I Wasn’t Finished!

by Marinka on December 16, 2009

Oh, I’m sorry. Did you think that I was done discussing holiday gifts?

Well, I’m not.

Because as I mentioned yesterday, my 11 year old daughter asked for a laptop. She’s been wanting a laptop for months and has tried several strategies to get one.

Strategy: She asked for one.
Result: We said no. (I really don’t get why people think this whole parenting thing is so tough).

Strategy: She told us that everyone else in her class had one.
Result: I emailed some of the moms in the class and within ten minutes had evidence that not everyone had a laptop. Rookie mistake, young daughter.

Strategy: She told us that she needed it for homework.
Result: Hmm.. That sounds educational. And generally, we say “yes” to all things educational. But still, no. Because I remember how when she was 2 years old, everything was “no”. How do you like the shoe being on the other foot now, kid?

Strategy: She told us that she really wanted it for her 11th birthday last summer, more than anything.

Result: Ok, you can have it, but it will be the only gift you get from us, and from both sides of grandparents.
Decision: She decided that she did not want to get only one gift. No laptop.

Strategy: She told us that she really wanted it for Christmas 2009, more than anything in the world.
Result: Ok, you can have it, but it will be the only gift you get from us, and from both sets of grandparents.

She agreed!
Sold!

Husbandrinka and I each had a conversation with our respective sets of parents.

I can only imagine Husbandrinka’s conversation with his.

Husbandrinka: We are getting our daughter a laptop for Christmas. It will be from Marinka and me and both sets of grandparents. Please do not get her any other gifts.

Husbandrinka’s parents
: You are very wise and we will do what you tell us. May we get her a stocking stuffer?

Husbandrinka: I am not only wise, but generous. A stocking stuffer is ok. But nothing more.

Husbandrinka’s parents: You have been very clear, wise and generous. We will do what we’ve been told.

My conversation with mama went a little differently:

Marinka: Mama, we are getting our daughter a laptop.

Mama: A LAPTOP? Whole country crazy, children have laptop. Why she need laptop, she glued to big computer, listening to that song about motel keys being lost. What is lost is childhood. Children should play, not watch YouTubes.

Marinka: So, the laptop will be from all of us.

Mama: I disagree with decision. Children too spoiled. And too electronic.

Marinka: And we’re asking you not to get her any presents.

Mama: Ok, so this year, you get her laptop, next year car, yes? Because after laptop, disappointment in normal things.

Marinka: No, no car next year. And now, Mama, I need to get off the phone because my tongue is bleeding profusely and I am starting to choke on my own blood.

But that wasn’t enough.
Yesterday, Mama told me that she asked each kid for a list of three things that they wanted and that she would pick one to buy. Young Ladrinka came up with some Sponge Bob Square Pants paraphernalia and in a typical suck up move, some books.

This is what my daughter came up with:

Swarovski Octea Mini. Retailing for $750

Swarovski Octea Mini. Retailing for $750

What the?
And then, she wrote a little note to Mama that this watch was what she wanted with her whole entire heart, all four chambers, but if it wasn’t possible, then she would accept the CD with the song “When You Touch Me” on it.

Mama may never recover.

One year ago ...

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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }

Kathy December 16, 2009 at 1:52 am

Your daughter is brilliant! My 15year old has a lap top and wants a Mac cause hers is so 4 years ago. So she has trashed hers and basically it is broken and now I have to fight just to get on mine! So that is how she worked a new laptop but it’s not going to be a Mac it’s going to be her old one fixed!! Ha! she is not that crafty.

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Kari December 16, 2009 at 2:28 am

Smart girl. Wonder where she gets it from…? 😉

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Noelle December 16, 2009 at 2:38 am

And I was worried about negotiating with my already skillful four year old as she gets older. No worries. I’ll just drop her off at your place 🙂

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Sorry For The Convenience
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 3:22 am

So, wait. How much is the Swarovski Octea Maxi? She may be saving Mama some money.

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christine December 16, 2009 at 3:40 am

I like how your mom talks. She sounds like a good woman.

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Jennifer December 16, 2009 at 7:53 am

AIM HIGH!

At that age everything is wanted with all your heart – hell I still want a new laptop with all my heart but I didnt whine about it BUT my lovely new husband had me a brand new computer built and is waiting for me in England so I guess I can’t complain but ohhhh to be young and just WANT the world!

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Petra aka The Wise (Young) Mommy December 16, 2009 at 8:09 am

Hilarious. I love your mother with all chambers of my heart.

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Maureen@IslandRoar December 16, 2009 at 8:25 am

Wow, your daughter has good taste, huh?
My 2 older kids got laptops for HS graduation. My youngest must still suffer on the family computer because I am just that mean.

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OHmommy
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 8:53 am

The reason why I used a blue marker and drew a triangle on the back pocket of my Venture jeans was because my Mama never listened to my heart and was convinced that I wasn’t the only child in junior high w/o a pair of guess jeans.

I still have nightmares about people laughing at me.

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Vicki
Twitter:
December 17, 2009 at 7:17 am

I had it even worse. Not only did I not know about Guess jeans, but my parents also did not want to buy me the blue marker.

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Wendi
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 8:56 am

How much does your daughter charge an hour for her services? Because I could really use a new watch, too.

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Heather, Queen of Shake Shake December 16, 2009 at 9:13 am

I guess there ARE some benefits to living in Alabama. I’ve never heard of Swarovski watch, much less the kids. We can’t want what we’s ain’t go no idea it even exists!

Also, I now consider myself getting off cheap when I dropped $120 on ONE lego set.

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MJ December 16, 2009 at 9:15 am

Ha, we’ve got one laptop (mine for work and school) and a desktop, that hangs out in the living room… That’s the only computer my kids will EVER use as long as they live under my roof. I’ve seen what teenagers get themselves into when they have their own computers and it’s not in a central, family location. My step sister was 12 years old, sending nude pictures of herself to guys at school……. Yeah…… NOT gonna happen… My oldest is almost 9 and gets on the computer once every few months.

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hokgardner
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 9:22 am

My 6yo daughter tried the “every girl in my class has them” with earrings, accompanying her argument with lots of tears. Once I pointed out that one girl with pierced ears does not a class make, she changed to just plain old crying.

Still didn’t work. But if she had done it in front of my mom, they would have been on their way to the mall faster than I could blink.

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becky
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 9:28 am

This was hysterical! I love the voices… I can just hear your mom.

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christy December 16, 2009 at 9:29 am

Oh my god – you, your daughter, and your mama crack me up! Such a funny post!!!

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Kati December 16, 2009 at 9:49 am

Your daughter is awesome, she cracks me up.
Both my boys got Dell mini laptops for Christmas this year. 🙂

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forsakenidentity December 16, 2009 at 10:09 am

She’s getting off WAY too cheap.
I got my 1st laptop at the age of 17, and it was for my birthday and Christmas combined, plus from my ‘rents and both sets of grandparents.

Then again.. I proposed the whole thing myself.

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traci December 16, 2009 at 11:49 am

You’re brilliant.

Now with her very own laptop she can find even more item$ $he want$ with all four chamber$ of her heart.

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Janet December 16, 2009 at 12:50 pm

Entries like these, where you’ve got me spitting my lunch all over my keyboard due to uncontrollable laughter, are part of the reason you’re my favorite blogger.

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Kiki
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 2:19 pm

great post. your mama is a stitch. i agree with her over the state of young people in this country, heck, most of the world. i fear for my own future when my son starts begging for a Wii, laptop, I-pod, cellphone, etc.
i am a hyprcrite, though. i am the teen who got a Rolex when she asked for it, but all this electronic mumbo-jumbo wasn’t around when i was our kids’ ages, so what we gals wanted was jewelry and cds. i did start babysitting at age 12, and used my own money to buy clothes and my first car. i will just make my son work for what he wants.

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Kiki
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 2:31 pm

in case any folks commenting on this post read my comment and question the meaning of, “stitch.” it’s an old-school term my mom in law uses to say someone is funny, or causes her to laugh. thanks.

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amy2boys
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 3:15 pm

“What is lost is childhood. Children should play, not watch YouTubes.”
Heh.

I am a lot like your Mama. Except I’m only 42, and I’m not Russian, or an immigrant. And English is my one and only language. So basically she’s just more charming about being “old school.”

We don’t even own video games. No Wii. No DS thingy. My son (age 7) doesn’t know how to operate our universal remote control for the tv. (We have to turn the channel for him!! Isn’t that crazy?) He does have one computer game. He plays it regularly once every 3 months.

I’m also like your daughter. She has excellent taste!

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Suzy
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Payback for when she was 2. Brilliant.

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Aunt Becky
Twitter:
December 16, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Your daughter is a Mini-Aunt Becky. A swindler at heart. Loves it.

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Marinka December 16, 2009 at 4:16 pm

oh, Lord. Please take the “mini-Aunt Becky” part back. Please. I’ll get you cash.

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anna see December 16, 2009 at 5:34 pm

I don’t know whether I’ll recover either! Can’t wait to hear what happens.

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Tracey December 16, 2009 at 7:54 pm

Oh my lord, this made me snort onto my keyboard… I think you’ve got a slick daughter, Marinka.

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Braja December 17, 2009 at 12:13 am

There’s a holiday?

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Elisa
Twitter:
December 17, 2009 at 4:13 am

That proves it. Girls are more expensive. because now it’s not just beauty, clothes, shoes and jewelry, we got into electronics too. I have two daughters. This is NOT very promising.

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Reiven December 18, 2009 at 9:44 pm

roflmao!!!

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