Mrs M
yoda76TOO MANY TOYS
December 27th 2006 03:56
Well we survived Christmas, if only just, and now we are faced with the aftermath of….the presents. My children did well this year.
Polly Pocket for my 5 year old daughter, Buzz Lightyear for my 3 year old son and Lil’ People Fisher Price Plane for my 14 month old son.
What the children gained in toys, I lost in floor space and cupboard space. Aaaaarrgghhh!
So it was decided (by me and Mr M…the children not so much) that we would go through the toybox, select toys that we could donate to charity, or hospital or church.
It started off well enough, a Bob The Builder hat was the first to go; some children’s books, cars, dolls and blocks. Just when I thought I had gotten away with it my son said, “Can I just play with this one for a little while?” And then my daughter pipes in with, “Well can I play with this one?” As I try to wrangle the toys out of their hands, the baby just climbs into the box with a big cheesy grin on his face.
“No,” I say. “You can’t play with these toys, we’re giving them to children who need them more than you”.
“But I like this toy”, they cried in despair.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I headed across the room towards the new toys. I side stepped boxes, I climbed couches, I skidded across the kitchen floor on some Christmas wrapping paper. I picked up Polly Pocket and Buzz Lightyear and raised them above my head and stated “Well we’ll just have to give the children these toys instead”.
“Nooooooo,” they wailed; dropping the offending items back into the box bouncing off the baby’s head on the way down (he thought it was hysterical) and ran as fast as their little legs could go to rescue Polly and Buzz.
Once Polly and Buzz were safe in their arms I heard my daughter say, “The children can have that box of toys. We’ve played with them enough. It’s time to share.”
“Yeah, it’s time to share”, echoed my son.
What a sweet thing to say, I thought. And then I heard her say, “I don’t really like those toys anymore.”
“Me neither”, concurred my son. And off they went.
Not the ideal response I was looking for but I can work on that next year. For the now, at least I get some floor space back and hopefully someone, somewhere will enjoy these toys.
Note to self: take baby out of the box before giving it away.
Images sourced from Wikipedia
Polly Pocket for my 5 year old daughter, Buzz Lightyear for my 3 year old son and Lil’ People Fisher Price Plane for my 14 month old son.
What the children gained in toys, I lost in floor space and cupboard space. Aaaaarrgghhh!
So it was decided (by me and Mr M…the children not so much) that we would go through the toybox, select toys that we could donate to charity, or hospital or church.
It started off well enough, a Bob The Builder hat was the first to go; some children’s books, cars, dolls and blocks. Just when I thought I had gotten away with it my son said, “Can I just play with this one for a little while?” And then my daughter pipes in with, “Well can I play with this one?” As I try to wrangle the toys out of their hands, the baby just climbs into the box with a big cheesy grin on his face.
“No,” I say. “You can’t play with these toys, we’re giving them to children who need them more than you”.
“But I like this toy”, they cried in despair.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I headed across the room towards the new toys. I side stepped boxes, I climbed couches, I skidded across the kitchen floor on some Christmas wrapping paper. I picked up Polly Pocket and Buzz Lightyear and raised them above my head and stated “Well we’ll just have to give the children these toys instead”.
“Nooooooo,” they wailed; dropping the offending items back into the box bouncing off the baby’s head on the way down (he thought it was hysterical) and ran as fast as their little legs could go to rescue Polly and Buzz.
Once Polly and Buzz were safe in their arms I heard my daughter say, “The children can have that box of toys. We’ve played with them enough. It’s time to share.”
“Yeah, it’s time to share”, echoed my son.
What a sweet thing to say, I thought. And then I heard her say, “I don’t really like those toys anymore.”
“Me neither”, concurred my son. And off they went.
Not the ideal response I was looking for but I can work on that next year. For the now, at least I get some floor space back and hopefully someone, somewhere will enjoy these toys.
Note to self: take baby out of the box before giving it away.
Images sourced from Wikipedia
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Comment by Manjula
Reminds me of our house this morning....why is it that as soon as you take a toy out to give it away it suddenly becomes their favorite? . Just hoping that they start not liking more and more toys
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
It's remarkable isn't it? If you could put money on it, you would win every time. Not that you would recommend that
Thanks for the visit.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
Glad you had a good Christmas. I was watching one of those Funniest Home Movie shows and these three boys got a Christmas present to share. They all tore open the paper and the two bigger boys whooped with excitement at the Play Station game or whatever it was and the third and youngest of them grabbed the cardboard and started screaming and waving it in the air "CARDBOARD...CARDBOARD!!!!" He was genuinely thrilled with it. I laughed until I had tears running.
I love spending Christmas with kids, they sure add some of the magic of the day.
Ash
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Lovely, I do hope you remembered to keep the baby, then...again....three costs more than two.
Love and stuff,
katyzzz
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Kids certainly are hilarious. One of my nephew's (he's 2 1/2 years old) was allowed to open a present first. He was so excited that he kept repeating "It's....it's.....it's.....something!!"
Hi katyzzz,
3 may cost more than 2 but the baby is certainly the one that (at the moment) gives me the least amount of grief.
Thanks for the visit.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Filmpeeker
filmpeek
cute post. You have good kids M. And they probably have a good M.
Take care,
filmpeeker
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Sarah.
xxx
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Very cute.
After the death of my sister in law a couple of weeks ago, my mother and I have had a time helping her children to let go of toys, etc that they do not have room for, in an effort to sweep away the clutter and let them have room to think and breathe and grieve...so we thought.
I was helping my nephew go through his old toys and found one that was a blowup punching bag. It was at the bottom of the box and I knew he hadn't played with it for years. I threw it into the charity bag and my nephew looked at me in horror.
"YOU CAN"T THROW THAT AWAY." He said.
"I'm not, we are giving it to the little kids like we talked about, that don't have toys to play with, okay?"
"It can't go to those kids. It has a HOLE in it."
"Well, then why can't we throw it away?"
"Because it's my favorite!"
He refused to let me throw it away. I finally snuck it in a bag and prayed the whole night that he wouldn't find it. He never did and he has NEVER asked about it. lol
Cute post,
Voices~
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Oh yes, I can definitely appreciate where you're coming from with this one. I'm still trying to find space for my children's new toys.
I must admit, though, new toys do keep them quiet for a while. Until they find the noisy toys, that is. I never did find out who bought that drum kit for them!!!!!
A.H.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Thanks for the comments. Yeah, my kids aren't bad but they don't quite get charity just yet. They are young but I should start now so when they are older it will be something that they remember always doing.
Hi Voices,
There is no-one more fickle than children when it comes to toys. I can be the same sometimes when it comes to my clothes.
Hi Andrea,
You are right about the new toys. Keeps them out of my hair and you are absolutely right about the noisy ones. Especially the ones that need batteries.
Here's a tip everyone. Invest in Duracell shares. You'll make a million buck out of me alone.
Thanks for the visit and the comments
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
hang in there... it gets easier as they get older...you know we give a few pressies now as they get older... but since about the age of five or six, we have always given a little cash too... just to ease them into understanding money... we opened their own debit card accounts at age eight and 13 respectively... they have become better than me with money and when it comes to weeding out what has to go... I have noticed they become more frugal and more giving too... they buy things I don't know they really want ... that's always what surprises me the most ... they are so sensible *lol* [learning curve]...
... I think they get that from MY side of the family *l-ing ol, very loudly*
Happy New Year to you, sweetie ... [party at Ash's 'Flashes of Memories'... and now we know why!]
*guffaw*
I hope the New Year holds all sorts of opportunity and inspiration in its days for you...
Lilla...
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
All the good things in my children's personality come from my side of the family too
We didn't have alot of money growing up but my mum would always give to charity. No matter who called her, how many times they called her, she always gave. I do it too now and I want my children to be the same.
Coupled with the fact that I believe in karma I'm always giving my money away.
Thanks for the visit and hope 2007 is inspirational for all of us. Imagine how much of a better place it would be.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by AnthonyB
Ah well. It was worth it for the experience. Kids are awesome.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Mr M has a couple of Ferrari type toys. (Excuse my lack of intellect on the subject) and when my son sees it and wants to play with it, it just gets placed one shelf higher on the bookshelf.
Thanks for the visit.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by George
The Re-Parenting Revolution
I'm new here at Orble and wanted to say hello. I have had similar experiences with my 4 year old. She just can't seem to part with any of her old toys. She seems to always find the box my wife has put together and all of a sudden they are her "favorite" toys. We've let her keep them until she felt ready to let them go. Interestingly enough, around when she turned 4, she declared she was a "big girl" and that we should give those "baby toys" to some other kids. I laughed and hurried before she changed her mind.
Best Regards,
George
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Glad to "meet" you. I love the "big girl" phase. I have one of those. They way my daughter carries on and on because she's five and "knows everything" is hilarious to watch. I just love it.
Thanks for the visit and I look forward to reading your blog too.
Love & stuff
Mrs M