Go Get'em Toys

We have purposely kept the purchasing of toys fairly low-key since we've been home from Africa. Life in America is overwhelming enough. (As are adoption expenses.) We naturally wanted to focus on relationships and on building our family through time spent together as opposed to time spend with an inanimate plastic object made in China. I admittedly have some first-world angst about buying plastic junk, but also, from my vantage point, we already have a LOT of toys - the basement is a sensory-rich environment with a mini-tramp, gymnastics mat, punching bag, ball net, chalkboard, paints, markers, half-a-gazillion stuffed animals, videos, puzzles and games, plus a bookcase filled with hot wheels, legos and musical instruments. And also, the iTouch and iPad that are technically mine and/or Sam's are used primarily by Paul. So he thinks they're his. (Even thought they are NOT.) For the first three months of life with us Paul was more than content with this arrangement. "Paul lot toys," he'd note after playing, sorting, sharing then putting them all away.

So imagine my surprise when, after playing happily in the basement for almost an hour, Paul's five-year-old-buddy-from-down-the-street tromps upstairs with a question. "Where's all Paul's toys?"

Me: "In the basement. On the bookshelves and in the closet." (Thinking - duh, kid, you were just playing with them.)

Buddy: "Why doesn't he have any toys in his room? Why doesn't he have any Power Ranger toys? Why doesn't he have any guns? Why doesn't he have a lot of toys? I have a lot of toys."

Me, gritting my teeth: "Why don't you two go outside and play?"

So they scooted outside to ride bikes (oh, yes, Paul also has a brand-new bike, a scooter, inline skates, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk and half-a-gazillion balls). But now at least once a day Paul questions why he doesn't have any Power Ranger toys. The child doesn't even KNOW from Power Rangers! Nevertheless he wants not one but TWO Power Ranger toys. (One for him and one for Buddy.) "Go get 'em toys, Mum. Go store get 'em toys."

On that note, Trent took Paul for his very first Happy Meal on Saturday after soccer. I had to leave soccer early for field hockey (how DO you parents of multiples do it? I'm filled with angst and guilt whenever I have to miss one child's event for another child's event. Aaagh!). I texted Trent: How's Paul?

Trent: Happy with a happy meal. No wonder kids are fat. This is easier than parenting.

Paul came home with a happy meal rocket launcher spinner toy that he enjoyed launching at the cat. Sorry, cat. Then he went to Buddy's to show him that he, too, now had an inanimate plastic object made in China. Hoorah.

Paul also went to his first American birthday party last week. We tried to prepare him in advance for how parties work here in America - playtime, craft, then cake! Then the birthday boy will open presents. He was excited about all of this until the realization finally sunk in - Wait a minute! The birthday boy keeps ALL the presents? "All, all, all? So many? Why no share?" He listed his friends who he knew were going to be at the party. "No share Buddy? No share Sissy? No share nothing? Keep all, all, all presents?" We almost didn't go to the party he was so upset about this, and as it was we were twenty minutes late. OBVIOUSLY, birthdays at MIS were structured very, very differently.

But we did finally make it to the party and he had great fun! He played in the bouncies and painted a guitar. He early on noticed the balloons tied to EACH AND EVERY chair. "Balloon for Buddy? Balloon for Sissy? Balloon for Paul?" he asked, very intently. "YES!" I assured him, hoping it was true. "Everyone gets a balloon." This was an awesome and amazing revelation for Paul, and he was beyond happy with the idea that everyone got a balloon. In fact, Paul got two! After the party, he bounced home with his two balloons, gave one to his neighborhood friend, after which they tied them to their bikes and rode like maniacs until they popped. A satisfying venture all around.

How do we keep his contentment with "balloons for everyone" and his desire to share presents with others in the face of neighborhood friend's gazillion toys and our own American excess?