On buying toys for Nathan

I've been reviewing our expenses for the past three months (I started making a list since July 1) and was shocked to realize that we've spent quite a lot on Nathan's toys. Around $300 na, hindi pa included yung mga happy meal toys and other educational materials.

At ang dami pa naming naka-line up na bilhin for his birthday and Christmas ha.

I honestly have no idea kung normal ba yun o we are going overboard na. How often should we buy new toys ba?

Now that Nathan is exposed with toy reviews in Youtube, ayun panay na ang request. And mind you, very expensive toys yun ha. Dati-dati kahit isama namin siya sa Toys R Us eh wala lang, ngayon talagang may mga specific toys na siyang gusto.

Mataas pa rin naman ang EQ niya. He's willing to wait. He's expecting us to gift him with a huge Paw Patrol Lookout on his birthday and an animal farm toy set for Christmas. Puwera pa yung requests niyang Peppa Pig House from Lola Lucy and "big" hotwheels from Grandpa. Tapos me batman ang spiderman pa na nadagdag, nakakaloka!

For Christmas, I am planning to wrap at least five toy gifts for him. Para marami siyang bubuksan kasi wala naman ibang magbibigay sa kanya dito. Ngayon pa lang iniisip ko na kung anu-ano ang mga yun at kung magkano ang budget haha.

FORD: "Kaya pala maraming toys si Oliver (his cousin) noong bata. Tingnan mo mukha ng anak mo."

The challenge really is how to control ourselves from buying toys for him. I know that there are many other parents really who spoil their children, but Ford and I grew up in simple families kaya hindi kami sanay sa maraming toys.

Here are the reasons why we keep on buying toys:

• Nathan has no other playmate. I need things to help me entertain him.
• Nathan now appreciates toys. He knows na what he wants. Ford made a promise to him when he was a baby that he will buy him toys pag naglalaro na talaga siya (ayan tuloy, napasubo siya).
• Kahit kami ni Ford, natutuwa sa toys. Dahil nga ba fixated din kami? Katulad sa microwave na ito, ako ang aliw na aliw. And Ford couldn't wait na mas lumaki pa si Nathan para mabilhan niya ng toy soldiers at yung lumilipad na helicopter.
• Toys are relatively cheaper here in Canada kumpara sa Pinas. I am a sucker for great deals, kapag nakakita talaga ako ng mura eh nanghihinayang akong hindi bilhin.
• Because it's hard to say no to your child when you can afford naman yung pinapabili.

Siguro yung last reason ang talagang struggle. Sinabi ko nga yun sa mother ko dati, na mahirap tumanggi sa anak lalo na at may pambili ka naman. Lalo na dito sa Canada na maliit ang denomination ng pera at hindi thousands lol. Parang ang mura-mura lang tuloy ng $49.95 na toy haha.

When I was a kid, I got used to my mom's saying "no" whenever I would ask her to buy me a toy from the market (oo sa palengke na nga lang olats pa rin). Ok lang naman because I knew na wala nga yun sa budget. Hindi naman ako bitter. Kaya nga noong lumaki ako eh saka na lang ako nagbibili ng toys ko. Seriously.

So now that I have a son, ONLY SON mind you, syempre gusto kong malaro niya lahat ng gusto nyang laruin. Isip-isip ko, minsan lang naman siya bata. Saka kinikita naman (ng asawa ko lol) ang pera, ang saya sa mukha ng bata, priceless talaga.

I am thankful though kasi nga hindi pa naman dumarating sa point na nagi-iiyak o nagwawala siya kapag ayaw naming bilhan ng toy (except for the toy vacuum when he was one year old kasi gustung-gusto niyang gayahin ang daddy niya kapag nagva-vacuum). Napapaliwanagan pa namin siya na hindi palaging pwedeng bumili ng toy agad agad and that he has to wait kung may gusto siya. So far, happy na siyang makapag-ikot-ikot lang sa Toys R Us or Disney Store.

Hope he maintains that attitude. I would like to believe that he has his dad's Ilocano blood, matiisiin at matipid haha, kasi pag nagkataon, mapupunta talaga sa kanya ang malaking bulk ng budget namin. Sabi ko naman sa inyo, hindi ko yan matitiis. #BadParenting, I know.