good to know

Could someone have told me or sent out some kind of memo telling me that my kids could have the time of their lives for a mere 5 cents? Could someone tell me why we ever put anything in their Christmas stockings other then latex balloons? Or why every kid meal doesn't just automatically come with one? I USED TO BE one of those parents that would distract their kids at the restaurants with the balloons. You know, "look kids! a deer!", as we scurried them past. And those waiters or waitresses that offered our kids one, never we're in my good graces. I know, shame on me, all good parents like to be smacked in the back of the head with them on the ride home, or, heaven forbid, walk into the store (to grab some milk) with their hair standing on end. But the appeal of the cheapness and joy-filled fun has changed my tune. Mind you, I will still hone my distraction skills in the presence of it's evil twin, helium-filled balloon. Because that's just a whole different ball game.

So thank you Padington's, for opening my eyes and supplying hours upon hours of entertainment with your balloons on a stick. It only cost us $20 a pizza. (True. We don't go there for your balloons, but still, don't you know there's a recession going on? I kid. Who doesn't love great pizza in an old-school pizza parlor setting.)

But it's good to know, that next time my kids are bored with their $25-$50 toys, all I need to do is run down to the dollar store and pick me up a little piece of latex, blow some air in it, and toss it up into the air, and the gracefulness and shine of this intriguing object will keep them giggling, snorting, grinning occupied until Monster bites a hole in it or it is victim to Buddy's bottom. At which point I will whip out another one and say, "Never fear! Mama-dear is here!" (What? Yeah, probably wouldn't say that, but still...)

And to think all I had to do was give up 1 drink from Starbucks or Dutch Bros (sorry mid-west, east-coasters, you're missin' out), for 6 months of giggly pleasure.

My birthday and Christmas shopping just got a whole lot easier...

Any other good ideas for cheap, and by cheap I mean basically free, entertainment? Do share. I know you've got 'em!