A while back I had read that Toys ‘R Us was in financial trouble so I wasn’t surprised but I was so sad to hear that Toys ‘R Us is closing.
The last few times I had been to Missouri, Addie and I had gone to Toys ‘R Us in Joplin. As soon as they bought their new home, I told Addie that when I came back to see her, we would go to Toys ‘R Us and get her a Barbie house. She loved looking at E.V.E.R.Y. thing in that store. I taught her to look at the “age” limits so she wouldn’t be begging for something that said “Ages 12 and up!” She was 5 when I was there and she would look at some things and say “Oh, that’s for ages 6 and up” and we’d talk about how it might be appropriate for her if she would be very careful about picking up the pieces, etc. Going to Toys ‘R Us had become a tradition and I’m so sad to no longer be able to walk the aisles of Toys ‘R Us with Addie.
When Chad was little, probably age 3 and up, we were living in southwest Louisiana and went to Houston often. We had to pass several Toys ‘R Us stores and Chad called them “The Giraffe Store”. We didn’t have one in our town so he wanted to stop at every one we saw. When we would be coming up near one, we’d try to distract him. If the store was on the left, we’d start pointing to the right and say something like “Was that an elephant over there?” Then one of us would say “No! Look . . it’s a horse and he’s wearing boots and a hat! Chad! Do you see it?” He’d be staring out the window to the right and totally miss Toys ‘R Us on the left. Does that make us awful parents?
Addie and I will have to hang out on the toy aisles at Walmart but it’s just not the same because she goes in there so often. Toys ‘R Us was special because she didn’t get to go there often. I wish I could go to MO today, grab her and run to Joplin and shop at the toy store one last time before they’re gone!
Terri Schanz says
I haven’t been to a Toys “R Us in years, but when my kids were young, we used to shop there often. I liked that we could make one trip there and almost finish the Christmas shopping. One year, one of my boys wanted a work bench that was very popular and hard to find. It was the only thing he asked for. My office was near the store, so I called them ever day for a couple of weeks to see if they had gotten any in, and when they did, I ran right over there and got it. That is the first and last time I’ve ever done that. Now, I mostly shop for toys for the grandchildren on Amazon, unless I’m taking them to pick something out. Then it’s Target, Walmart or Meijer.
Liz says
Maybe Chad can take her there and let you “join” in via webcam…..
Cilla Tyler says
Good idea Liz. And/or call TrU near Chad, ask them if the have a Barbie house, pay for it and have them o shopping with you via web cam. Or e-mail a TrU gift certificate to Chad for the Barbie House. Addie would get a kick out of “shopping” with grandma via the web cam.
Joyce says
I love your distraction method! I had seen that our Toys R Us was closing, but that was before I had heard they were all closing. It’s sad that you and Addie can’t go there together any more.
liz says
I had another idea – teach Addie how to knit or quilt and then you can take her shopping at the local stores. All those colors are so addictive…..
Susan says
The one here closed quite some time ago, and it makes me sad. I had some great window shopping days in there with my children. We didn’t always buy anything, but we loved to go in and see things! There’s really not another store devoted to children’s toys like that … unless maybe you are in Chicago and can go to F.A.O. Schwartz. Or maybe an American Girl Day there where you can see an hour musical, and then go upstairs and see every single thing available for American Girl dolls. The downside to that is having to go to downtown Chicago. =) If she always is in Walmart, maybe take her to Target?
Dar in MO says
We have an American Girl Store in St Louis too and our traffic i not as bad as Chicago. lol
cassews says
Another iconic store bites the dust !
lacefaerie says
I think distractions are a valuable things in the parent’s bog o’tricks! When our girls were little and having a melt down on the long drive home from town, I exclaimed “oh, Christmas cows!” And they spent the rest of trip looking at the cows. They’ve seen thousands of cows, if not hundreds of thousands! I have no idea why it worked, maybe they were looking for cows draped in lights or wearing Santa hats. We still laugh about that!