Why Every New Parent Needs A Tomagotchi…
The following is a PSA for anyone considering the purchase of a nostalgic Tomagotchi toy for their young children and to not to.
We just welcomed our fourth (and final) baby into our home and just like that our family was complete. Like any good mother I spent months and months planning for his grand debut. Gracious boy that he is, he even threw in an extra week there at the end, just to ensure there was time enough to have everything properly prepared. Unfortunately, in my deep gratitude for that forty first week of pregnancy, I fear I may have overextended my preparedness.
Like we have already established, my being a good mother, led me to consider thoughtful gifts to bestow upon each of my three girls from their small brother. These gifts would serve to aid each child as they adjusted to his new presence and were hand picked by yours truly. The fact that they were not Pinterest curated most definitely put another feather in my cap because it was surely only a matter of time before others realized the genius and followed suit. I will keep you in suspense no longer….Tomagotchis. I bought Tomagotchis. Hand held digital alien pets to care for while mom cares for the new baby and of course a plush baby doll for the one year old. All in all, a family effort of caring for others needs. I’m sure you too can picture it much like I did, all of us probably in a row feeding our various babies and animals while we cracked jokes and gave each other compliments. And that’s basically what life has looked like ever since.
If I had to do something different, I may have considered a baby doll that wasn't plush because my daughter, likely by accident, threw it to the ground and stepped on it. However, overall, very happy with the purchase. Two thumbs up. As for the tomagotchis, my children were given a lifelike opportunity to prematurely immerse themselves into their future life of caring for a newborn with these demanding digital pets. It grew them up in so many ways as they beeped incessantly at a volume no one in the home could ignore. I've never felt so validated. These alien pets couldn’t raise themselves. They needed medicine, food, good hygiene habits, attention, and of course in some instances discipline because life is not a free ride of getting everything you want. With the exception of course of my dear children and these profoundly thoughtful gifts they received. I will say the grandparents struggled some with the volume level and persistence of the tomagotchi needs, but that only led to a sooner reunion upon my arrival home from the hospital. Within twenty minutes of my return, they all appeared with their beeping pets in hand. My second struggled with the taxing nature of constant care and we tragically had to endure a handful of tomagotchi passings. When asked why her dear pet ended up in a space ship, we were given the rare opportunity to discuss what it means to pass away. Luckily, postpartum leaves plenty of room for emotions and we were able to experience raw moments of grief side by side by side by side. RIP little alien pets, thank you for the valuable lessons and extra middle of the night wake up calls.
Moms of littles, I’m telling you, RUN to the store where you can get yours today and before you make that final purchase to NOT TO.
