Throwaway because family is on Reddit.
This happened over Christmas and it’s turning into a whole family drama.
My daughter “Sofia” (12) and her cousin “Martina” (6 – daughter of my sister “Maria” and her husband “Jose”) were gifted blind box Labubus as part of their Christmas gift from my other sister “Sara”. They each opened their boxes. Martina got a brown one and Sofia got a pink one.
Martina immediately wanted the pink one and Sofia immediately offered a trade because she already has the pink one and was hoping for the brown one. They traded, both girls were happy, and that was that….or so I thought.
Later, Martina’s parents found out from taking to someone that the brown Labubu is apparently a rare “secret” version that can sell for $250+.
Once they learned that, they called me said the girls needed to switch back and that Sofia was to return the brown one immediately. They even wanted me to drive over with it then and there despite the fact they live an hour away and it was already 8pm.
I asked if Martina actually wanted the brown one back. They said that wasn’t the point. After some pushing back, Jose admitted someone was willing to pay him $225 for the Brown one and give Martina the pink one she wants.
I said I wouldn’t force Sofia to swap back. From my perspective:
* Both kids were happy with the trade and got the Labubu they wanted.
* Sofia didn’t pressure or manipulate Martina into switching (if she had, I would have stepped in immediately and told her “you get what you get and you don’t get upset”).
* When I asked her, Sofia admitted she knew the brown one was rare, but when I asked how much they sell for, she said they are blind boxes so you can’t buy the brown, they just make less of them. She didn’t know it was worth money. She’s not a good liar, and she appeared to be telling the truth.
* Martina originally *didn’t* want the brown one and basically got upset when she saw Sofia got pink.
* It feels like Maria and Jose only want the brown one back because they can sell it and pocket money from it.
Now they’re upset with me and saying I’m being unfair and taking advantage of a 6-year-old and Jose even called Sofia a Manipulative B\*\*\*h which I think is a reach when Sofia didn’t know it was worth a lot of money, she just knew they were rare to pull, that she already had the pink and Martina was crying for the pink one.
Sara has said this is “stupid parent drama” and she’s staying out of it and said we can sort it out ourselves.
So AITA for refusing to make my daughter give the brown Labubu back?
EDIT: Jose called Sofia a Manipulative B\*\*\*h to me on the phone discussing it, not to Sofia’s face. He’d be a dead man walking if he said it to her.
NTA. I guarantee they wouldn’t switch if it was the other way around. They are being greedy and want to sell something not have it for their child.
Don’t take it from your daughter.
NTA They can find one online I’m sure if not then well they are out of luck. Me I don’t see what’s all the fuss over them but if a kid gets gifted something they should not be expected to return it
ESH
Ask your daughter to give it to them to sell and she can split the profits with them and get another dolly.
Calling your preteen daughter a manipulative b*tch? I wouldn’t be talking to them again until I got a serious apology for that comment alone, and even then I would be hesitant. NTA. It’s a toy, and toys are made to be enjoyed. Let the kids enjoy them.
They want the Labubu for themselves, not for their daughter
I’d have no contact with anyone who calls a 12 yo a b****
NTA.
NTA but i would allow them to trade back just to shut them up. It’s not worth the hassle for you and your daughter. They would have to drive to pick it up though. No way i’d spend time and effort to bring it to them. They want it, they can come take it.
Legally, parents have a right of veto for any exchange of 6yo, especially when it comes to trading an expensive item for something cheap, regardless of the intentions of the another party. The way both of you handled the communication is extremely immature and it will likely break the family ties between your lines for generations.
If their daughter isn’t directly asking for it back then their assholes
NTA they’re shit parents and shit adults. Surprised he needed to disrespect and insult your daughter to her face in order to be a dead man walking. Over $200 you kidding me??
A swap is a swap. Also…Beanie Babies
NTA. He was unbelievably rude about your child AND he wants to sell his kids Christmas present. Gross
Block them.
Tell him you didn’t realise money was so tight and that you’d be happy to pay them $225 to help them out, and that there was no need for them to make their daughter give up the pink one as it ‘is Christmas after all’.
There’s no way a guy with this kind of energy will want your charity.