Catie graduated from Kindergarten today. I can’t believe she’s old enough to be a first grader. Some moments she doesn’t seem like she could be almost six. Other moments, she’s so confident and astute that I can’t believe she’s really only five.
But last night, on Graduation Eve, I saw a glimpse of our future–her first retail obsession: Silly Bandz. Have you heard of these? Like friendship pins when I was in elementary school, these little bracelets are the hot trend. Collect them! Share them! Swap them with your friends! Beg your mom to search Target for a package–even if you’re Mom is on the third-trimester exhausted side!
Ahhh. Catie’s first retail obsession.
I’ve both waited for and feared this moment.
Longed for because I completely understand the retail obsession–I have understood it since friendship pins. The thing you really want have to have–but can’t find. And the longer you look, the more magical the odd-shaped plastic bands become. Until they’re all you can think about–so much you can’t even concentrate on the graduation tomorrow or the twenty friends you have coming over to celebrate. Even though that’s why your mom is at Target in the first place.
I saw the determination on Catie’s face, and I realized that we had entered a new era. Not unlike I felt the first time I received a rejection letter for my writing. No, it wasn’t good news, but I realized this meant I was in new territory.
I am now the mom of a full-fledged elementary-aged kid.
And that’s the part I’ve feared–if Silly Bandz were on an endcap at Target, they wouldn’t be as magical. So, Catie’s obvious next question…
“I think they’re at Learning Express. Can we go there?”
Did I mention the 20 five-and-six-year-olds coming over the next day? Which was today.
And since I survived today, and tomorrow is the first day of summer, and we have nothing on the calendar, I know where we’re headed…
Learning Express to fulfill a retail obsession.
Learning Express sells out as fast as they get them…..as does Bookworm and Walgreens and CVS. We have been on the hunt for 2 weeks and still no luck. Not sure if it’s just Katy or everywhere. I keep meaning to look when I’m away from here but it’s never worth the effort. If I find them, I’ll pick them up for you so you can get some 3rd trimester rest!