Store bought fun

There are a lot of moms/parents I know who feel the need to buy extravagant things for their kids. And there are a lot of kids I know who don't appreciate shit!! Maybe as parents we need to close our wallets and think about the little pleasures in life. Take for example, my kids. Last night, they were sooo damn excited to "sleep in the upstairs" at their grandma's house. It didn't even occur to me that they have never slept in a two story house before, and that it would be exciting. But for them it was new and fun. Even more fun was that at Grandma's, there are 2 bathrooms, so they could both pee at the same time in a different room. Didn't cost a dime and they were as happy as can be.

So why do some parents feel the need to spend, spend, spend?? Do these parents realize you can't buy love, and your child loves you whether they have the latest and greatest toy or not? Do these parents realize they are setting their child up for a life of expecting things? Say hello to a future of credit card debt spent on instant gratification.
Maybe you parents could start small. Maybe turn off the T.V. that is airing hours of brain rotting cartoons inturrupted by commercials for toys that the child is going to insist they "need". Maybe you don't need to visit the toy isle everytime you shop at Wal-mart. Most importantly, you could learn a little two letter word. It's called NO.

After you have mastered that, you learn about cheap entertainment. You could color or read with your child. You could spend a dollar on a bottle of bubbles(I'll let you) and blow some bubbles in the yard. You could sit down with your child and play with all the toys you've already purchased. You can go to a park or playground and let them exercise. After all, they've been watching hours of T.V.

And after that, then you start teaching your child about money. Teach them that money is earned, not freely handed out. Teach them the importance of saving up for something. Then you let them spend THEIR money on shit they won't appreciate. While you... you can buy yourself a nice pair of shoes with all the money I just saved you!

You could play in the leaves

or maybe play in the rain

or build a blanket fort

and I already mentioned the playground!!


*Disclaimer: This is not to say that I don't buy things for my kids. I just choose to buy toys/luxuries for birthdays or Christmas. I mean, what makes these days any different or any more special if they get gifts every other day?!?!

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