Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Original poster

Gimp masks and grandparents

19 replies

tus · 27/12/2011 12:31

Can you be a friend to your children at the same time as being a parent or does the parent-child relationship prevail above that of friendship?

OP posts:
deemented · 27/12/2011 12:32

Eh???

Scoundrel · 27/12/2011 12:33

Parenting comes first. My grandparents didn't own gimp masks that I know of.

chubbybunny · 27/12/2011 12:34

Gimp masks and grandparents work well unless they smoke a pipe.

Original poster
tus · 27/12/2011 12:40

PS if you are wondering what the thread title is about - I was at a friends [40 somethings] house recently, and while talking to their 70+ year old parents [i.e. the grandparents, though the grandchildren were playing uptairs] they mentioned gimp masks. The grandparents were either being polite or were familiar with the term cause they mentioned them too and didn't ask what they were.

Now maybe I'm to ... um ... something [can't work out right word] ... but I couldn't mention gimp masks to my parents [and I'm a 40 something and they are 70 something +]. So have I got the "parent/child" v "parents as friends" relationship wrong? Could you use the term gimp mask infront of your parents?

OP posts:
Scoundrel · 27/12/2011 12:41

Well no, I couldn't because they're both dead. Would I have done if they were alive? Yes, probably, in the context of joking around. Not in terms of having used them or asking if they used them. (I haven't and neither did they, I think)

LynetteScavo · 27/12/2011 12:44

Well, my mother is only my parent, not my friend. She always wanted it that way. Her loss. She still insists on parenting me. There is no need. I am a proper grown up now.

Gay40 · 27/12/2011 12:47

I could, but not in a conversation about my own sexual practices. Say for example (hypothetical conversation) my friend had got his wife one for Christmas.

I'm not a prude either, nor repressed or any such like, but my parents are not my friends. There's a clear boundary.

I was once going somewhere with my grandmother, listening to Radio 4 when they mentioned blowjobs, and I thought she was going to crash the car in shock Grin

WhingingNinja · 27/12/2011 12:49

I could talk about anything with my parents. Gimp masks are conversed about often. Thankfuly neither of mine have ever admitted their use.

I would hope very much that my children never grow up thinking there is anything they are unable to speak to me about.

Scoundrel · 27/12/2011 12:50

Lynette, be careful what you wish for! In the years between my dad dying and my mum dying, when she was alone, my mum was very keen to be my friend rather than my mother. It was like the roles reversed in many ways and I didn't like it at all . I didn't want her to be my friend, I wanted my mum back! I drew the line when she asked me where she could get a vibrator. Bleurgh.

hellsbells76 · 27/12/2011 12:50

You've reminded me of the time we were visiting my (elderly, Irish, devoutly Catholic) grandparents. There was something on tv involving a chap tightly trussed up in bondage gear and suspended from the ceiling. My granny drily remarked 'Jaysus, if that's what it takes for him to get it up, he can go without.'

Shock and then Grin was our reaction...

ThompsonTwins · 27/12/2011 12:55

Every generation invents sex and the preceeding generations know nothing about it. Ha ha ha - love your story hellsbells

eandz · 27/12/2011 13:16

gimp masks have been around for quite a while.

lazarusinNazareth · 27/12/2011 17:32

I can talk to either of my parents about anything- although my Mum would be more uncomfortable about it. Don't necessarily go into personal details though. I also used to talk to my Grandmother about sex and my ds (21) has had some very open conversations with me too.

We might be a bit weird but it's better than pretending it never happens though, like DH's family!

lemonstartree · 27/12/2011 17:37

sorry - what's a gimp mask ?

Bunbaker · 27/12/2011 17:43

OK, so I don't know what a gimp mask is. What I do know is that gimp is a photo editing software that you can download for free from the internet. I use it at work.

Bunbaker · 27/12/2011 17:50

It's OK. I did a quick google after I posted. Thanks anyway.

Hassledge · 27/12/2011 17:50

Yes, I think I probably could have talked gimp masks with my father. He was endlessly curious and had no qualms about discussing anything and everything - I remember a long conversation with him and Ex-H re why some poos float and others don't. And I'm quite sure my adult DCs (early 20s) would discuss gimp masks with me should they feel the need :o.

I think it's less to do with blurring of generations/friendships replacing the standard parent role etc and much more to do with the personalities of the people involved. If you grow up in a house where the floatiness of some turds versus others is freely discussed then you're going to feel comfortable discussing most things.

Original poster
tus · 28/12/2011 01:30

@bunbaker Gimp mask is an alpha channel used in Gimp if that helps :)

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page