Avoiding Mr. Balloon Vendor!

As a parent, I was not exempted from falling into balloons being sold by street vendors. I had been asked by my little one a lot of times about buying him a balloon. I bought them twice, both times, we were in Oslob but these photos here were taken in the Municipality of Candijay, Bohol during a certain town festival.

Being Filipino, it has been a custom that when festivities happen, certain sorts of toys are going to be displayed around the downtown area, aside from toys, balloons won't be absent as well, and here comes every parent's problem - how to avoid these balloons so that kids won't go gaga asking for them.

During my first attempt to avoid it, I was with my in-law, my husband's mom and she was buying one for the niece, Matti's cousin and since Matti was there too, we decided to get one for the sake of Matti's feelings. We couldn't let him just see his cousin playing and he had none so we bought it, at that time, the balloon was just worth Php 70.

On the second instance, we were playing at Oslob's Cuartel Heritage Park when these balloon vendors would go near children, they would always target the children of course. And as soon as Matti saw an animal form, he asked for one. I can't believe that the prices had gone up to Php 90 at that time, that's too much I said because I knew, the last balloon we bought was dead as soon as we reached home and that means Php 70 went by just that.

So, I was hesitant but my little one was very persistent and so I had to tell him this would be the last balloon that we would buy for him and he said okay, so we got one that lasted for 7 days but while we were in the condo in Cebu City, yes, we traveled from Oslob to Cebu City with it, it flew from our window.

Well then, that's Php 90 out of the window but I can't also deny the fact that it brought happiness to my little one I promised not to buy one again and so we were at Candijay Park and we saw these vendors moving here, and there, luring kids at the playground. I was thankful Matti remembered our conversation, he didn't ask for the balloon. He just mentioned something like this:

"Mama, remember the balloon?"

And as I nodded, he went on playing. I am super proud he remembered our agreement and I was just so happy I didn't have to make excuses or reasons, kids are indeed smart and their memory is pretty sharp! How about you mommies? Are you into these balloons and what's the most expensive balloon you have bought for your kid/s?