BAKUGAN

Anyone with a son between the ages of 5-10 knows (0r will soon know) about these interesting toys - Bakugan balls. First of all, I took a picture next to the card, which is the size of a baseball card, so you could see how SMALL these toys are. They are about the size of a quarter but they are round. There is a little magnet that holds them together and when you roll it over the card (which has a piece of metal in it) the ball opens and reveals a little. . . . umm. . . . I have no idea what it is and Griffin isn't home to ask. I'll call it a monster for this story. It might be a robot or an alien creature but I'm not sure.

So Griffin has seen these advertised on tv for the past several weeks and has been talking about them a lot. I only half listened because he frequently has a new toy that he'd like to get. It wasn't until a week ago that some of my friends on my Internet board started talking about Bakugan that I became more interested in this toy. All of their little boys were into Bakugan balls. The kids were earning money to buy them and collect them. I thought, OK, I've got to see what these are about.

So I go to Target for some things and decide to go to the toy isle. Guess what? The Bakugan balls were SOLD OUT. Then 2 days later, I went to Meijer and guess what? They were sold out there as well. WOW, what kind of toy is this, I thought? So the other day I was at Meijer and they had a large array of Bakugan balls in stock. I near FELL OVER when I saw them. I thought to myself this can't possible be what all the hype is about. These balls are only the size of a quarter. Maybe these are the mini version (you know, like Webkins/Lil'kins). So after examining them for at least 5 minutes, I decided it was the right thing and to buy a package for Griffin. A package of one (yes, these tiny things come in ones) was $5.00. And a package of 3 was $12.99. CRAZY prices if you ask me for what you get. So I got the package of 3. There was a package of red, blue or gray. I picked the gray.

When Griffin got home that afternoon from school I told him I had a surprise for him. I seldom purchase toys unless it's a holiday so it was a big deal that I did this. I sat him down and said that I was so proud of how well he's been getting ready for school in the morning, how he's been so good at helping with his lunch/backpack, how proud we were of his behavior at school, blah, blah, blah so I got this for you. And I hand him the Bakugan balls.

OMG - he was THRILLED. Jumping up and down, totally excited. Before he opened the package I said, "G, there were other colors, do you like this one?" "Oh, yes Mommy, this is great." So off he goes to play with his Bakugan balls.

He was in the family room and I was at the kitchen table on the computer and he says, "Mommy, I want to get more of these for my birthday." (By the way, his birthday is in Feb.)
Me: "Great idea. We can do that."

5 minutes go by. . . .
G: "Mommy, I want to get more of these for Christmas."
Me: "Great idea, we can put them on your Christmas list."

5 minutes later . . . . .
G: "Mommy, you said they came in other colors. What were the colors?"
Me: "Red and blue."
G: "Red? Mommy, I want the red ones. The red ones are fire. That's what I want."
Me: "Well, I'm sorry. You just got those and you can ask for the red ones for Christmas."
G: "But I want the red ones NOW. Where is my wallet? I want to go buy the red ones now!"
Me: "No Griffin, we are not going to the store to buy you more Bakugans. You need to be happy with what you have."

So we went back and forth for a LONG time on this subject and I tried to use this as a teaching moment. But do you see what happened? He went from a) having nothing to b) having just what he wished for and was hoping for: A Bakugan ball to c) completely dissatisfied with what he had to d) wanting even MORE than what he originally wanted.

What a lesson. How many times have we prayed for something only to be given it then not been satisfied? How many times have we told God, "God, I'll be happy with __________ "- you put whatever you want in there. And then what happens? We get it and it's not good enough. Or big enough, or pretty enough or on and on.

Thank you God for my son who was able to teach me a lesson about my wants and needs.

P.S. After our little talk (ok, it was a long talk) about all of this, G has not asked one time for a new Bakugan ball.