Grasshopper New Media Presents...

As Christmas is approaching, well kind of, still a few weeks yet…anyway, my husband and I have been getting pretty excited about our first year playing ‘Father Christmas’.

Last week we decided to begin the assault on christmas shopping and start ‘helping’ St Nic’ choose some toys, books, and gifts for Erin. We were pretty confident, cocky even, that this would be a breeze, grab the dosh, head to the toy shops, and buy all in sight for her age group…

Cash in hand we enterered the first store. What about this? My husband points toward the plastic fantastic area (you know, where all toys are made from bright plastic), uh, no dear, too plastic. How about this? He points to a play-doh set with some squijy cutters…uh, nah, bit young for that yet (she is only 9 months). Okay, I like this…he points to a musical toy. I snap back that she already has plenty of musical toys, and besides, that one is too young for her now anyway. And this goes on and on….. Don’t get me wrong there were a few successes, for example the leap frog infant computer, the cute ‘boy’ baby doll, and the set of colourful jumbo lego.

The experience got me to thinking. Does everyone find it difficult to ‘help’ Santa? Do you have certain toys that are off-limits or that make you wretch at the site (too much plastic fantastic is a definite turn-off for me!)? Or, do you arm yourself with a list and budget and tackle it in an organised fashion? I’d love to know….

Oh yeah….and does it get easier as they get older?
The wonderful mosaic image of Father Christmas by Flickr user jbum

[tags]Christmas, Parenting, Parenthood, Christmas+Shopping, Kids, Santa, Father+Christmas[/tags]