Tonight Mylie and I got to go on a special date night. We have a point system set up, and after she earns 100 points, she gets to go out on a special date with the parent of her choice. We typically do simple dates, like going to the pet store, dollar store, or Wendy’s for a frosty. Tonight she got to go to Baskin Robbins for an extra special treat.
I also had a few things to pick up at Fred Meyer, so as an added incentive for tagging along through the grocery store, I offered to let her roam through the toy aisles and then have the ever-elusive horsey ride in the store’s foyer.
It all went well, as she’s generally a gem on date nights. Always on her best behavior and just fun to be around. But that horse thing. That’s another story. Maybe I’m just a tightwad, but that darn thing costs 50 cents now. I mean, it’s not like it’s improved from the days when I rode them for 25 cents a pop. There are definitely no added technologies, flashing lights or animatronics. In fact, from the shape of the horse and coin slot, I’d venture to say it was the SAME horse that was around 20 years ago. So why double the price? For 50 cents I’m expecting that thing to jump up and do a little dance, instead of slowly trotting back and forth. Even Mylie looked a little let down after the ride.
Then again, now as I’m proofreading, I do realize the ridiculousness of my rant. I mean, we are only talking 50 cents here. Perhaps it was just the straw that broke the [horse's] back, after I saw the current price of cheese and other staples. And I guess 50 cents still qualifies as a pretty cheap date night, all things considered. I’m telling you now though, once they take it up to 75 cents, I’m out!
I am feelin’ you on the Fred Meyer horse issue. I used to let my boys ride it a year ago when it was a quarter. Now, I stubbornly refuse to pay double for that hunk of junk ride. Double? Nothing jumps in price that quickly! What are they trying to pull?
Yikes, you might as well go to Chuck E Cheese and go on two rides, although that place causes head-aches, lol. They have a chain of grocery super stores out here called “Meijers”. I hadn’t ever heard of them on the west coast, but they have their horse rides for a penny! 2 cents and the kids are happy. Wish more stores did that. Sometimes we go there instead of Target to get something because the boys want a “horsie” ride.
They cost .50 here too. Most of the time I don’t even have any change on me. When I do Josh and Emily get to ride in the Tigger Boat together.
How does your point system work? I am always looking for new methods with the kids.
That’s TERRIBLE!! You know it’s bad when the slow ride horses are economically challenged!!
So true! THe other day Aidan and his cousin were sitting in one of those little rides not even riding, just pretending and a voice came over the music saying “Go ask for some more coins.” Now thats LOW!