Windup Chickens, Tears, and Frazzled Moms.

There is a number of stores that I cannot visit while I am with my daughter, all due to huge displays with toys and candy by cash registers that are low to the ground, within child's reach. Among the worst offenders are Borders and Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames. I understand it is done deliberately. Children start playing with toys while parents are waiting in line for the next available cash register. When parents refuse to buy the toy kids usually get upset, cry, refuse to leave.

Recently I visited Ben Franklin in Redmond to explore their framing shop. They have a huge small toy rack right by the cash register that was of great interest for my daughter. She refused to leave the store. I had a lot of trouble putting her in the car after carrying her out of Ben Franklin. She was so upset she didn't get a windup chicken or some other little stupid toy, she was inconsolable.

I talked to the manager named Beth. She refused to give me her last name. She felt very comfortable with the way those displays were set up. She also refused to give me the name of the person who made the decision to position those toys right by the cash register. She told me she knew they are taking advantage of people with kids, but, according to her, it was just regular merchandising. In other words, she was ok with it. My daughter's tears were ok with her.

I am sure every mother, father, caregiver, encounters this issue on a regular basis. I am also aware that these practices are not illegal. But lets talk about moral issue here. My choice is either cave in and buy the stupid toy and teach my child a wrong lesson, or force my daughter in the car listening to her cry while my heart is breaking.

I wish there was a way to regulate this kind of displays so that people with young kids can shop in peace without traumatizing their children.

Trip to the museum

Recently we went to the local children's museum.  Of course, I took some pictures.  It's a compulsion, I know ;)  Here's my favorite out of the bunch.  If you want to see more, they are on Lana Kogan Photography Facebook page.