So this morning, I took many deep calming breaths and went to ToysRInsanity. I think I go there about once a year, if that. I cannot stand the store. More than anything the packaging of the toys really gets my goat.. but I digress. So there I was, momentarily frozen in the games aisle, looking for Spongebob Operation (don’t ask.. its not for my kids). And there were these mothers, fathers, grandmothers all staring frozen at the various games in the games aisle. So. Many. Choices. In my head I kept thinking ‘OMG. All that is resources GONE from our earth.. resources that cannot be replaced‘. Depressing. Couldn’t find spongebob. Made my way to the surly customer service rep. He pointed me someplace else. Found it.
Next up, the baby doll aisle. Two aisles of baby dolls. Not a single african american baby doll. I take that back.. there was a set of twin african american baby dolls but I just wanted one. Really. At this point, my deep breathing techniques were not working and I was seriously about to throw up. So I decided to just get spongebob, candyland, a gift card and leave. At the checkout I tell the lady ‘I really needed an african american baby doll but I couldn’t find one. They were all white‘. She smiles and says ‘Oh really?. ‘. Smile. Why SHOULD she care? Its not like its her store. Its not like she actually cares who the customers are and what their needs are. I don’t blame her for her absolute lack of interest. It is NOT a small business. They simply don’t care.
The long lines. The insufferably attitudes. The jostling and frustration. Is this what the holidays are about? No wonder more people shop online. Why do we shop so much? It is not like it was in the old days when you really only got presents on your birthday or on a special holiday. No. Our kids get toys, clothes, shoes, books… all these things throughout the year. So they get even MORE stuff at the holidays. And then we wonder why we have a generation of entitled, no-work-ethic teenagers and young adults. MAYBE WE ENABLED THEM!
ugh. sorry for being a grinch today. I really really don’t like the consumerism that envelopes the month of December. It makes my head heart and my stomach weak. Even the freaking holiday crackers are filled with random crap that is going to go to the trash in a matter of minutes. Do we all really care so little for our planet? :(
grouchily yours, Rashmi
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Sarah - Totally with you. I am relishing the fact that Max doesn’t “get” the whole “gimme gimme gimme” mentality yet – every time someone asks him what he asked Santa for for Christmas, he says, “snow”. Yep, that’s it. I know this will be gone soon, but I wish it would stay this way. As of today I have only bought him one gift because, truthfully he won’t even notice. My sister and I decided against buying each kid an individual gift and went for a family gift everyone can use and have fun with beyond just the 3 seconds of unwrapping. I got them a webcam so Max can see his cousins every day if they want to, even though we only live 30 min. apart.
I hope the beauty of the snow will help you forget your bad experience today.
Lana - I totally agree!!!!!! Consumerism is making me ill. I told Dave recently that I am totally OK with our mismatched hand-me-down furniture cause I can’t imagine paying a lot for new stuff when this stuff works just fine! I didn’t use to feel this way.
Being white, I never really noticed the lack of diversity in dolls until I tried to find Hispanic dolls for Carmen. Not easy!
Dena - The only way I can get through all of the insane consumerism is to block it out — and try to limit the number of gifts received around here…. Ridiculous that ToysRUs didn’t have any African American baby dolls. They always have a pretty equal number of white and Af Am dolls at Target (Isabel often prefers the Af Am ones!)
Natasha - You are the bees knees! I love you!