"T-O-Y-S. Toys," he said.
I'm old-school when it comes to toys. I prefer to buy movies and books and music. Something with some kind of value, something that won't be thrown in the trash in a year. I hate buying crap toys, like those hideous Bratz dolls. What kind of message does that send? That little girls should have gigantic heads? That their lips are not plump unless they're freakishly plump? That it is desirable to have an attitude about everything and be "Bratz"?
God help us all.
Boys' toys are much less offensive in my mind. Maybe I'm just hyper-sensitive to girls' toys (Barbie ruined my self-esteem), but I see nothing wrong with traditional boys' toys like Transformers and Legos. I used to play with Transformers and Legos and I turned out all right.
But I also played with Barbie and will forever wonder where my pointy boobs are, and why wasn't I born with underwear permanently plastered to my pelvis?
Luckily, my nephew wants Transformers and similarly self-esteem-safe toys for his birthday. But first, he asked for all sorts of pricier toys.
While on the phone with him, I could hear my sister interjecting in the background saying, "That's $50! She's not buying you that!" Then he'd say, "Oh." And happily rattle off more toys he wanted.
Finally, after 10 minutes of this, I heard my sister say, "Isn't it enough that she's coming to your party? Isn't her presence present enough for you?"
"Yeah," I said. "I'm a good present!"
"Nah," he said. "I want something I like."
I was laughing too hard to be offended. I bought him a Transformer.
1 comment:
My daughter has a boy in her class that loves playing with Bratz dolls. He says they are "hot." Yes and he is ONLY in the 2nd grade! They have assigned groups in class and he named her class "the hotties." I volunteer at school a lot more now... plus since I am younger than the other parents I get to be the hip cool one. Oh God I just said hip!
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