Darn Retail – I’m not sure I can do it!

Saturday, I wanted to do something special with the kids.  The counselor was working and I didn’t want to stay at home all day missing him.

I asked them “What do you guys want to do?”

“Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall,” the boy’s begged.  Why?

Because it has House of Hoops - Nike and Footlocker’s concept store dedicated to all things basketball.

This is retail heaven to Chandler and Payson.

Problem is the store doesn’t sell anything for kids, only adult sizes.

It’s fun to look, it’s fun to dream.  Chandler wears a men’s small, so there was hope that he might find something.

Mayer cried for black tube socks, men’s size 9-11, priced at $12.00 a pair.

“But, they don’t fit you,” I told him. 

“I like socks when they come up to me knees,” he tried to convince me when something else caught his eye.

“I like these shoe laces.  I’ve always wanted red shoe laces,” he said.

“Mayer, these shoes laces are 54 inches long.  They’re not going to work for your shoes, buddy,” and I was starting to feel horrible.  Why did I bring a 6 year-old into this place? 

A few minutes into my pitiful conversation with Mayer, Chandler interrupted me.

“Mom, there’s Mike Bibby.”

Mike Bibby; a Uof A graduate and player on the 1997 NCAA Championship team and NBA player with the Miami Heat was standing at the check out counter.

My boy’s were speechless.  They watched, they spied, they wanted to see him, smell him, talk to him.

Mike Bibby!

I had my camera.

I stopped him as he walked out of the store.  I had to ask, for my boy’s sake.  Mike was so gracious, spent a few minutes with them and smiled for a photo.

This was the best part about being at the mall and I’m happy to say we left House of Hoops with minimal retail spending.  The boy's weren't sad about all the things I said they couldn't have because they met Mike Bibby.

We browsed the mall a little longer; the Disney Store, Baby Gap (that was a nightmare), Mayer asked for a pogo stick at KB toys and we spent $20 on Wetzel’s Pretzels.

Do I have the ability to shop retail?

Retail shopping is just so expensive and overwhelming and expensive (right, I already said that).

I didn't find anything great for $1.99 like I can at Goodwill. 

No bargaining like at yard sales, plus I have to pay 7.8% sales tax.
None of my money is going to charity, I'm just contributing to good old American consumerism.  

All the packaging, cheap made in China toys and clothing, what’s a girl to do?

Another thing!  At the mall my kids get a case of the gimmies, and I do too.  

Give me this, Give me that!  

I want this and I want that because everybody else wants this and everybody else wants that when the truth is I don’t need any of it. 

I don’t even know what constitutes as a legitimate purchase anymore.  

I used to like stopping into Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and Z Gallery, looking around but I can’t do it anymore.  

I’m shell-shocked; I almost lose my breath at what things cost.  

I feel out of the loop, like I’m missing something that everyone else gets. 

Everyone else is buying, spending, pulling that mug of the shelf at Starbucks for $15.00 and they’re enjoying themselves. There’s always some lady with about 10 bags from stores like Crabtree &Evelyn, Sunglass Hut, Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works and Papyrus.  How can she afford all that?  Did she buy a $48.00 bra?  She looks happy, but her purchases cost about as much as my car.

So, here’s my question.  Can I pull of another fabulous Christmas wrapping up other people's trash from thrift stores/yard sales and giving it to my kids?

My kids are getting older. They know more.  Last year, Chandler found a Goodwill sticker on a toy I gave his younger brother.  He called me on it.  My older kids want more.  Trust me, I’ve seen their lists and not much of it comes from Goodwill.

This is going to make for an interesting Christmas.
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