the probing aliens left this out of the fine print

So I started Christmas shopping via Amazon as Planet Earth went on sale (the boxed set of Planet Earth, Ganges, Wild China, and Galapados of course immediately dropped price right after I purchased Planet Earth and Galapados, which is just my luck) and I am seriously excited about watching this Christmas Day with Child. There's also a documentary on Yellowstone, but I'm trying to find the one that says we'll all die in a fire when Yellowstone volcano goes off, because that's just awesome.



Many years of parenthood have finally ground into me that if I treat Child, at least as far as presents, as an extension of me, it's like ten times easier to get him gifts. Sure, he likes action figures and whatever, but this is the kid who steals my special edition LOTR the second I bought them and learned Elvish or whatever from the extras, okay? There is no building set on earth that he does not find awesome. And if it's computer or game related, of course he wants it, which is why I'm staring at an X-Box, because sure, I am a terible parent who buys all the major game consoles and has games falling out of every cabinet we have, he really wants to play Halo and I understand that need. Plus, it's Halo. I mean--*helpless*--what kind of parent does not get the awesome of Halo?

It's one of those things I think only gamer parents or geeky parents understand immediately. My boss looked at me for a moment: "You have a P3 and a Wii," he says in bewilderment. "But you cannot play Halo 3 OST on a Wii, sir," I respond helplessly. "Your child is spoiled," he said blankly. "I didn't get him another laptop?" I countered. "...because he's getting mine when I buy a new one." My boss: "Does he have any clothes at all?" Me: "..school uniforms? I think? We have a lot of books!" Him: "What about shoes?" Me: "I've seen him wearing them?"

He does! We go to Target and buy like, whatever is wearable and a couple of outfits for going places that aren't school, and my sister does not get this at all, because I'm a total clotheshorse (and she's even worse; dear God), but Child? Not so much, not being a teenager yet. Everything he gets that's not dress or visiting clothes is pretty much stuff that can be destroyed in under five minutes next time he wants to randomly dig a hole for purposes I try not to discover in teh back yard. So every so often, we notice (my sister notices) that he seems to have a real lack of clothing to wear to places not the backyard and lo, we trudge to Target and clear out the clearance t-shirt and jeans aisle for six months (he owns a shocking number of thermal shirts; we both boggle about this, then try to remember what we'd been watching on TV recently, since a lot of our fashion choices do follow the most recent BBC series). Sometimes it matches? But this is me and Child and let's all remember V picks my clothes out for me when it's not denim-related.

There's also the fact that we can share t-shirts now, which is totes cool but also a cause for people not us who visit to stare blankly as we shout at each other across the house about who was the last person to see the white thermal and that's my belt, you little alien hybrid! at which time he stops short yelling I knew it! YOU WERE PROBED BY ALIENS AND I AM GOING TO TELL MY ALIEN FATHER ABOUT THIS while I yell THEN BUILD A GODDAMN TRANSPONDER ALREADY AND CONTACT THEM! Which is why there are holes in the backyard. Cause == effect.

Speaking of, it is coming on Christmas, which means I need get him Christmas outfits so we can pretend we are normal human beings amongst people that aren't us. *sighs*

Other speculative: Bladerunner Special Edition, which I'd been eyeing for about a year or so; Barnes and Noble gift card for books, since I cannot deal with having to pick out another book on reptiles; a subscription to the magazine Reptiles (yeah, I know); the new editions of Monopoly; a Guild Wars extension; and from the list my flist provided, two more graphic novels. Baby Niece and Baby Nephew are both more and less complicated; my mother is getting them a bouncy horse thing for bouncing purposes such as this, but two of those seems overkill, but! If she gets just one of those, then I could get them this. As my sister cannot handle either one at her apartment, both would be at my parents' house anyway and they are babysat there. And seriously, pedal cars are awesome. And I can get them fireman hats! TINY FIREMAN HATS.

Elder Niece is more complicated; I am still thinking. I wish I could find whatever Bratz merchandise is left anywhere and grab that for her, since I disliked them up until Mattel threw that shit fit and now I'm just irritated that once again the market is Barbie, Barbie, Barbie. I am that contrary. *sighs* I'll figure out something.



Oh Christmas. My favorite time of year. Also, I really want to take Child to Disneyworld. He's tall enough now that we can go on all the roller coasters together and be sick together afterward. I seriously, seriously have to figure out how to make this happen.

Comments

[kernezelda]

*hearts you*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

It's not like I don't own my issues here; he said Halo! and I mean, I understand. Sometimes, parenting is as much about giving in when you get them as much as not turning them into serial killers.

I mean, if he is not a serial killer, that's my accomplishment here. I will feel I have done my duty.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

LOL about Child. My kids and I and my husband all like similar things in terms of shows and humor. Most people would be horrified that we took them to science fiction conventions and let them dress up (hell, made them dress up at first). So go you!

[seperis.livejournal.com]

THIS. Some people do not get necessities, and sci-fi? Necessity.

OMG HALO. I SO WANT TO WATCH HIM PLAYING THIS.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

growing up in a geekfamily is most awesome. EXCEPT WHEN YOUR PARENTS NICK YOUR BOOKS AND COMICS.

'WHERE DID THE NEW TERRY PRATCHETT GO?'
'THERE'S A NEW ONE?' (dad)
'YES, I JUST BOUGHT IT!'
:together: 'MUM/GILLIAN!'
'FINDERS KEEPERS! FIVE SECOND RULE!' (mum)

And dad uses me as a source for new Trek news. But at least I know what happened to my dvd boxsets when i can't find them.

However, i kinda give thanks that none of us ever got into gaming, because life is expensive enough with our theatre habit.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the gaming thing I should have seen coming. My mom's a casual gamer, and I like playing every once in a while, so it was kind of destined Child would end up going that direction, I think.

Npr

[laura47.livejournal.com]

tells me the barbie "fashionista" dolls are going to lose to whatever new dolls the bratz people are putting out, I forget what they are called, and some other new dolls, "real life dolls" or something, with wigs you can cut and dye! And the ne1w bratz are less sexual.

Also, you and your child are v. adorable. I hope I wins up with such a good relationship with my theoretical future children!

Re: Npr

[seperis.livejournal.com]

OOh, cuttable wigs? HELL AND YES. I am checking that out!

[forked.livejournal.com]

Ahaha! I just 5 minutes ago ordered a comic book subscription (12 issues+4 issue mini-series archive) for my nephew for his Dec. birthday! I know whereof you speak!

Sadly- the comic is Sonic. But he's only (going to be) 5. So I figure our tastes will continue to merge. After all- he already likes leafing through my old Camelot 3000 issues, so we will get there. Until then- I will know more about Sonic the Hedgehog than I ever wanted to know.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Sonic is totes gateway drug of geekiness. He will come around!

Though seriously, I'm impressed in wanting Sonic the Hedgehog. *thoughtful* I might need to read up on that one.

[winterlive.livejournal.com]

your kid delights me every time.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Every time someone says this, I tell him that it increases the likelihood I will sell him for profit in the near future. *pleased*

[niqaeli]

*amused*

There's more I could say? But really? I think that sums it up.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I keep catching him hiding beneath teh blankets and pretending he isn't watching a midnight Science Channel (I think?) special on snakes. I comfort myself herpetologists do not really need to know English or spelling. Or possibly adding.

[lillian13.livejournal.com]

*ahem* If he likes LEGO Mindstorms, I can get them at 20% off. My company wrote the software...

The Yellowstone Caldera is covered in MegaDisasters, I think. They do the East Coast Tsunami-type episodes.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I am going to find out.

[mrshamill.livejournal.com]

At least you know what to get him. All I know is that I'm pretty sure I'm getting my kid (can't call her that anymore, since she's twenty) thing a leather bomber jacket.

Jeesh. It was easier when she was a kid.

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

Hee.

In my house, when we were growing up? My sister used to think that the Ferengi were just... ON TELEVISION ALL THE TIME. Yes, we may have watched Star Trek a lot. And we watched X-men cartoons together. That was our cue to DROP EVERYTHING.

Now? I have more books than clothes...several times over...

[niqaeli]

Now? I have more books than clothes...several times over...

That's... normal? *blank* I mean, yes, I know I grew up with bibliophiles but honestly, books are SMALL. It doesn't take that many!

[jamesinboots.livejournal.com]

There's also the fact that we can share t-shirts now, which is totes cool but also a cause for people not us who visit to stare blankly as we shout at each other across the house about who was the last person to see the white thermal and that's my belt, you little alien hybrid! at which time he stops short yelling I knew it! YOU WERE PROBED BY ALIENS AND I AM GOING TO TELL MY ALIEN FATHER ABOUT THIS while I yell THEN BUILD A GODDAMN TRANSPONDER ALREADY AND CONTACT THEM! Which is why there are holes in the backyard. Cause == effect.

I think I just laughed for five minutes straight. I LOVE YOU AND YOUR KID SO HARD. :D :D :D :D :D

[deadlychameleon.livejournal.com]

that's my belt, you little alien hybrid! at which time he stops short yelling I knew it! YOU WERE PROBED BY ALIENS AND I AM GOING TO TELL MY ALIEN FATHER ABOUT THIS while I yell THEN BUILD A GODDAMN TRANSPONDER ALREADY AND CONTACT THEM! Which is why there are holes in the backyard. Cause == effect.

LOL! The alien hybrid line is the BEST PARENTAL LINE EVER!

Also, I wear the same mens pants size as both my dad and my youngest brother. Strange but true. But we don't live in the same place, so there's no trading off. The youngest brother and I *did* have matching Star Wars t-shirts at one time though, so there's that.

[amireal.livejournal.com]

I used to get scotch tape.

Also my mom does this thing where SHE has to like the gift too, only she's not into DVDs or gaming or anything remotely connected to technology.

I get a lot of clothes. (Some of it is pretty awesome clothes.) One day, I will receive a boxset for the holidays. I will snuggle it and hug it and call it George.

[fyrdrakken]

Also my mom does this thing where SHE has to like the gift too, only she's not into DVDs or gaming or anything remotely connected to technology.

This. Thankfully I inherited Dad's cool-gifting gene, because Mom (and her mother) cannot be trained out of buying things they would like. Even when given a list to work from, Mom tends to want to throw something in that wasn't on the list and that I don't like at all, and then when I heartlessly request the receipt so I can take it back it turns out she wants it herself. And I don't think she's doing the thing where someone deliberately gives you something they expect you to turn around and give back to them -- she genuinely can't understand why I don't like the turquoise sweater that looks like a cat shed all over it, or house slippers for four years in a row when I prefer walking around the house barefoot...

[jazzy-peaches.livejournal.com]

Some people buy their children every American Girl doll and every accessory; some people buy their kids every video game console. I think all parents have something like this. At least you're not spending thousands of dollars on Miley Cyrus tickets? lol.

[verabell.livejournal.com]

Halo FTW!

Halo: ODST was so fun because 1. Woohooo Halo! and 2. you can play name that Firefly actor during the plotty bits. I am not a huge RTS fan but Halo Wars was insanely fun as well.

[blueraccoon.livejournal.com]

My parents wised up a few years back and now say "What do you want?" and I say "I want X" and they buy me exactly X, or in some cases, give me their credit card so I can buy X.

This wasn't the case when I was a kid so much but now it works really, really well.

[wneleh.livejournal.com]

Geek parenthood is wonderful; though I suspect my older daughter will wake up one of these days and realize that she's not a geek; will, in fact, realize she's the only cheerleader who knows pi to 30 digits and disown me.

[formerlydf.livejournal.com]

Ahaha. I would totally consider rethinking my stance on not having kids when I grow up if I could get some sort of guarantee that me and my child would be like you and yours. Why can't geekiness always be contagious this way?

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

Actually, it is. They don't like to tell people because THEY don't want us breeding. Trust me. My 6yo is reading Harry Potter and playing evil computer games with her older brothers. My 10yo is reading Narnia and teaching his little sister bad habits. My 12yo is reading Terry Pratchett and sneering at us all (they go through that stage, even the best of them).

Of course it helps if you pick the right geek life-partner.

[cereta.livejournal.com]

It is a point of pride for me that the small person asks to watch Batman.

[redhedlvr.livejournal.com]

You're my kind of Mom, for sure.

Daughter-Type and I used to have epic battles over who's day it was to play WoW before I bought a second computer.

[ellixis.livejournal.com]

When the chibi wants to watch her favorite DVD, she goes over to the TV, picks up her PS2 controller (not attached to anything yet), and watches me with an expectant look until I turn it on. I have high hopes for her.

[bookshop.livejournal.com]

after reading this entire entry with my mouth MOSTLY OPEN, my only real question is why doesn't he have a livejournal yet

[amireal.livejournal.com]

Fear. Specifically, Jenn's fear. I suspect she is using some sort of voodoo to keep it off his radar.

[cplberen.livejournal.com]

One point in favor of getting the X-Box... If you then buy an X-Box Live subscription, you can do cool things like watch whatever Netflix has available to watch instantly ON YOUR TV.

That, and Halo (and Mass Effect 2 when it comes out), would provide many opportunities for Parent-Child bonding. Just THINK of all the common ground that would establish! I hear that's very important. ::nods seriously:: You'll be the envy of all your friends. ::beams::

[claire.livejournal.com]

Nobody in my family (besides me) is a geek, although my mother was fond of Hitchhikers Guide - I do, however, look forward to bringing up future childthing in our geeky, geeky household.

[stripedpetunia.livejournal.com]

You and your kid are an amazing duo.