Am I really doing my kids a favor?

I am starting to wonder, Am I truly doing my kids a favor by denying them Mario Bros., McDonald's, Sponge Bob, silly bandz, itunes, and Zilladog, blah blah blah

It's not like they don't have access to these things and when they do - Katy Bar the door! It's like watching monkey's on crack. They get so overstimulated it's almost painful to watch. Not to mention tearing them away.

But what am I really saving them from? Nothing! I'm just making them those goofy kids whose parents won't shell out the money for cable, video games, and the latest toys. And really, that's what it comes down to. If I want to continue to stay at home with my kids, we have to make sacrifices, and I can't stay within a budget and afford all the games, lessons, fads.

But if I went back to work, not only would there be a little more income - I hope, Lord knows childcare is an arm and a leg - but there would be the "G" factor. Women I know that work full-time say that try as they might, they still feel guilty for all the time that you are not there and make up for it with the "cool" stuff.

My husband grew up poor, and not American poor. They went for many years after the war living in the basement storage unit of an apartment building, it wasn't really an apartment. They had no phone, electricity, TV, heat, air, furniture, and many times no food. They've never had a VCR, or a car and sometimes the only appliance was a stove. They sent him to the US as an exchange student and he couldn't call home - they still had no phone. They called him once a week from a pay phone and could only talk for 10 minutes. I could go on, and on...

Needless to say, my husband is overwhelmed with all that we have and what is available to our children. A big house with heat and air, a well stocked fridge, a safe yard, lots of toys, computer, sports teams, etc...and does not think twice about what they do not have. I wish I could be so confident in that decision. I, however, am swayed by the advertisements, neighbors who "have more", and tantrums when they get a glimpse of what they are missing. Ultimately, the American Way.

If only I could fast forward 20 years - It's a bright beautiful June day, not a cloud in the sky and a tall handsome gentlemen steps up to the podium. "Today fellow graduates as we leave these hallowed halls and begin our careers we must look behind and thank all of those people who made this possible. I have to thanks my parents. For never buying into the commercialism, consumerism, and gluttony- Thank you for all those years without cable, video games, and electronics. Thank you and making me use my mind and my own resources to get the technology of the twenty-first century. I wouldn't be where I am today without your help and example!"

Doth a lady ask to much??