Like many others my age, I am mourning the loss of yet another bricks and mortar toy store. Going online to add things from websites to your wish list is simply not the same as walking around a toy store with a small child watching their eyes widen with wonder and sparkle with joy at all of the amazing toys to be gazed at, touched lovingly and ardently wished for. But now, generations of children to come will be relegated to leafing through their computer screens to decide on their new hearts’ desire. My husband says “they can’t miss what they never had.” Somehow, that makes the loss even sadder.
One of my favorite life roles is that of Aunt. You get to have all of the fun of being with your nieces and nephews, but you can spoil them rotten and send them home! I remember very fondly one afternoon where I got to do just that in another now defunct toy store with my young niece and nephew.
We walked into the toy store with shelves running from floor to ceiling, all laden with wonderous treasures. I told Edward and Charllean they could have anything they wanted as a treat, but they could only have one thing. And so it began …. We spent over an hour as they carefully went up and down every aisle considering all their options. Sometimes they would pick up something and continue wandering only to return it to its proper place when another more alluring toy began calling to them. It was enlightening to watch their thought processes as they tried to determine what the perfect toy would be for their smiling Aunt to buy.
Finally, the choices were made and they both seemed pleased. There were no regrets about what was chosen, only smiling kids in the back seat. When we got back to their house, their mom didn’t think I should have spent money on them. When she asked why they let me do that, Edward had a quick response. “But Mom, this dog (the plush toy he selected) followed me out of the store and it had an outfit for Charllean’s Barbie in it’s mouth.” You have to admit, that was pretty quick thinking.
Besides, everyone knows when this Aunt wants to do something, she usually does it! I don’t think it will be nearly as much fun for Aunts now to watch their nieces and nephews flip through websites looking for the perfect treat! Another thing that makes me wish I knew someone with a time machine…
I relate so well to this. It envoked emotions of sadness and fear too. Having four grandkids, I worry about all the simple pleasures they will miss out on thanks to Amazon and the World Wide Web. Before long they won’t even be allowed to hold a hardcover book and flip pages in the public school
You are so right! As a grandmother, there is no greater joy than letting them wander in a toy store until they find just the right gift! I still remember that Sears Christmas book as a kid and pouring over it for hours! Thanks for putting a smile on my face today as I remember shopping trips with my grandchildren and with my Mom and Dad when I was a kid!
Love reading your blog, short, concise and fun to read. I can relate it to my daily life.
I feel the same way. When my grandchildren, 5 girls, ages from 6 to 2 years old come home for a visit, the toy store in a priority for all of us to go, they all wander around wishing they can buy everything they want. The rule is one toy only. You cannot replace a child’s wandering eyes with computer.