Kid Stuff

Between the CAT and the "little brother" in this house, we are going through the "we just can't have nice things" phase.

Example one (of many): "Little brother" took Sparkle Lights Princess Barbie out at the ankle, several months ago. And truth be told, I keep forgetting to buy the super glue at the store. Mostly because I know it won't be a perma-fix and when she breaks--again--there will be more tears and agony, and I'll be back to square one.

Example two (of many): Michael has had quite an ordeal getting his hands on this little "boomerang" yoyo he saw at school. Between going to buy it, being totally disappointed by the fact that is was sold out and he had to order it, then waiting for it to be delivered, I thought I would go insane from waiting. Then ... it came--with a "trick sheet" to teach you how to do all the cool things like "walk the dog" and "rock the baby." I picked him up from school today, and he talked all the way home, about practicing his tricks and "getting weally good at it" ... all to walk inside and realize the CAT had eaten the entire string. All but the loop.

He cried--immediately. And I melted all over the floor and said "I'll find another one. Today."

To which Madeline squealed "Can I get a prize too?"

To which I squealed "Well, I'll pick you up a little something, but not a big toy. I'm replacing something that's been destroyed by the CAT."

She cried too--immediately.

And as we were walking out to the car, she grabbed her broken Barbie, and says "**Sniff **... I just wanted my prize to be glue."

L to the O to the L

It reminded of a time when my nephew was about 4 years old, and he was showing me all of his toys saying "This one lights up and this one plays music and this one does this and that one does that ... but they don't have any batteries. And this one spins, and that one jumps, and that one travels to JUPITER, but they don't have any batteries either."

Minutes later when I asked what he wanted for Christmas, he just looked around and shrugged and said "eh. batteries."

Because, as impractical as kids can be ... they have their moments.

But mostly, they're just impractical. Like when you call all over town to find some obscure toy store that sells this yoyo, and you actually go there, to actually buy it and you are confronted with "Can I have this 85 dollar lego star wars model, instead?"

And then you say "I am not here to buy a big toy. I am here to replace a toy that was broken due to no fault of your own. If you want that toy, you will have to save your money. You have tooth fairy money, and report card money, and valentines money, and if you go home and do some chores around the house, maybe you can make some money ... "

To which he replies "out of what?"

***For the record, I am now on a mission to replace Sparkle Lights Princess Barbie. What can I say? I'm a sucker for those tears, man!"***