Pick-Up Sticks

Being a mother to 2 kids means that I have to contend with “kalat” every now and then. Wait, let me rephrase that. I have to contend with “kalat” all the time. And since Christmas was a scant month ago, you can imagine how much “kalat” we have around here.

These last few years, the kids have accumulated so many toys which were given as gifts on Christmas and birthdays. The thing about toys today….they’re so big. And they’re getting bigger!!! So that means that a lot of  space is needed to store them all. We’ve had to give away so many already and still those that remain take up so much space.

Gone are the days when keeping kids occupied meant getting an old garter and going to the garden to play Chinese or Japanese garter. I don’t see kids playing jackstones or “sipa” anymore. Nowadays, kids (if they’re not glued to a PSP or playing wii games) have these ginourmous toys to play with. Even those tiny collectible gewgaws come with huge houses and/or castles and/or hotels!!

Enter my pick-up sticks.

A few months ago I chanced upon a set of bamboo pick-up sticks at one of those stalls at the mall. They were selling for 20 bucks and I couldn’t help but buy…for the kids and myself of course. We had a go at it but the fun didn’t last long and the poor set was relegated to one of the kids’ desk drawers…until New Year’s Eve.

While packing for our New Year’s eve getaway, I managed to stuff the set of pick-up sticks in one of my daughter’s bags. When we got to the hotel, we completely forgot about it until around dinner time when all their cousins came to our room. That’s when the fun began. I’m talking about older kids…the PSP kind.

Shortly after my short tutorial they were whooping it up. Screaming and laughing like I’ve never seen them do..ever. And all because they were playing with that 20 peso set of pick-up sticks.

Who would think that my cheapo purchase would trump the PSP (which, incidentally was packed away)?!? What a way to start the year, right.