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AIBU?

To think not ALL kids have a paddling pool?

15 replies

MrsWinnibago · 23/07/2014 13:01

My dear Mum gets right on my nerves at times. She's just called me to say "I've bought you a paddling pool!"

She's also bought a large sandpit last week which I accepted with thanks though the garden is tiny and it's crammed in and large, blue and plastic when DH was going to make a nice wooden one. But I said thanks.

Anyway...she said "I've got a pool and I'll bring it tomorrow." and I said "no...Mum I don't want one...we live in a 2nd floor flat and I can't fill it up."

Use the hose out of the window she said.

I don't have a hose I said plus I'm on a water meter and a tight budget and the girls aren;t bothered about paddling pools...they go in for ten minutes and then dump it the second it has grass or muck in it.

Oh but EVERYONE has one and they NEED one! It's FAR TOO HOT for them not to have one!!!

All said in a sort of "And that's final!" voice.

Angry

I had to be really firm and say "Look keep it in your house until I get a hose...I don't want one at the moment. Or take it back...I can buy my own when I'm ready to."

You don't just do that do you? Buy something like that without asking first?

They have had them in the past but aren't fussed about them and never ask for one.

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HecatePropylaea · 23/07/2014 13:03

What a pain in the arse that sounds.

Well done for being so assertive!

Sounds like she just didn't think at all about the practicalities.

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Runwayqueen · 23/07/2014 13:05

Dd doesn't have a paddling pool, mainly because our rear garden has a massive rake to it, far too steep for one. Thankfully anybody who would consider buying dd one knows our garden and wouldn't bother.

Yanbu, you have explained your reasons to her, that should be the final word

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Picklepest · 23/07/2014 13:05

Mine don't. Both under 5. Freaking dangerous. If phone rings in kitchen smallest could drown. How will you cope if in a flat?

Man up. Say no.

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Jinty64 · 23/07/2014 13:06

Does she have a garden? They can use it at hers.

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AMumInScotland · 23/07/2014 13:07

YANBU. Nobody ought to buy big impractical things for someone else without actually knowing they want one, even if they don't live in an upstairs flat!

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MrsWinnibago · 23/07/2014 13:08

They don't really go to hers as she's always out...I feel bad but she seemed to accept it after a little fight on her part!

I see that she wants them to have something nice but it's so presumptuous to buy a big thing like that without checking. Particularly as she got them the sandpit last week!

I have literally no room! The garden is postage stamp sized and the shed is packed with stuff.

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Smartiepants79 · 23/07/2014 13:08

Well my mum often buys things for the girls without asking.
BUT she is extremely sensible and would never buy me a paddling pool if I lived in a flat! Or an enormous sand pit for a tiny garden.
I don't think I've ever had to send anything back. But she wouldn't mind if I did.

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ICanSeeTheSun · 23/07/2014 13:09

I have a garden that has room for a paddling pool, but my DC are not having 1.

They go in for 5-10 minutes get cold then don't bother with it leaving a pool that is turning green out side.

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TurboWithAKick · 23/07/2014 13:09

Is this the same mum who won't visit you?

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MrsWinnibago · 23/07/2014 13:10

That's it Sun mine just start tipping crap into them once they had a dip, yelled that it's too cold and got out again.

They don't really enjoy them.

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MrsWinnibago · 23/07/2014 13:12

turbo lol yes...she does visit but won't sit remember? She just wants to go to the garden!

Before you ask, no...my garden is not some gorgeous oasis that she can;t resist!

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PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 23/07/2014 13:13

Ds has a paddling pool and we have a large garden. It takes forever to blow up, forever to fill up and then ds spends 5 minutes in it before he gets bored and cold. Massive waste of time.

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makeminea6x · 23/07/2014 13:14

We don't use our pp, just a storage tub of water and our toddler is happy. She doesn't get in, just shifts it about with watering cans etc! Pp too much hassle to fill and as previous poster I do worry about her drowning if I got distracted!

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GingerRodgers · 23/07/2014 13:23

I love being ableto let dd have free reign of the garden while I get on with things (within sight) and I'd have to be with her constantly if we had a pool. I couldn't leave her so I'd hate it. Nice of her to want to get a present but I'd have wanted to be asked about that type/size of gift.

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MrsWinnibago · 23/07/2014 13:41

Making yes..I've found a storage tub better too! My youngest is 6 but still crams herself in...then gets out and floats things on it. A paddling pool takes up so much water then you end up with rank water and mosquitos!

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