Lessons Learned, Part 2: Money and Kids

When my first son was born, like many, we were so blessed with lots of gifts and “stuff” for him. You know what I’m talking about parents – when for a few moments, you feel like Babies R Us has set up a new store right in your living room. But wading through the knee-high sea of toys, there are some great lessons learned from these little grins.

I mean, I had heard other parents say that they had all these toys and their baby was happy just playing with a box of kleenex, but that couldn’t be true, could it?

So when this little love was about 6 months old, one thing we didn’t have yet was an exersaucer-thing. I think maybe a friend had one for her baby at the time and it looked awesome. So one day we marched to Babies R Us, paid full price for a brand new one and plopped it down for this little guy to love.

He did enjoy it, I will say that.

lessons learned from my baby

But, not very long after, my parents were at a baby-sale of second-hand items. They found one of those jumperoos that hang in the door frame that apparently they had when I was a baby and gifted us one.

I have to admit I was skeptical about it at the time for many reasons, not the least of which (I hate to admit now!) was that it was “used” before…but they insisted on hanging it up and giving it a go with my son.

lessons learned from this cutie

Needless to say by this adorable grin, he loved it. And quite possibly loved it more than the full-price exersaucer.

Cost of the jumperoo? $1.50.

Lessons Learned

Babies certainly don’t need brand new, full-priced stuff. I’m not even sure grown-ups do. Either way, lesson to me, hand-me-downs and second-hand stuff rocks.