Trouble Has Started
Today in Target, I was looking for sidewalk chalk. I figured it was time to get Bridget some outdoor type toys and we can easily play with some washable sidewalk chalk on the back patio at least in the mornings. So I had Bridget with me as we went up and down the toy aisles trying to find it. We went down the aisle with the baby dolls, and apparently one is activated by motion because when we walked by it, it started crying. Well, that grabbed Bridget’s attention and she started to look closely at the other dolls. Then she really wanted one in particular. In fact, when I tried to walk away, she started crying “Mommy, nooooooo!” Now, I know it probably was the wrong thing to do, but she really loved this doll, it was NOT one of the crying variety, and it was reasonably priced, so I bought it for her. And she carried that thing in its box in her lap the rest of the time at Target. It made her so happy. And it made me happy to make her happy. When we took the doll out of its package and she got to carry it around for real, she was so happy. She carried it like a baby, and gave it hugs and kisses and put it to bed.
I don’t want to start the habit of her crying and expecting me to buy her things. I’ll need to take a firmer stance about not buying toys every time. But this is really the first time she’s really been interested in something in the store. And I caved. I feel some shame about that. But I also feel like the hero mom too.
In some other news…. I am so sore from Monday’s appointment with my trainer that I cry every time I have to walk down the stairs. I have another appointment with him tomorrow and I don’t know how I’m possibly going to handle that. Ouch.
Also, I got a letter yesterday from my student loan company that THIS IS MY LAST PAYMENT!!!! EVER!!!! Twelve short years after college graduation, my education is mine free and clear. But I think I’m going to continue to make the payment to Bridget’s college savings. I normally pay all my bills online, but this one I am going to write a check so I can write in the memo line “see ya suckers!”
And lastly, we bought a new dreamy TV. It will arrive tomorrow. 46 inches of LCD goodness. Jake is so excited he can barely stand himself. I wonder how Bridget will react to Elmo in HD?
Filed under Couch Potato, Mommy Zombie, Random Ramblings |4 Responses to “Trouble Has Started”
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I think that you need to use your judgment when buying spontaneous toys for Bridget. I think you made the right choice. There is nothing wrong in buying a new toy that she is asking for as long as you don’t do it all the time. Trust me - there will be plenty of opportunities to say NO WAY! Sometimes I cave to my kids requests but the majority of the time it’s a big NO. They do learn to understand that they don’t get everything they want. My kids never cry when walking away from a toy in a store that I have denied them.
I think you made a good choice. If you go to the store again and she cries for another toy, you could point out how much she loves the doll that you already bought her, and that she can play with that one when she gets home. I think the important thing is reminding her of the value of what she already has.
When I was younger, I loved Barbies, and after two dolls and a set of dresses, my mom refused to buy me any more; if I wanted them, I had to buy them myself, and I did. And I think that I valued them that much more because I had taken responsibility for my own purchases.
Trust me, as you see her not put away more and more toys, it will be easier to be a hard ass, or as my son sweetly says, “A Mean Mommy”. While that use to bug me, I now ride the wave of power.
I must not watch enough TV as I can’t tell the diff between HD and not. But the flat screen goodness taking up less space? Now that’s a miracle.
You go girl!!! You own that college education!!!! Now it is time for a graduate degree!!! Ha-ha!!!