When you become a parent, your shopping habit change. Your wish list consists of the following: cute (baby) dress, (small) shoes, fanciful (plush) gadgets, (tiny) hair accessories, new blender (to process baby food), super cool sound space stereo (to play music to the baby, what else!), a bigger house (so the kiddo can have her own room). You can do without those things you wanted so badly (in the past). You achieve more happiness shopping for the kid. You decide not to buy that unpractical thing to pamper yourself, but walks away with 10 silly toys for the precious one. Worth it. Good for her development. You forget yourself.

And this doesn’t only happens to young parents. My father just returned from Shanghai. He actually bought two sets of silk comforter and blanket for my brother and I, and nothing for himself, except two skinny brinjals and some over ripen peaches (his weird habit, buying fresh produces whenever he goes oversea). He will always bring something back for us, but unfortunately, the gifts he bought were usually unpractical, useless or simply too old fashioned. Now, i can fully appreciate his act and is able to experience the same kind of happiness he derives from doing so. Though I know I would most probably keep that blanket in some dark corners indefinitely, I will accept it happily without hesitation. And I have decided to give my brother a lecture on this, for he actually refused to accept the present. How could he be so insensitive? How upsetting it will be to the father, who only think of getting something for his children while penny pinching himself.