By: Kelly Johnson
Updated: Jan. 3, 2023
Originally Published: Dec. 4, 2021
Last year, when we asked our then-second grader, Lily, what she desired for Christmas, her unexpected response left me momentarily stunned: “I want an American Girl Doll!” I took a deep breath and tried to regain my composure.
As a child, I was an avid reader, and I adored the original “American Girls” series. The stories of characters like Felicity and Addy whisked me away to different times and places, offering me a glimpse into history. However, today, the American Girl brand has evolved into something that feels more like a financial burden than a nostalgic journey. With dolls priced at over $100, and that’s before factoring in the essential outfits and accessories that accompany them, it feels like a financial trap. These dolls might as well come with a warning label for parents: “Purchasing may lead to financial hardship.”
When Lily expressed her wish for an American Girl doll, I knew there was no way we would be spending that much on a single toy. I thought I was clever when I explained that Santa doesn’t deliver gifts that parents deem inappropriate. I had used a similar reasoning when she asked for a puppy during her sister’s birth. Unless Santa was going to provide me with a year’s supply of coffee and a puppy-sitter, it wasn’t happening.
Let’s be honest here: spending $120 on a doll is simply not something I can justify. My daughter once begged for a Cabbage Patch doll, and now that doll spends most of her time forgotten in a corner. Lily was so excited about being a “Cabbage Patch mama” that she even used her Christmas money to buy another one. Do I have any idea where those dolls are now? Absolutely not.
If I genuinely believed that Lily would cherish and care for an American Girl Doll, I might reconsider. But at this moment, she is not the nurturing type I was at her age. And I have no problem with that. I don’t want to invest a significant amount of money in a toy that she may not truly appreciate.
After flipping through the American Girl catalog, she became convinced that she “needed” one of these dolls. Her walls adorned with posters only reinforced her desire, and while I am sure many kids may have them, our family has different priorities. For the cost of one doll outfit, I could buy myself a new pair of shoes; that’s a reality I have to face.
Thus, we decided to take a different route: we purchased a more affordable doll using a discount coupon. To my surprise, Lily was overjoyed with her new companion. Several months later, I found this doll sitting on the top shelf of her closet, disheveled and without clothes. This is precisely why we are sticking to our decision: no American Girl Dolls for Christmas.
In conclusion, while I respect the nostalgia and value that the American Girl brand offers, I cannot rationalize spending that kind of money on a toy that may not hold lasting significance in my daughter’s life.
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