And the rant goes on...

I swore I wouldn't be one of those parents.

I remember as a kid seeing the frenzy that grown men and women put themselves through to buy "the" toy of the Christmas season - Cabbage Patch Dolls. I never particularly wanted one; I thought they were funny looking. But my brother and sister-in-law went through the hassle and got one (or two) for my neice.

Every year, the toy manufacturers try to come up with the "hot" ticket item. And every year, parents go nuts trying to get one for their kids: Power Rangers, Teddy Ruxspin, Xbox, etc. Ordinarily sane adults get completely nutso fighting over toys. They stand in lines for hours - days even - and then fight, even threaten people over the precious toy that Junior or Princess will play for a few days, then throw it in the pile with the other "hot" toys. And then at some point, Mom or Dad will say, "Do you know what I went through - what I paid - for that toy? You better pick it up and play with it before I strangle you!" Or something like that...

And all the while, the toy manufacturers are laughing like hyenas and going "Cha-ching, cha-ching!" because they've made only a "limited" number of the hot toy and they've sold out. Who cares about mass hysteria! They're getting rich!

So when I became a parent, I swore I wouldn't fall into that trap.

And then I saw the new "Tickle Me Elmo", known as "Elmo T.M.X."

So naturally, I figured I've got to get one for Matthew because he'll love it. I went to all the websites: Fisher-Price, Target, Walmart, Kohl's, KB Toys - all sold out. I put myself on a waiting list, then hit the other sites: Ebay and Amazon.

Can I just tell you much it sickens me to see people running out and purchasing these things and then selling them for $200 a pop! But even sicker are the people who will pay that kind of money for it!

So, I am not going to become one of those parents. I can't afford to pay that kind of money for a toy that will wind up in the bottom of the toybox - or in the toilet. Besides, Matthew is not even three yet. He won't even miss it. He'll have plenty of other stuff to open on Christmas day. And his birthday is around the corner after that.

Still...

If you're in a store and pick one up, I'll gladly pay sticker price and shipping.

In Him,
Donna