Rushing the Season(s)

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...."

Oh wait, it isn't Christmas time yet?  It's almost two months away?  Well, you could've fooled me.

Halloween was just last week, and already plastic Santa figures and garlands adorn store windows. Many of them were even there before Halloween.  When I ordered a chai at Starbucks the other day, the cup was red with snowflakes.  Very holiday, if you ask me.

from www.uncrediblehallq.net

It's not like we don't go through this every year, but still, it always bugs me.  What I want to know is, why do retailers always feel it is necessary to get such a huge jump on the season?

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Yes, it’s a Rolling Stones song.  But, more importantly, it’s also one of THE hardest lessons to teach a toddler!  In our instant gratification world, how do we make our kids understand that their desires won’t always be immediately fulfilled?

I suppose I must first divulge that I am a (recovering) shopaholic.  At one point it was severe enough that I probably could’ve used a program or support group of some kind….I’m only slightly kidding. I’m MUCH better now, especially because of this wonderful little person whose needs must always come first, no matter what.