Wish Lists

We've visited a couple of neighborhood toy stores in the last couple of weeks. Each time we do, I decide ahead of time whether or not I am going to buy some little trinket for the boys while we are there. If I am, then I tell them the amount of money I will spend on each of them (usually $2). Usually however, I am not going to buy them anything, and that of course, involves a discussion before we walk in.

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Me: Boys, we are not buying you anything at the store today. We are here to buy a birthday present for your friend's party tomorrow and that is the only thing we are going to buy.

Boys: (Glumly) We know.

Me: I am not buying you anything at the store today. We are just here to buy the birthday present and play with the toys while we are here.

Boys: We know that already! Let's go in!

Two seconds later:

Kai: Can you buy this for me? Please? Please? Just this one time? One time, Mom. One time. Just this one. Please. Please. Please, Mom. Please.

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Last week, before I could stop myself, I told Kai that we would just put whatever he is asking for on his birthday list. I assumed that by the time his birthday rolls around he would forget about the item. But he kept asking and I kept talking and suddenly I heard myself telling him that I could take a picture of it with my phone so we would remember it.

As you might imagine, we have amassed a lot of pictures since my first offer to start snapping.






I have had to start limiting the number of pictures I will take of them, they are so eager to have their picture taken with every single cool toy they find. It has started to annoy me, and I really wasn't prepared for their eagerness to have a wish list. I am starting to wish that I had never mentioned it. On the other hand, it's kind of funny in the moment. I mean, did you see those chattering teeth?