- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 0
-
Sparkle (0)
We rounded the corner of Target in search of a green floodlight, my husband's answer to easy outdoor holiday lighting. Instead, we were head on facing the aisle endcap display of a box set of not one, not two, but EIGHT Disney Princess Barbies. All shiny, scantilly-clad PVC- and pthalate-laden plastic glory via China. A real bargain at $69.99, I tell you. I cringed.
"I want Princesses!" my child exclaimed before I could execute and evasive maneuver. I had planned on waiting to buy these kinds of things until well after the ban on pthlatates was in place come 2009. Since then, I have been debating and pondering my child's faith in Santa and all things Princess versus well, cheap, toxic, plastic crap in my kid's hands.
I pondered other things as well. What is the best gift in a season of cutting back? Long before Princess Barbies paraded before us, my little girl was all about taking dance class. Dance class means both ballet shoes and tap shoes, leotards, tights, outfits. And class fees of around $70.00. Ironically, the same price as the Princess Barbie set.
It may be a tough sell to the girl, but it will also be tough to shell out fees for dance gear, classes, swim lessons and gymnastics AND buy stuff as well. Besides that, the decision is pretty easy. Barbie will be a limited time plaything. Teaching my child a love of fitness and movement will see her through a lifetime of better health. Teaching my child that it is the things we DO with our lives that matter, not the things we HAVE, is also a good lesson.
And, hey, I won't have to wrap it.