Hey Garbage Man! Bring Back Those Shoes!
Posted By jayna on December 31, 2008
I was fully going to skip over the past week’s festivities, wrapped bundles of joy and endless headaches. Really. We were full speed ahead to a post about how lame the husband and I are, with no plans for either New Years OR our anniversary. But then? Then I got nosy and went searching on just how much the grandparents dropped on the munchkin sleeping in the other room.
After my research, I’ve fully concluded that the cost of a toy is consistently equal to the headaches it will produce. Kawasaki Ride On ATV? Complete with revving noises to haunt you all night. Toy Piano? Music teachers everywhere are cringing. How about a neighing stuffed rocking horse to terrify a toddler? Or perhaps a set of Geo Trax to step on in the middle of the night? Nothing but the best to spoil the sensory overloaded child.
The toy that tops all toys, however, was headed straight for the dumpster until a few minutes ago. E’s love of all things shoes is quite apparent, and didn’t go unnoticed by one set of the grandparents. This set of 6 Disney Princess shoes was underestimated in the excitement of wrapping paper and bows and things with batteries. Until we got then home. Until we heard “Shoes!” and “On!” and “Shoes!” and “On!” over and over and over again. And each fitting of the shoes was promptly accompanied by loud whining, foot stomping and “Ouch!” The poor kid wants nothing more than to wear her pretty, pretty princess shoes, but unfortunately, they seem to have been made for a real Cinderella. One with itty, bitty, slender feet. Not chunky toddler feet, with thick winter socks and no balance. The fact that they have heels and are twice the length of her feet doesn’t seem to help E’s case any.
So, after three days of the shoe ruckus, they were put up, fate unknown. Then, she found them again. And there was more “Shoes!” and “On!” and “Ouch!” The deal was sealed and they were permanently on the outs. Till I searched. Till I saw that those six little pieces of plastic with bows glued on cost over fifty dollars. Then I realized that I just couldn’t toss them (and I also realized how crazy grandparents are). So, off to a box in the closet they go for a while. Till someone’s feet slim out a bit . . .
we got one of those rocking horses this year too. It's mouth is already stained with drinks and food from it "eating".
Oh, Lord. I hate those rocking horses. And the shoes? Go to Target. They've got pretty, glitter-y, Disney princess flats. You heard me. Flats. Miss-Miss is all over them. And they're wide enough for toddler feet. And flats! :)
The grandparents sent Alexis cash this year since we weren't managing to cross paths for the holidays. Seeing just how much they planned to spend made my head spin. SOOOO grateful we don't have a house full of annoying toys instead of that check.
Those shoes suck. Hard.
I HATE dress up shoes for toddlers. Morgan will be 3 in a week and they're big on her. She does, what I call, the Old Lady Shuffle when she wears them.
We told my in-laws to limit the number of toys they bought. Mainly because we didn't want Morgan having a ton of stuff and partly because they buy crap that's either too advanced for her age or just dumb. Instead, we suggested they buy a toy or two, a few books, a few outfits and then cash for her savings account. And they did just that. Although, the check for $500 was a bit much, it DID make me grateful that it was going in her bank account and not in a heap of useless toys on my family room floor.
Beautiful picture :) Happy New Year to all of you!!