“I want her to be able to look back,” Ms. Hunt declared, “and say, ‘Even though they were tough times, my mom was still able to give me stuff.’ ”Stuff? Imagine the tender memories of that little girl, telling her children how she found "stuff" under the tree. So much "stuff" that she can't remember exactly what it was she got that year.
What about fathers? Don't they buy presents too? Are they cutting back? This is what the article says:
In this economy, nearly everyone is forgoing indulgences, and many fathers will no doubt sacrifice this year to put toys under the tree.Did the reporter actually talk to any fathers? It's not clear. The story does quote two men, however: a retail analyst and the CEO of Toys R Us. Why not pose the question to them? As a reader, I'd like to know if she did ask them about this issue and what they said about their personal spending.
A refreshing contrast from yesterday's NYT, in an obituary for one of the inventors of the Slinky:
Having raised six children largely on her own and also enjoying a gaggle of grandchildren, Mrs. James was adamant about keeping the original Slinky affordable. In 1996, when the price ranged from $1.89 to $2.69, she told The New York Times: “So many children can’t have expensive toys, and I feel a real obligation to them. I’m appalled when I go Christmas shopping and $60 to $80 for a toy is nothing. With 16 grandchildren you can go into the national debt.”
