they're not there enough really to warrant the expense of a whole new sofa they don't see or use. I guess occasionally they might invite guests through to the sitting room instead of the kitchen for a cup of tea/drink before dinner, and the sofa looks a bit shabby to do so, but their friends are mostly in Cornwall instead of the city base. That means the son will be sofa less and his only lying down option will be his bedroom, and he likes to keep that screen free to help his sleep. Thinking about it, the mum's well within her rights to get rid of the sofa as it's her house, and I think she's worried about the time the son spends lying down as he's overweight and inactive, but the son is there more often and I guess what he says about not wanting the screen in his room is fair enough, and him not being comfortable wouldn't make him move more. AIBU to raise this or is the mum totally in the right?

OP posts:
cotswoldsblue · 10/01/2026 22:18

cramptramp · 10/01/2026 22:06

If he’s 17 and overweight the less time he spends lying horizontally, the better. She should have got rid of it ages ago. But I don’t know if you realise, it is possible to watch Netflix whilst sitting in a chair. Which is what he’ll do.

Oh interesting take!

I'm not sure if that will just push him up to lying down in his bedroom and make him depressed though? He does seem quite sensible saying no screens for sleep association reasons. Yes I KNOW having separate rooms is a privilege before I get a pile on about that, I turn on my laptop first thing from my bed :)

Netflix in an armchair is do-able I guess. I personally do lie on my bed and wouldn't sit up watching it, but I think sitting in a chair is better for posture so maybe I should turn over a new leaf!

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INeedAnotherName · 10/01/2026 22:32

But it's lightweight and portable! He can move it to his bedroom or cupboard when his parents are there and will help with his weight issues. Win, win!
It can be stored under sofas, beds, or desks, and used while working

cotswoldsblue · 10/01/2026 22:39

If he wants to lie on a sofa rather than sitting in a chair watching Netflix I doubt he’ll be interested in watching Netflix on a treadmill when he gets home from college 😂 but good call!

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Goldenbear · 10/01/2026 23:11

How mean, so he's 17 on his own in the week an she's being petty about a sofa!

cotswoldsblue · 10/01/2026 23:15

Goldenbear · 10/01/2026 23:11

How mean, so he's 17 on his own in the week an she's being petty about a sofa!

Yeah :( She says the son has caused wear and tear on the sofa by lying on it and so she doesn't want him in the room lying on any sofa full stop. The old sofa with all his fleece blankets doesn't look great for guests ( it's too dilapidated really to not have the blankets on it) but there are barely any guests. The mum when she's there for a few days I think does sewing in the small room etc so it's for her eyes as well though. However they're not in the flat enough to replace a sofa just for the occasional guest anyway.

Again, see both sides so I was curious!

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