Avoiding American Girl...for now

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Scenes from a Saturday afternoon...

Kaitlyn: "Mom, can we go to the American Girl store?"

Me: "What Kaitlyn? You want to the Merry Go Round store?"

Kaitlyn: "No! The American Girl store!"

Me: "Huh, the American Turtle store?"

Kaitlyn: "Forget it, Mommy!"

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Phew, crisis averted. Ever since the American Girl doll store opened up in the Mall of America, I've been nervous that the girls will want to go there and then they'll fall in love with these dolls, the outfits, the accessories, the HAIR SALON!, and I'll end up in debt and with a monster headache.

We've been to the mall a couple times since it opened and we've managed to stay outside of the bright red vortex of evil.

It's just a doll store, you say? Sure, you can say that, if you are okay spending $90 on a naked doll. Naked because it costs extra to clothe them apparently. Doesn't it? Ugh. I am sure at some point the girls will get their hands on one of these dolls--hopefully by way of generous grandparents or aunts. I just have a hard time paying that much money for. a. doll.

I don't know what it is that has caused such a visceral reaction to these dolls. I guess it is because I feel like this whole American Doll racket is being marketed to death and that we as parents are just suckers who fall into the trap. I am not faulting other parents or family members who buy these dolls, they are really nice and they are very well made. I just don't want to be one of those parents with the $90+ credit card charge for a doll. At least right now. This is so not like me. I am the one who buys the kids toys and clothes and books and art stuff whenever I am at Target, without fail. There's just something about this store.

I feel used.

I feel like the American Girl doll people are laughing at all of us parents who get sucked into their grip. Like, "Ha, just hand me your wallet and credit cards now. You are going to be here for a while..."

Perhaps if we weren't on a spending freeze because of the economic uncertainty that swirls all around us, I would probably be more open to getting these dolls. I have to admit that I am sooo their target market. I'd probably even buy one for myself. However, times are tight. Well, sort of--we're making them tight so we can build up a nice reserve in case one or (gulp) both of us gets the ax at work.

So, maybe when the economic black clouds have lifted I'll give in and get the girls these dolls. But until then, I'll try and change the subject every time she asks to go there, I'll throw away the American Girl ads in the newspaper, and I'll avert their eyes to any American Girl ads or storefronts in their purview.

That might buy me some time.