I’m so grateful that in the past two years there hasn’t been a single must-have toy that the under 5 set desires at any cost to their parents. We all remember the Tickle Me Elmo craze – thankfully I had no children at that point. I can’t imagine the anguish of parents actually going out of their way to obtain one of those red muppets so it could torture them with his maniacal laugh.
Remember the Cabbage Patch Kid craze of the early 80’s? Yeah, I was one of those kids. And I remember my grandmother went out in the pre-Christmas crowds to fight for one of those moon-faced dolls. I’m amazed she didn’t get trampled by the more aggressive parents – who knew grandma was so tough? At Christmas I unwrapped that yellow box, and got to hold my first (of many) Cabbage Patch dolls – her name was Madeline Eva. I still have that doll, and she still holds a place in my heart, even more so now because I know my grandmother put so much effort into making sure I got that special toy.
Would I do the same should that must-have, hard-to-find toy come along that captures Cordy’s attention? Of course! After all, Aaron and I have plenty of experience, after hunting down the rare PS2, Wii, and the Furby. (What? Can’t a woman in her mid-20’s want a Furby? They were cute!) Aaron has also been through his fair-share of doorbuster deal crowds the day after Thanksgiving. We can deal with the crushing crowds, the line jumpers, and the store-to-store searching. It’s the thrill of the hunt, right?
Sure, that toy might soon become some trinket tossed aside for the next obsession, but it also just might be the doll that still brings back warm memories every time she looks at it, 25 years later.
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My MIL tracked down the Tickle Me Elmo X. Q was a little young for it at the time, so it pretty much freaked him out. The adults all found it quite amusing though.
You know, before the Tickle Me Elmo craze had hit I actually snagged one for my oldest when he was all of 1. Then realized he was terrified of the dang thing and sold it once the craze started. Ended up selling it for what we bought it for to a Mom who couldn’t afford the 500 they were going for for her son.
I still have my cabbage patch doll packed away too and yes, it means far more now than it did then because I know what kind of hell they were to get.
Fun post! I’ll have to see if I can do this one…
I hear that the grandmother’s were the most viscious. You never mess with a woman’s grandkids.
I didn’t get one then, but I did actually go buy a CPK as an adult because I had always wanted one.
Ah, the CPK’s. I think I had five. Or was it six? I could check in my basement (yes, I still have them. so?!), but who cares, really? I do remember the name of my first one, though: Rachelle Lorraine. Funny how these things stick with us, huh?
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog today!
I absolutely loved Cabbage Patch dolls!! My fiance’s daughter got her first one for Christmas this year and she loves it. She loves playing “mom”.