War of Consumerism

I'm now in the house where I grew up, staying with my parents for the next month.  I figured that since I'm not returning to work until December, I might as well get a little family time in.  My brother, who normally lives in Los Angeles, has decided to come back home for this great adventure.  (or non-adventure, which might be a good way to describe staying with the family.)  My husband decided one week was an appropriate length for his stay, and so next week he will leave me to family fun.

Three days in, and there has been no conflict of note (at least none involving baby James.)  Until now, that is.  We have just had a round of I-Want-That-For-My-Son-Even-Though-It-Is-Completely-Extravagent. 

It was shocking to my mom, but I wanted to spend $80 on a little jumping toy, the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo, for James.  It's in the spaceship family, and has springs allowing the baby to jump, with toys that allow the baby to play and make annoying noises. It's my mother's worst nightmare: it's not practical, it's expensive, it's not necessary, it takes up tons of room, I can't travel back home with it, and James will only be able to use it on this particular visit - by the time we come back, he may well have outgrown it.  In other words, it's like pretty much every toy on the market. I wanted it because the baby in the picture looked like it was trembling with fun.  I'm a sucker for good photography. 

And she didn't want me to get it.  I wanted it.  We debated.  She tried to fashion a similar toy out of a highchair, a piece of foil, and a paper plate.  (too much MacGyver viewing) I pointed out the rave reviews on Amazon.  I explained that the price was only half that of a dinner out.  I described the expensive classes I had eschewed so that I could spend money on other things.

In the end, I waited for her to leave the house, and cheekily ordered it on Amazon to be delivered next week.  If James doesn't like it, my kind parental hosts may not be so supportive of my whims.  If he so much as giggles the first time he uses it, I'll be in the clear. 

Buying junk for our babies is hard enough, but when you do it in a semi-public forum, it becomes downright painful!