A lot of people dread shopping with kids. I remember the many trips to the store with my mom like it was yesterday. I loved to visit the toy and candy aisle. It didn’t even matter what kind of store it was. If there were toys or candy in the building, I’d find them.
As our daughter has gotten old enough to really desire things, we have often wondered when the onslaught of crying and whining would start. Our daughter has always been very even tempered and never whines or cries but we thought for sure it was just a matter of time.
I’m happy to report that the time hasn’t arrived yet. We went to the store last night to pick up a pair of pants and a shirt for an older man that my daughter’s class is sponsoring for Christmas. I absolutely wanted to take my daughter with me to help her share in the experience of helping others, but it was also a necessity because my wife was teaching piano lessons at the time.
As we were walking in to the store my daughter told me, “Daddy, how about if I take some of my toys in my room and give them to a little girl that doesn’t have any toys?” I was thrilled to hear that. All the conversations we’ve had were paying off. I was a little disappointed when she followed that comment up with, “Daddy, instead of getting a small candy treat, can I get a toy?” Wow. The manipulating has started. Okay, so she wasn’t as concerned with getting her old toys in the hands of a deserving child, rather, she was much more interested in offering up some old toys in hopes she’d soften me up for a new toy.
Unfortunately she didn’t get the result she was after. I told her, “I’m sorry honey, but a small bit of candy is not very expensive, but a toy would be much more expensive and we can’t spend the money on one now”. Of course we could have spent the money on one but we intentionally don’t buy toys when we take her shopping because we don’t want her to develop an expectation. We also don’t buy her many toys between Christmas and her birthday because no child needs THAT many toys. (Believe me, she has plenty)
Her reaction to me saying no was wonderful. She said, “okay”. I was even more surprised when she saw the toy aisle and saw a “High School Musical” toy sitting at eye level on the shelf. She yelled, “Daddy. Look a High School Musical toy. I said, “Oh wow. That’s neat but we need to keep moving.” She turned and headed in my direction without a bit of complaining.
I’m not sure if her behavior is based on the many trips we’ve taken to the store where we’ve set the tone, or whether she just hasn’t hit that stage of really pushing to buy something, but either way, it sure is nice to go to the store with her these days.