If you don't know what Squinkies are, you aren't alone. Most of the time, if I mention the word, people shoot me this odd look and then I have to go into this long dialogue about what they are and why in the world that one would want them. Well, I'll tell you why one would want them...Christmas. Well, at least we thought one would want them.If you have read my previous posts, you'll know that Riley found out this year the truth about Santa. Although a loss of innocence, it has become a tiny blessing in disguise. I've been able to use this new-found knowledge she's acquired as a learning tool about the value of a dollar -- which leads me to the subject of this post, the Squinkie Debacle.
Two months ago, she asked her Pa for some Christmas presents. On that list, was a set of Squinkies. And two months ago, they were virtually impossible to find. After searching high and far, my dad was able to find one set. In the meantime, I was able to purchase EVERY. SINGLE. SET. out there. When I say every set. I mean it. A couple hundred dollars worth of darn Squinkies.
Then, it happened. As I was cleaning, I asked Riley about another toy. I said:
"Either take it into your room, or I can throw it away."
Thinking that she would take the toy, she said, "Oh, just throw it away."
I went ballistic. I lost it. A $30 toy my dad had bought her, she asked me to throw away! So there I went into my long and loud lecture about the value of a dollar, how hard Pa, Mommy and Daddy have to work to get her those types of toys and if she doesn't play with them, she shouldn't ask for them.
That was then my opportunity to ask her about her Christmas presents. Knowing she is now aware of where they came from, I asked her point blank: "If mommy and daddy bought you Squinkies for Christmas, would you play with them?"
The 5-second pause was long enough for me to know that she wouldn't and when she said reluctantly, "Yeah, I guess I would..." - well, it was my cue to grab all the Squinkies, retrieve all receipts and prepare to return all that is Squinkie.
When we asked her what she REALLY wanted...she told us books, clothes and few of those Zoobles. Well, guess what...that's what she's getting this year. So even though it saddens us that she doesn't believe in Santa, it has made us so much smarter with our spending, knowing that what we are getting her is exactly what she wants...
(And if you purchased those Squinkies for your little ones this year...there is really nothing to them, I was quite disappointed, if you ask me. They don't do anything...but maybe collect dust after sitting on a shelf for a long time...)
