The Evil Twin and I saved a lot of Buddy's nicer toys. He wanted to save them for Buddy to give to his children. I wanted to save them in hopes of having a sibling for Buddy. (the Evil Twin never wanted a second child after Buddy's perilous prematurity - and he thought one was plenty. Of course, Sissy has him wrapped around her little finger!).
So, we saved some of the nice blocks, shape sorting toys, wooden puzzles, books, etc. There is a lot of stuff! Buddy was the first and only grandchild on my side until he was 6, and my parents were very generous - he was showered with gifts all the time.
As Sissy gets older, we've been bringing some of the age appropriate toys out for her to enjoy.
Sometimes, there is a lapse in judgment on our part and we bring out something with lots of parts or one that she is not able to master just yet and that is followed by frustrated howls on her part.
During these times, we will look at each other and say, "We'll have to wish that one into the cornfield."
Basically, that means the item goes back into storage for a while.
One of the first toys that met this fate was a shopping cart with play food items. Initially, we thought she'd have fun pushing it around. But, what actually happened was that each and every play food item was strewn out on the floor, all willy-nilly.
We had just overestimated her level of imaginative play at that stage, so the shopping cart and it's contents were "wished into the cornfield."
When it's appropriate, it will reappear from the cornfield.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could wish all life's troubles into the cornfield?
That's the first time I've come across the expression "wished into the cornfield". My parents never did that. Most of the time, if I had a toy I couldn't figure out, it ended up broken from my attempts to force it to do what I wanted. I had a wild imagination and I usually pushed my toys beyond their structural limitations. Having a BB gun and a bunch of GI Joes lying around didn't help either.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great expression. My mom wished all my stuff into the cornfield when I moved out, unfortunately her corn field was the trash dumpster.
ReplyDeleteLove the Twilight Zone reference. That's a real good thing you done wishing it to the cornfield. Yup a real good thing. Oh.. by the way I could have told you she wasn't ready for that BB gun ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard that expression, either. I like it, though.
ReplyDeleteSince we live in a small home with NO storage space, all (or most, anyway) of Nooze's old toys go to charity or younger friends.
Bi-annually I go through thegrandsons toys (just as I did with my kids), and we have 2 piles - one is for totally used up "not worth saving" toys, and the second is for the donation pile. This year's donations went to a local family who suffered the loss of their home to a fire. Thegrandson feels all warm and fuzzy (we do also) when he can make another child happy after losing something personal.
ReplyDeleteAfter our home burned to the ground in '84 - my kids were 6 and 8 - the donated toys they received were manna from heaven - the smiles on their faces were irreplacable.
Since our litle ones are about the same age, I too have the same problems. In fact, my Bug LOVES the play food, he even pretends to cook me stuff like hamburgers and chocolate...and just like yours...it is infact strung all across the house. I have spent most of this morning picking up fruit, hot dogs, chips, fries, crackers...you name it. Just to do it again in about an hour. It's exhausting!!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard that phrase before but it's a great one!
Hacksaw - it's from a Twilight Zone ep. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe Girl - sorry 'bout that! :-(
Ron - The Evil Twin said yours was a perfect response. I actually only vaguely remember that episode.
Renn- Our old house had no storage, which makes me wonder how we kept all this junk so long....
themom - since there will be no more young'uns here, we'll sort thru and donate some and keep some as Sissy gets older (keep things they may want to pass on to future grandkids).
Chandra - I think the shopping cart and food may get a second chance soon. I feel ya on picking up all the play food!!!
That's the first time I've heard "wished into a cornfield" too. lol But I think I'm going to start using it!
ReplyDeleteFrom your mouth to God's ear. All our troubles should be wished into the cornfield!
ReplyDeleteI will be stealing that expression! Toots has sooooooooo mnay stuffed animals that I will be wishing into the cornfield!!
ReplyDeleteCan you wish nasty Ex's into the cornfield? If so...I'm in.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog.
I'll be back for sure!
Honeywine - it might come in handy for lots of things.
ReplyDeletekenju - we can still try! :-)
Momma - those stuffed animals reproduce, I'm almost convinced!
BTM - You can give it a try! Welcome - and thanks for stopping by. :-)
I'll get alot of miles out of wishing things to the cornfield now.
ReplyDeleteI love it!
Yeah, I feel your pain. The toy food -- all thirty five pounds of it-- has been hanging around for four years now. I clean it up ten times a day until I force it into the toy rotation vault.
ReplyDeleteThat's where we put things away and bring out new ones so they don't end up with a bunch of things they are sick of.
When we get them out again in a month or two it's like Christmas. We're cheap like that.
I know some people I would like to wish into the cornfield. Oh, yes indeedy, I do. XD
ReplyDeleteahhh kids and tons of toys.... not something im looking forward too lol
ReplyDeleteI've got some troubles to throw into the cornfield! Seriously, I admire your organization to be able to put certain things away and know when to bring them back out. For the longest time I saved lots of Haley's things thinking I'd have another baby. By the time she was five, I figured if I did, I'd want all new stuff anyways.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I joke and say that the mob has put out a "hit" on a toy. They always end up wearing concrete boot, and taking a swim with the "fishes":P
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