I remember trading stickers fondly.
Well okay, there was sometimes controversy over how many stickers really equaled an "oily." And when those oilys broke - oy vey! Before I had a heavy backpack because of homework, I had a heavy backpack because of my enormous sticker album. We brought our binders to recess, opened them wide, and traded the stickers with extreme precision with our budding negotiating skills. Sure, sometimes people were staunchly opposed to the proposed trade. And then there were those interesting people who wanted to just admire their stickers, but who would never allow a trade.
It was so fun to go to the various stores to find new stickers. I remember laughing when a mail-order company came out with a flimsy "sticker album" set with ill-printed stickers. Nope - I loved selecting thick ones, sparkly ones, large ones, puffy ones, and fuzzy ones in person so I could check their quality and appearance. And of course, I preferred to organize my album the way I wanted it, not in the method of some mass-produced design.
Then about a year later, our big passion was Cabbage Patch Dolls. We brought them to school and stood them up next to our desks. They swung on the swings with us, and were tucked in our shirts as we navigated our way across the monkey bars. Eventually, Cabbage Patch Dolls were banned from school. The administration didn't want to be held responsible in the event that one of those expensive dolls was lost, stolen, or ruined.
Well, with the start of school this year, so began the Silly Bandz trend. I saw students hunched over during recess, spreading their loot on the ground for their friends to see.
Cute! I thought, and flashed back to the whole sticker-scenario. I also thought about those jelly shoes and bracelets we'd wear way back when. Oh, and Garbage-Patch-Kids trading cards.
Then when I was at Disneyland last weekend for the half-marathon, I came across some Disney-themed Silly Bandz. Huh, those are pretty cool, I thought. I wondered if I should purchase a few packages. But in the end, I didn't buy them because neither of my sons have shown an interest in what I assumed was more of a girl-thing.
But then on Tuesday, Splig came home with 5 Bandz, chatting excitedly about the ways he had negotiated trades (who would trade for nothing?) and how he couldn't wait to trade the next day. He told me exactly which stores to purchase the Bandz, since of course he'd need to add to his collection in order to score the "rare" Bandz.
Drat. If I had just purchased some Disney Bandz, he'd have plenty of unique shapes and would have been thrilled.
I had an Amazon gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket, so I explained he'd get a ton of cool Bandz in just a few days. He nodded, understanding that he could get more if he waited. Well, the Bandz shipped yesterday - and are expected to arrive tomorrow.
But Silly Bandz were banned today.
Splig was very sad to inform me that the principal got on the loudspeaker after recess to deem the Bandz banned for being "distracting." OK, I can understand that pseudo-clandestine trades during class is definitely distracting, but were they really a problem at recess? Were kids getting into fights over them?
SIGH.
I get it. And yet I don't.
Tomorrow when the package of Bandz arrives, Splig will be both happy... and sad. Meanwhile, had I just bought those Disney Bandz, he would have been in the thick of it all for these short few days, instead of awaiting a package that he can no longer use at school.
Moral of the story: impulse buying is much better than delay of gratification!
--
Disclaimer: the photo of Silly Bandz contains an Amazon link with my affiliate code in it.
Comments (3)
He can still wear them and play with them at home, with his friends on play dates after school and on the weekend.
Call me an introverted dork, but I swear I had more fun admiring my sticker collection on my own than showing it to others and trading them. Maybe the same will be true for Splig and his Silly Bandz.
Posted by Julie @ The Mom Slant | September 9, 2010 4:32 PM
Posted on September 9, 2010 16:32
It is very disappointing for Splig, but to be honest I agree with the school, that kind of thing is very distracting.
I'm relieved that I don't have to stop my kids from taking stuff to school because here in Japan, anything except textbooks and plain writing instruments (blingy stuff is banned) is forbidden, as are snacks and drinks. It makes life so much easier!
I always found swapping stuff (on playdates etc) just ended up with the brighter or older kids completely doing the younger or less savvy ones out of all the good stuff, and led to endless hurt feelings and arguments. I ended up banning any kind of swaps at our house because I was sick of the constant fallout.
I think I'm a mean Mummy!
Posted by Vicky | September 9, 2010 7:00 PM
Posted on September 9, 2010 19:00
I remember reading earlier in the year that one teacher had confiscated them, and at the end of the day found them stolen out of her desk - while the $20 bill next to them was still there. Whoa.
Have you seen these by the way? Good alternative for Splig!
http://www.coolmompicks.com/2010/06/silly_bandz_now_coming_to_a_ch.php
Posted by Mom101 | September 9, 2010 8:35 PM
Posted on September 9, 2010 20:35