tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post1761987862411459676..comments2024-03-13T02:14:28.006-05:00Comments on Emily's Little World: Plastic Boop-Beep Toys Hypnotized MeEmily S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10982103855213817116noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-25232669100756524622012-04-13T16:12:21.286-05:002012-04-13T16:12:21.286-05:00Oh yes. Absolutely. What Anna said, 100%. I had...Oh yes. Absolutely. What Anna said, 100%. I had to literally FORCE myself not to buy more than one gift for Holland. I think the reality of the PILES of stuff we had to move was the only thing that snapped me back to reality. It is SO easy to get sucked in.Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07036077720306782145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-3442693716249042032012-04-12T21:53:17.424-05:002012-04-12T21:53:17.424-05:00My baby girls first birthday is coming up too (Jun...My baby girls first birthday is coming up too (June). Reading this just reassured me that my decision to put "no gifts, please" on the invitations is totally the RIGHT decision! A decision I've been struggling with for all the same reasons you mentioned. I hate consumerism.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14239134573329052165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-35429078517436028762012-04-12T14:26:05.111-05:002012-04-12T14:26:05.111-05:00I remember right after Abbey came, feeling stresse...I remember right after Abbey came, feeling stressed that I wasn't being an adequate mom because I didn't know how to find/make huge flower headbands for her! Ha ha, seriously!!! I have a sweet friend who had a wise friend tell her that all a baby needs is his momma. That's it. Mom. That advice to a new-stressed-(sweet)-mommy-on-a-budget always rings in my head at Walmart :)Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04707290321509200067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-24935727994011730372012-04-11T22:17:58.683-05:002012-04-11T22:17:58.683-05:00Great post! I totally feel like that too. Like exa...Great post! I totally feel like that too. Like exactly.. almost like a crazy person, your head is spinning.. total sillyness. Completely undecisive and overwhelmed. It really sucks you in and sometimes its so hard to find the right balance. My son's 2nd birthday is coming up soon.. and I have tons of ideas.. awesome hand-made cupcakes and decorations.. favors, the whole nine yards, Pinterest has me beside myself with ideas.. HA! But I know I can't spend a fortune on a party that is just family and will last a few hours. But at the same time I just want him to remember his birthday's as being special.. and I know my parents did a great job at that...and looking back they didn't have a ton of money.. it wasn't extravagant, but birthday's were a big deal.. and I have great memories of that. Hoping to learn how to do that too.. and not get sucked into to the "more, more, more" mindset. Thanks for sharing.The Boeckman'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09528408687401248570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-81729785752982045352012-04-11T18:38:48.058-05:002012-04-11T18:38:48.058-05:00I love "boop beep" toys as a descriptor ...I love "boop beep" toys as a descriptor for them. Interestingly, my bag-o-therapy toys has very few if any "boop-beep" toys, but sometimes I'll use one that the kid already has.<br /><br />I'm sorry but not too surprised that you got sucked in. Vercareli is right about it being part of the conspiracy. You've seen what happens when I go a little crazy on behalf of my favorite niece and nephew ;)<br /><br />Anyway, I'm glad sanity reigned at the end and I'm even more glad I get to see you in just a few days!<br /><br />Love youJulinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10373331914121855263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-38111886232918748392012-04-11T16:35:19.972-05:002012-04-11T16:35:19.972-05:00It IS madness. But, that's what retailers wan...It IS madness. But, that's what retailers want. They want us to feel guilty so we'll buy more. In fact, they spend boatloads of money on panels, committees and market research to figure out how to hit just the right emotional buttons to make us buy their products! And unfortunately, a lot of parents succumb to these tactics. But, it's a short term solution. They feel good for only a short time -- until the kid tosses the toy aside in favor of a plain, cardboard box, or just until their next trip to the store. :-) I have four children ranging from tween to infant. I have found myself in almost the exact same situation you described! I can attest to all those feelings you spoke of -- wanting the best for my kids, they only turn this age once, they deserve it, all the other kids have this or that, are my kids deprived?, etc.. But I've learned the one thing, the most important thing my kids want from me, and NEED from me, is my time. TIME. And that is where a lot of parents fail. So, if you are spending quality time with your children, and continue to do so as they grow into adulthood, you will be one of the best moms ever! Like you said, you and your kids won't remember but a handful of the things they had while growing up. But, they will remember the warmth, the love, the experiences and the time you spent together. Bravo to you for making such a mature observation!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11797435963651747112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-23572129808042438492012-04-11T12:02:35.295-05:002012-04-11T12:02:35.295-05:00Yes, yes, yes, and yes some more! Even though I o...Yes, yes, yes, and yes some more! Even though I often give my mother "the speech" about getting Sadira too much stuff ("she has enough!" "I have no room for all of this!" "our house is the size of a shoebox, why did you get this?!") I, too, fell victim to the "shoulds," as Anna dubbed them, when Sadira was younger.<br /><br />And then I realized...she doesn't NEED all that crap! And doesn't even really care! And I wasted money. I really had gotten in the rut of, "I need to get this for my kid, and since I'm a single Mom, I REALLY need to get it, because I don't want her to feel deprived of something because she doesn't live in a two parent household." This was honestly my absurd thinking! That I was depriving my kid by not indulging in every marketing scheme geared at new parents. So I think I've gotten much better at saying no. <br /><br />I've also noticed it's easier to say no when they are older and are ASKING for something...it's tougher when they are sweet and cute and little and you want to indulge them, and OH MY GOD IF I DON'T BUY THIS MY KID'S IQ WILL NEVER GO ABOVE 100!!!!<br /><br />Nonsense ;-) Great post, Em!Nasrenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07755443040941025840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-7296583718251589392012-04-11T11:23:21.418-05:002012-04-11T11:23:21.418-05:00it is so easy to get sucked in the undertow. all....it is so easy to get sucked in the undertow. all. too. easy.amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04041176593332906872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32430870.post-53969705230606737762012-04-11T07:12:59.818-05:002012-04-11T07:12:59.818-05:00I often get a case of the "shoulds" when...I often get a case of the "shoulds" when it comes to birthdays, holidays, etc. I SHOULD get them a certain number of gifts, make a special cake, etc etc. when what I really SHOULD do is get on the floor and wrestle or take a walk or have a picnic. I am not saying that elaborate plans are bad but I need to be kind to myself in this season of my life and not heap on more SHOULD guilt. <br />As for the cute plastic toys, I have a few. Too many. I am not even sure what the kids play with these days. Art supplies, balls, sand toys. I should just pitch half the toys anyways....Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17348815397379278323noreply@blogger.com