Splurge! Or, don't.

Free.  Zip.  Zero.  Nada.  That's how much we spent on the Bells Choir concert at the library on Monday night.  They had great big humongous bells all the way down to teeny tiny ones.  There were long square chimes with hammers.  They used all kinds of fancy mallets to make unique and interesting tones.  The performers were fun and animated.  We were invited to sing along to some of the songs.  They let the kids try some of the bells.  It was totally cool, educational, and super fun.

$11.  That's how much we spent at an indoor pool.  It had waterslides, a play structure, a lazy river, whirlpools, bubble couch, open swim area, and fountains.  We were there for 2 hours, and didn't stop the whole time.  From one side of the aquatic center to the other - back and forth, back and forth.  We were starving, worn out, and absolutely happy when we left.

One hundred twenty nine dollars and fifty cents.  Whew.  It looks really big all typed out like that.  And it was a big expenditure that we debated over for a long time.  A trip on the "Polar Express", through the snowy mountains and past icy rivers.  Elves serve hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies.  Santa comes aboard and gives every child a silver jingle bell.  Carols are sung, jokes are told.  We left a little disillusioned at the sub-par Santa, gross cookies, and cold hot cocoa.

I left the train feeling exhausted, but not because I had physically burned a thousand calories the way trudging through a swimming pool can.  It was emotional exhaustion.  On the way home I pegged the reason why.  Every turn, every song, every joke I felt I had to really play up.  I needed to get my excitement money's worth.  By darn, I spent over a hundred dollars on this excursion, and those kids are going to be excited whether they like it or not!  As I pushed them into the aisles to sing and dance and snapped photos til my trigger finger bled, I couldn't help but feel a little empty inside.  "Oh, it's worth the money to see that look of wonder and magic in their eyes!" someone told me.  But I saw wonder and magic in their eyes for $11 and for free earlier this week. 

So this, dear readers, is the valuable lesson I learned this evening.  You cannot pay for magic and wonder.  When I spent zero dollars, the evening was what it was.  Mistakes happened, and we laughed.  Mostly, kids just like to explore and experience for themselves, and you never really can tell for sure what is going to strike their fancy and send them into a world of awe.  And quite often, it's something unaccounted for, unexpected, unplanned.  Forget trampling people in Toys R Us for that amazing toy that will change everyone's lives.  It won't.   Don't worry about expensive outings that will create a lifetime of flawless nostalgic memories.  They won't be.   Chill out on buying coordinating outfits and spending hours getting everyone ready for the world's most perfect family photo.  It won't be.   You can get bundles of cheap/free magic and wonder by just being there when your kids create it.