Lets Go!...to the hospital

Dear Diary,

We got an American Girl magazine in the mail. There was no keeping Addy away from it - not because she loves dolls, but because she loves magazines. Seriously, she even looks at Garrett's ESPN. Not to mention Addy has never been a stuffed animal or doll person (she takes books to bed with her) so I wasn't too worried she would fall in love and want an American Girl doll of her own.

So she is flipping through the magazine and asking me to "read" it so I do and I am surprised at what I find. These dolls don't go without ANYTHING! They have clothes and beds and highchairs and car seats and changing tables and HEAD GEAR! You can even buy pets for your doll and if you want to get super fancy you can buy clothes for yourself that match your doll's clothes!

Then we get to page 16. Here we have the "sporty" American Girl section which has a cheerleader on display. In fact it is called the "Campus Cheer Gear" set which includes a cheer dress, matching briefs, socks, athletic shoes, hairband and pom poms. Pretty standard wouldn't you say? EXCEPT, Little Miss Cheer is ready for the big game with a cast on her arm, a boot on her leg and resting on crutches! What the hell happened that landed this girl with multiple broken bones? No explanation needed - just a wounded cheerleader hanging out with a ballerina who appears to be completely healthy and happy.

Why would anyone buy that? "Here you go Susie! Lets get the super expensive "Feel Better Kit" to go along with the super expensive "Campus Cheer Gear" to put on our super expensive American Girl Doll so that way she can't really be played with because she is injured!" Who could pass up a kit filled with crutches, an arm and leg cast, bandages, a finger splint and a faux ice pack? You know, just in case there is a basket toss gone wrong and she breaks her arm and her leg, gets a giant gash across her face, jams a finger and hits her head. What's the Cheerleader Motto? Always be prepared? Okay maybe that's the boy scouts. I wouldn't know, I was only a girl scout for a short period of time and a cheerleader for even shorter.

Anyway, we won't be buying an American Girl doll for Addy anytime soon. Well probably never because she just doesn't play with dolls. But I shouldn't speak too soon because someone else I know snuggles awfully close to her dolls at night. Maybe by the time Olivia is old enough for an American Girl they will have the "Save Her Life Kit" - ambulance, defibrillator and stretcher included.

Sincerely Yours,