NEW NEW

So - What's with all these new electronic toys that kids get? Typically, although I may be the minority here, it seems these toys are purchased for my children as gifts, not by me. They usually have many different colored lights and sounds that quickly drive a parent insane. And I'm not exaggerating here. To elaborate, in the morning all is good in the world. The kids are happy, and I may even interact a bit - play with blocks or color a bit, but slowly as the day wears on, more and more of these electronic toys make their way out of the toy box and unto the floor. Not only is it a liability to have so many obstructions between the couch and the fridge (the two places I like to visit most in my house), but the noise coming from each one of these toys compounded one on top of the next makes a person crazy. First you think, "that's annoying, but I can deal". Then its, "Wow, that's a lot of noise... I can barley hear (insert activity here) - the other person on the phone, my TV show, myself think!!" Finally, instead of thinking to yourself you shout loudly, "If you don't put that toy away right now, it's going out the window!!" Then, of course, there is the quiet moment afterwards when you think, "Wow... that was intense... it was just a toy after all."

My daughter Claire has a new toy. It's a synthesizer and it has pre-recorded songs on it. All you need to do is press a button and soon there is blaring music to gallop or skip or dance to. Admittedly, Claire is the cutest thing in the world when she is hopping around the room but the music is unbearable. Her favorite of all is titled, "NEW NEW". What is that, and what does it mean? The tune itself is nothing that I've heard before which could be why it's titled "NEW NEW" but they could have made it easier on the parent and just called it "Annoying song that will inevitably make you loose your sanity." Or, if space was an issue, they could just abbreviate it to "Annoying Song".

I guess it's simple enough when your sanity is intact. You just need to sit back and enjoy the gallop.