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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect my DH to put together our DD's wooden kitchen before giving it to her?

20 replies

mumoverseas · 01/10/2008 09:12

she is two today and we bought her a beautiful wooden kitchen from ELC. Bought it 4 months ago as we knew it was the one we wanted to get so he has had months to put it together. Last night he commented that he thought we'd wrap it up as it is in the box (flat packed!) and give it to her! I threw a wobbly (accused of being hormonal and silly as pregnant) and eventually he put it together (after about 3 hours of scratching head and cursing!)
Am I unreasonable to want my daughter to be able to play with her birthday present immediately?

OP posts:
LadyMuck · 01/10/2008 09:19

Oh dear, you are definitely not at all unreasonable!

Has he also bought her an electric screwdriver or something?

Perhaps he is hoping that the box itself will be enough entertainment whilst he/you put it together?!

Original poster
mumoverseas · 01/10/2008 09:35

thank you for the reassurance ladymuck, was starting to think it was me!
He would probably be tempted to buy her a whole set of bosch powertools but he hasn't yet. He did actually comment that she would probably have more fun playing with the box! men!

OP posts:
cockles · 01/10/2008 09:37

is there some reason you couldn't have put it together yourself?

Original poster
mumoverseas · 01/10/2008 09:41

well for a start, he is the one with all the expensive power tools, which I am not allowed to touch. Also, it is 'mans work' (his words, not mine) and I am the one that does the majority of the child care and very rarely have 10 minutes to shave my legs let alone an hour or so to put together toys. Also, I'm pregnant so I imagine if I did attempt to do it myself I would be told off! Do I have to justify why I can't do it?

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 01/10/2008 09:42

I have found my marriage has improved ten fold by doing the flat packs myself. I do them pretty much as soon as they are delivered (and they are surprisingly easy to do) not the months it used to take for my DH to get off his arse.

My Dh always expected around of applause when he did any DIY. I now do it myself, quicker, easier and more often than not I do a better job.

WaynettaSlob · 01/10/2008 09:44

I'd have done it myself......

cockles · 01/10/2008 09:44

I just can't quite imagine a toy kitchen being so difficult to put together that a pregnant woman can't do it, even without power tools! Still, maybe ELC has got too sophisticated.

colander · 01/10/2008 09:45

I don't let DH anywhere near stuff like that. Bless him, very bright, but let's just say not practical. So I'd have done it myself too!

WeeBesom · 01/10/2008 09:45

I would have done it myself too, sorry. Can't bear the fus that guys make building things!

Original poster
mumoverseas · 01/10/2008 10:03

actually it was quite complicated! It took my DH and my 15 year old DS around 3 hours to do. think the safest option in future is to buy ready assembled stuff. Either that or perhaps someone could volunteer to look after my 2 year old whilst sniggering at my attempts to do it myself.

OP posts:
WeeBesom · 01/10/2008 10:14

I would probably give up half way through then! Why do they make these things so complicated?

Hope your wee one has a lovely birthday and enjoys her present xx

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 01/10/2008 10:20

very sad here I LOVE flat packs It's like lego for grown ups, dh knows the rules he's not allowed anywhere near unless I need a body to hold something!!!!!!!

Has improved the situation and his mood considerably, as I accept it's just not his strong point!!

give it a go mumoverseas you might be fighting him off the next one ( and if you're better than him then at "man's work"!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/10/2008 10:33

snap Doris!
My finest moment was when I put a 10ft trampoline complete with enclosure together by myself. Springs were a bit challenging but even now I look at it and think 'I did that!'

Simplysally · 01/10/2008 10:34

Not unreasonable to be miffed he wanted to wrap it as it was but I'd have probably bought my own tools to start it myself. Then leave a heap of wooden bits for my DP to sort out .

WeeBesom · 01/10/2008 10:34

The last time my dp built a chest of drawers he put a hole right in the top of them. I'd think twice before letting him build something again!

QuintessentialShadows · 01/10/2008 10:36

I dont know, I would have given it flatpacked, as I would not want to deprive my sons of the pleasure and excitement of seing it built. Then it is not just a toy, but something he is part of, he sees the toy "come to life" and it is special time spent with daddy building it. This far outweights playing with it right away.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/10/2008 10:48

ooo - hadnt thought of it like that QS

Original poster
mumoverseas · 01/10/2008 12:14

Weebesom, thank you for your kind message for my DD. she is having her pm nap now and kitchen is all assembled downstairs ready for when she wakes up. I'm sure she will love it.

QS, I'm sure you are right with older kids but at 2 years old I don't think she'd be excited about seeing it built and would probably swallow most of the nuts and bolts and chew on any piece of wood she could find (molars coming through!) Also, I'd be a bit worried about the 'new' words she'd have picked up if she'd witnessed daddy putting it together! lots of cussing going on!

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 01/10/2008 12:48

I guess that whether this is quality time or not depends on the age of the child and the building abilities of the grown up, lol!

Simplysally · 01/10/2008 12:53

My dd watched my Dad assemble her first desk - she was 2 at the time - which was later given to her for Christmas. She was fascinated but she was one side of the glass door and the desk/Dad was the other side .

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