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Under the Microscope: Not keeping up with the Joneses this Christmas
12/17/2009
By Hartley Henry
If the written and verbal requests of relatives and friends are any indication of current and future trends, then it appears that toys and “children’s presents” as we have known them over the years, are a thing of the past.
Time was, when shopping for a Godson, niece, nephew or school friend, one could go into Laurie Dash, Furniture Limited, Cave Shepherd or on Swan Street and pick up a bright red fire engine, police motorcycle, a regular doll clad in casual clothes or even a game of snakes and ladders, ludo or monopoly. The cost of a “present” then was in the vicinity of one’s daily lunch allowance, so a week of foregoing and not buying lunch, could have netted enough pocket money to buy five really beautiful and appreciated gifts.
In today’s Barbados, and I am sure it exists in today’s world, shopping for children between the ages of seven and 15 is like making a lifetime investment. Personally, in my case, I have had the misfortune, for professional reasons, of being away from Barbados for the entire lead up to the Big Day this year. Nevertheless, the phone calls and emails have been coming and I am flabbergasted by the type of requests that I have received from and on behalf of seven to 15-year-olds.
This is truly the computer age. This is the era where shopping for these young ones takes you almost exclusively to the electronic department of your local store, or more accurately, to specialised game and computer stores and, more often than not, to the Internet to purchase an item or gadget costing pretty close to the average monthly salary of a low income worker.
I do not know how parents are contending this Christmas, but I want to suggest that come the year 2010, in order to provide our Children with Christmas gifts that will bring a smile to their faces, we may have to outlaw birthdays, school holidays, family shopping days and even bank holidays.
The type of shopping that is required to please and satisfy the average nine-year-old is ridiculous, to say the least, and it makes me wonder whether widespread access to the Internet is not working to the disadvantage of us parents and adults.
Almost every request I received for a toy or gift this year runs into hundreds of dollars and has something to do with a computer game or gadget, a hand-held game, a cell phone, an interactive brand name doll or some other type of invention that is designed to work perhaps for the day and week of Christmas, before it needs updating and or replacing.
I am surprised that more parents and Godparents are not protesting this trend. Perhaps we should all get together and agree to ban our children from surfing the Internet and coming up with these hot items. Of course I know that is not practical or even desirable, but former politician that I am, I am honestly hurting from the demands I am receiving from persons whom I feel I have a moral obligation to reach out to and touch this and every Christmas season.
Therefore, I have made a decision. Since the traditional toys at traditional toy shops “ain’t saying a pang”, and as I cannot afford to shop in the specialty shops that retail all these computer games and gadgets, I have decided this year that I am shopping at Cloisters and Days and other popular book stores. I know that I will not be the favorite uncle, Godfather or family friend anymore, but it is the best I can do and believe me, it is in the best interest of those kids to accept and appreciate what I am going to purchase.
This is “Book Buying Year” for me this Christmas. I cannot keep up with the Joneses so I am setting a new trend. All you children in that particular parish closest to my heart, please go into any of the bookstores you can find in Bridgetown and identify for me two or three books, whether educational, scientific or mere novels, and send me the names so I can arrange your receipt of gift certificates.
I am this year starting a one-man revolution to change the face of Christmas in the sight of my young friends. Christmas from me to them will not mean a new cell phone, a PSP, a computer program or game or some other type of electronic wizardry. It will also not mean a brand name doll, which, when defrocked, is the same old no-name doll I can buy a dime a dozen at traditional toy stores.
Gifts for them will mean a book that they would like to read but cannot afford to buy. It will mean assistance in procuring a geometry set, electronic calculator, reading light or even a bottle of multivitamins.
But, I surrender. I cannot keep up with the electronic age. I cannot afford those gifts that can only be purchased in Barbados from the Internet, and fortunately or unfortunately for me, I shall not have the time or the opportunity this year to travel abroad and do Christmas shopping for anyone, including my own family.
So I hope I will not be called “cheap” and “old fashioned”, but this year I honestly cannot keep up with cyber demands and I do not wish to “insult” anyone’s child by giving them an ordinary toy.
So please accept my gift offer of books and educational toys and if this is not satisfactory from your point of view, please accept my very best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
The realities of this global economic crunch period dictate that we each cut and contrive this Christmas season. Also, that we control and contain the value systems of our children. The tail cannot and will not wag the dog for me this year, and the bailiff will not visit me early in the New Year.
This is economic crunch time and we each have to match spending to earnings. If we fail to so do, this recession might continue longer than it really needs to.
(Hartley Henry is a regional political strategist. He can be reached at hartleyhenry@gmail.com)
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