Jared turns 10 next week. This is my child that doesn't always have specific things that he asks for, makes it nice shopping for him as he is happy with everything. But it also makes it harder because we can't always think of things. This year he does have a specific request. He wants this. I'm torn. Let me explain. When we first had Jared I had very strong feelings about him playing with toy guns. We first said he would NEVER play with toy guns. Well you know what happens when you say, "my kid will never do that." When he got a little older he would bite his sandwiches into gun shapes and shoot those, sticks were guns, legos could be made into guns. So we relented, we bought toy guns. He has been fine with them. We have a standing rule in our house that you don't point them at people. He has been very careful about this even coming to me at times very sadly telling me that he very accidentally, not on purpose, aimed is gun "toward" someone. (This kid is compelled to confess every little thing to us...hmmm, wonder if that will continue when he is a teen-ager.)
So I'm torn about this gun. It is BIG, and it looks a little too realistic for me (ok, I'm sure that real machine guns aren't orange and yellow...are they?)and it is BIG, and I can just imagine little darts all over my house, and it is BIG. But on the other hand he really wants it and he doesn't ask for a lot and he is a really sweet kid and I'm sure he would love it. So what do you think? Should a get my kid a machine gun for his birthday?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
That's a tough call! I feel the same way you do about toy guns. But I think its smart you have a "no pointing them at people" rule. I guess it comes down to whether or not you can live with tiny darts everywhere. I would say maybe have stricter rules with this specific gun. Like limit his play time with it or only allow him to play with it outside or in the basement.
I am also allergic to guns (is it where we work?) but I have been worn down by my 15 year old son. When they want something really bad and they cannot have it, they end up going to a friends house and playing where you can't supervise. I decided I wanted to see what they were doing instead of wonder and worry. I finally mellowed out and Matt got an airsoft gun for Christmas when he was 13. He has played with it a ton and he really is careful because he knows he will lose it if I have half an inkling that he isn't being responsible. Soon Jared will want a paintball gun......and then a real gun after he goes to scout camp. Oh dear. Enjoy every second that he is happy with NERF!
He's such a good boy that I don't see him using it irresponsibly or anything. It does look really cool :)
My brothers had toy guns that really shot stuff. They ended up getting taken away. Not cuz they pointed them at people, which was a rule too at our house, but because my mom would find the little nerf darts everywhere around the house.
My parents are not gun-ophobes either. when my brother turned 18, my dad bought him a shotgun. just for shooting for fun. whatever.
Way funny when Brody was like 5 or 6 yrs old KMart offered a discount on store purchases if you turned in all the kids toy guns etc. I guess some sort of gun awareness. So I asked Brody if he wanted to do it and he said yes if he could buy new toy guns with the money. He also would turn ANYTHING into a gun for play. Good luck with whatever you decide.
We actually have two pretty hefty foam guns. One for the 12 year old and one for the dad. They stay in the closet unless they are actively being played with, which these days is about once a month. I think with pretty strict guidelines (no aiming at eyes, and pick up all the darts when you are done), it is a fine gift.
Post a Comment