Balloon Post
So to follow up that last long, rambling, and somewhat depressing post, I think I’ll post on helium (it’s lighter).
Emma informed me today that she wants a purple balloon for Christmas. Thankfully, this has been the only “I want” from her so far. I hope it stays that way. The funny thing is that out of all the crazy stuff she could be desiring, a purple balloon might just be hard to find. Why? Because of the current helium shortage around the world.
We are currently at that stage in life where people offer my child a balloon seemingly wherever we go. At the grocery store, at the haircut place. It honestly drives me nuts, but I’m not going to be the evil mom who takes away the balloon after the salesperson has already given it to my child because I think it is environmentally wasteful and is the number one choking hazard for children. No I just give in and let Emma have the stupid balloon. But recently I’ve noticed that the balloons hardly last a few hours in float mode. Apparently because of the helium shortage (and balloons being low on the helium priority list) people are filling the balloons with mostly air and just enough helium for a few hours lift.
So party balloons and free balloons at the stores might soon be a thing of the past. I personally would be quite happy to not have to fight the balloon battle every time we go to Trader Joe’s. But that still leaves Christmas and the purple balloon issue. Will I pay premium helium prices and buy my daughter something I hate? Or perhaps I’ll just cross my fingers and hopes she forgets about it. I think she also expects for there to be snow at Christmas. While that isn’t outside the realm of possibilities here in Chicago, this might end up being a good year to teach the whole expectation versus reality distinction…
Tags:
julieclawson(at)gmail(dot)com 
this post more light hearted? yes
but both post equally honest and uplifting.
i very much enjoy your post Julie.
hmmm perhaps try those metallic balloons instead? they don’t turn into teeny chokable pieces and normally don’t pop either!
They tend to keep their “up” a little longer and just sorta slowly sink toward the ground…. 
~a fellow Mommy
Well, you (obviously
) know your girl better than I. But this was usually my experience with my children in those early years. They would tell me something that they wanted for Christmas (equally winsome and sort of silly). I would squirrel the idea away and overturn the heavens to make it happen. Christmas Day and the grand opening would occur; child looks at parents with quizzical expression, “This is nice, but I got no idea why you’re giving it to me.”
Go with your gut (instinct) and leave the helium where it belongs. Where ever that may be … but my guess is it’s not in balloons!! From your descriptions of Emma … dress up clothes from the thrift store would be a grand idea for her. Cheap, recycles and inspires her imagination.
Shortage of Helium?? Is everything falling apart now? What a world.