April 5: Shopping Day

Last year, we started a birthday tradition with the kids. Well, with my daughter first. A few days before her brother's birthday I took her up to the store and gave her full ownership for selecting the gift that she wanted to give him. First time worked like a charm, however this year, one year older and wiser, she made a point to select things for which the price tag was a little (sometimes a lot) beyond what my wife and I were willing to cover for her; despite her pleas that he would "love this"! This year marked the first time that I would treat my son to that shopping experience so that he could have a hand in the birthday gift he would give to his sister. Last year, we felt he was still a little young to maintain any kind of interest in shopping for his big sis. Given my daughter's attraction to the finer toys in life, I was expecting a similar challenge with my son. However, I found quite the opposite. He wasn't necessarily drawn to expensive gifts, but rather everything in the store for which he thought there was even a remote chance his sister might want. Luckily, we went in with some suggestions from his sis - Zhu Zhu Pets and Barbie dolls. Unfortunately, my son didn't seem interested in getting her either; which I was sort of relieved about as I just don't get Zhu Zhu Pets and my daughter already has a ton of Barbies. Finally, we stumbled upon an iCarly acoustic guitar for kids. I should note that recently my daughter has acquired an increasing fondness for iCarly, although we're still not convinced it's appropriate for her to watch (so we allow it on special occasions). I should also note that she has acquired the same level of interest in music; thus, the guitar seemed not only fitting, but much more educational than another Barbie. We'll see if she agrees come tomorrow morning. Keep your fingers crossed!