It seems like since we got cable a month ago (something I am starting to regret, I should have stuck
to my guns and continued to say no) every time my son and I go to a store he is
now asking for lots of brand name things. I never raised my son like that, I
usually buy generic for everything possible because generic brands do not donate
to political causes are are often made in the US. Finally I got so fed up I sat
J.D. down and asked him why he kept asking for certain kinds of things instead
of what he wanted (ex: he asked for Dan-a-nino yogurt instead of just
yogurt). He said because these were the better things to have and that kids
really liked them. I asked him why he thought that and he said because he saw it
on the TV. I was so floored that the creators of these commercials manged to
do their jobs so well that my 5 yr old was showing signs of being
brainwashed. Oh crap, what is the right thing to do? I don't want my son to grow
up jaded but at the same time I don't want him to be one of those kids that only
want the name brands and are stuck up. So I sat J.D. down and took a deep
breath. He gave me "my Mom is going crazy" look. I asked him why people made
commercials and he said "I don't know". Ok well, here's my 'in'. I said "J.D.
people only make commercials so that people will buy there stuff". He looked
serious and thoughtful and asked "why does that matter Mom?" Oh crap this is not
going to be as easy I thought. "Well J.D., sometimes when people are just
trying to get you to buy something they make it look a lot cooler or fun than it
really is and sometimes they even just lie so you will ask your mommy to buy it
for you." At this point I had to stop and ask myself am I going to far? Will my
5 yr old really understand what I am trying to say? I was so happy and floored
when he looked at me and said "so if the TV makes something look really good I
should ask you if it is really that good or if the TV is just trying to trick
me?". Holy crap! My little man sure caught on fast!!! I said "exactly right
J.D.!" He then asked if that why I always use coupons ( I have no clue why he
attempted to connect the two lol). So now that he and I had the 'commercials are
false' conversations I guess it was fitting to have the value conversation? So I
looked at him and said "no J.D., that's not why I carry coupons and use them,
I use coupons and look for sales because it is silly to pay a lot of money for
anything". Of course he gave me the confused look. So I explained that coupons
were like having money in your purse and that sales make it so you don't have to
spend much money to begin with. Once again he got that really serious look on his face. I was
so proud when his only comment was "but Mommy I don't have any coupons, will you
help me find some. Kids really are a product of their environment and I couldn't
be more proud of my son than I am at this moment. At least I know he won't be a
brain washed consumer when he grows up.