Health & Fitness
'I Want a DS for Christmas': The Dilemma Continues
Just when you think you have won the game goes into overtime. Well little one, this mom has played her share of overtime games.
For a brief moment, I was pretty sure that we were over the DS. I had taken a stand with my daughter and I had won. I guess that was only the semifinal round.
We are now full-fledged into the finals after coming upon Santa at Stew Leonard's. It was not a planned visit. Santa happened to be at the exit, and my daughter ran right over. She insisted that this Santa was the real Santa. He looked exactly like the Santa that came off the firetruck the day before at a friend's house with a gift for her. (A big thank you to the fire department for all their work hauling Santa around last weekend. The magic has been revived in a doubting little girl.) She hopped right up, looked me square in the eye, and said, "I want a DS!" Or in other words ... "Game on mom!!!"
For some this might be the excuse to cave. "Well, it's from Santa...." "How could I not get it if it's the only thing she asked for???" "It's just one gift, I'm sure there are some educational games for it...."
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For me, it is more reason to hold strong. What message do we send our children when we make a decision and go back on it? What are we saying to them when we said "you can't" and end up saying "oh well"? I know what some of you are thinking ... "How could someone be so caught up in a stupid little game that the kid will outgrow in 2 years? What's the big deal???"
It is not the game I am caught up on. I know she would outgrow it. What she won't outgrow is a mom that goes back on her word. If I don't mean what I say now, what does that look like in 10 years?
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Well Santa, mom says no ... So if you decide to put a DS under my tree, I will find it and hide it so mom doesn't have to be mean. For some Santa is the excuse to cave, but for me, I finally have a scapegoat ... Santa, you are cruel for breaking my little girl's heart!
(For those who think I am cruel and cowardly, I'm sure Santa will gently explain that he doesn't make a habit of going against mom and dad's rules and will pick something special he knows she will love.)
