Parenting in a World of Wants

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Summer break has already started for our family, and we’ve been busy getting ready for a trip in a few weeks.

The kids are thrilled—or more accurately, they’ve been putting together their lists of what they think they “need” to bring.

My daughter said, “Mom, how many days are we going? I need a swimsuit for each day. I can’t take pictures in the same one over and over. And no one wears sunglasses shaped like this anymore.”

My son added, “My Crocs look too plain. Everyone has charms now. I need more.”

Honestly, I was surprised. I hadn’t even thought of wearing a different swimsuit every day, and I definitely didn’t know Crocs charms were so pricey.

But thinking about it from their perspective—it makes sense. At that age, it’s less about what’s truly useful and more about what helps you feel like you belong. What looks good in pictures. What your friends have.

And really, they’re the children of a former maximalist. Of course they love things. I used to, too.

Still, not every “I want it” can turn into “Okay, let’s buy it.” But I also didn’t want to become the kind of mom who just says no to everything.

So I offered a different idea:

"How about we go one week without buying anything new? Just a week. Let’s try it together."

They hesitated, but eventually agreed. And we came up with some gentle, family-friendly rules—not strict, just a bit of practice:

• Add things to the cart, but don’t check out yet.

• Try mixing and matching what we already have—even if it’s not perfect.

• If you still want it after a week, we’ll revisit it.

• Think: Will I use this for years to come, or just for a photo?

• If you want something new, consider letting go of something old.

• Talk it through—saying it out loud often helps clarify what we really want.

• Ask: If I don’t buy this, what more meaningful thing could we do with that money instead?

By the end of the week, something shifted.

My daughter wore her old sunglasses and said, “These are actually kind of cute.”

My son laughed and admitted, “I think I just wanted the charms because everyone else had them. Honestly, I’d rather save the money for a new Rubik’s Cube—I love those way more.”

We’re not suddenly perfect minimalists. But I can feel us becoming more aware.

And really, that’s enough.

I’m thankful for my kids—for reminding me that the best kind of summer isn’t about the photos we take, but the memories we actually keep.

I’d love to hear from you—if you’re a parent too, how do you handle moments like this?

With love,
Penny
Founder of Tidalove 🌊

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