Clothing query

[Cockney_si]

Has anyone else been in this situation before?

I've recently started seeing my girl that has a two and half year old, father of the boy rarely pays for his keep or buys him clothes and when he did he wanted him in footbal tops.

Now not being a football fan I've seen some reasonably priced England Rugby tops for the boys size and thought they'd be ideal and practical for the sudden change in weather that's been happening where I am.

My girl casually mentioned this in front of the dad and he went a bit mad saying the boy should be wearing football tops and if he sees him in rugby tops he'd get mad with me blah blah.

I'm not scared of the father and I certainly don't see what his problem would be as he doesn't buy his own son clothes but it just gets my goat a bit. I would never dream of telling the father what he could and could not wear.

Am i right in sticking to my guns and buying some nice clothes for the winter weather???

[jake-the-peg]

Sounds like the father is suffering a degree of insecurity.

There might also be the perception of a class thing going on here too Rugby vs Football and all that.

Sounds to me like the person likely to suffer most if you "stick to your guns" is your new girlfriend and it would be daft to cause her grief over this wouldn't it?

Does it really *have* to be sports shirts? 

[Cockney_si]

My girlfriend thinks it was a sound practical idea.

[jake-the-peg]

Well as long as she's not using you to needle her ex go for it.

Of course you could see if you could find an Eaton rowing eights jersey for a particularly spectacular set of fireworks :c)

[Mrs_Pegasus]

He is being rather pathetic isnt he!?

Personally, I wouldnt buy either.  You will probably get more for your money buying him normal clothes and he will probably get more wear from them.  From my experience I have paid a fortune for rugby and football tops and they certainly dont stand up to the washing and wearing.

If this man has threatened fireworks then dont antagonise the situation.  You will have plenty of time to buy him such things when he is older and starts asking for X club shirt.

They are in them 2 minutes at that age before they are growing out of them.

[Grimalkin]

Choose your battles carefully as it sounds like there will be a few over time... I'd just get him something neutral to wear.  His father obviously has some issues that make this about more than the item of clothing itself.  I know I'd resent his 'cherry-picking' approach to clothing/paying for his child, but I don't think it would be constructive for you two to start arguing. 

[cazza0310]

if you like the rugby tops and think there practical (which they are) then buy them - just dont send the boy to see his dad wearing them, that way there will be no issue.

don't buy football tops if you dont want-they're too expensive and impractical through winter to buy just for the sake of it

send him to see his dad in neutral boys clothes-if hes so adamant about football tops let him fork out �30 for them.

if he wants to argue about this just point out that you can buy alot of practical, nice boys clothes for the price of 1 football shirt.