We’ve had out first close encounter of the holiday toy kind. Since before I became a parent, I swore I would never be *that* parent. Before I became a mom I saw what some of my friends went through trying desperately to find a hot holiday toy that their child wanted. I could never understand why it was so important and the world would literally stop turning if a certain toy could not be found in a store and would not be under the Christmas tree. It still cracks me up to think about all of the physical pushing and shoving and craziness that occurred amongst shoppers over Cabbage Patch Kids when I was growing up. This year, I hear it’s the same thing over Zhu Zhu Pets, to which I am thanking my sweet Jesus my son didn’t ask for a battery operated rodent.
No, my son wanted Rocky the Robot. Rocky was in Wal-Mart and apparently everywhere a couple of weeks ago. I knew this, but being the procrastinator that I am, I decided I was not going to stress out and would do my Christmas shopping at my leisure. Guess who sold out online and everywhere, apparently? Yes, indeed. Rocky the Robot. The ONLY thing my child has specifically asked for from Santa. I suddenly “got it”. Although I would never result to physical violence over a toy, I now understand the desperation some parents feel when this happens, because who wants to disappoint their children, especially when it’s the only thing they asked for?
Before I really worried, I checked Ebay. There was Rocky! Only….Rocky apparently goes for more than double his original price on Ebay at Christmas. I’m no stranger to this knowledge, but now that I was in a position of actually caring about something like this, I was shocked and dismayed. The auction didn’t even start at a fair price and the Buy It Now options were even worse. $90? No way. I understand people want to make a profit..supply and demand and all of that. This was just flat out price gouging. Apparently the cool thing to do is to buy up every hot holiday toy you can get your hands on and try to sell it for double the price on Ebay. Again, I had prior knowledge of this, but after chewing it over in my mind, it just doesn’t sit well with me. It stinks for the kids, it stinks for the parents, and it’s just not cool. But apparently there are people who can and will pay whatever it takes to make their child happy.
As a last straw I made one more trip to our local Wal-Mart….and there was Rocky! He was one of two left. I happily picked him up and almost skipped to the register to pay for it. My husband and I were hi-fiving one another over the phone. Relief is not the word that describes how I felt, but it’s pretty darn close.
However, this almost holiday “horror” experience has certainly taught me many lessons, the most important being that in the grand scheme of things, even if we hadn’t have found Rocky, our son may have been disappointed, but he would have been ok. I felt ashamed for almost turning into exactly what I used to roll my eyes at before becoming a parent. I don’t want E.B. growing up to think that getting presents is the only thing that Christmas is about and I hate the feeling of panic this whole experience created in me. My husband and I even joked tonight that he’d probably play with the box it came in more than the actual toy. That? That’s perspective.
And? In the future, when he tells me what he wants for Christmas, I will take heed and act swiftly.
Some years with hot toys are like that, jump on them as soon as you seem 'em or their gone! At least when grandparents send them $, they can buy what Santa didn't bring. That has worked for us in sticky years. (sometimes the price is even lower with after holiday sales!)
Phew!
We so far (in 12 years and counting) have avoided this, but it is bound to happen sooner or later.
Glad this time it ended well.