From Skepticism to Joy: Why I Finally Bought a Trampoline for My Kids
I initially resisted buying a trampoline, fearing it would become a neglected, rotting eyesore in the garden. However, my children's daily 'gladiator training' and endless energy on the equipment proved my doubts wrong. The trampoline now serves as a permanent reminder of my irrational hesitation and the importance of indulging my kids' desires, even when I doubt their long-term interest.
Now the trampoline serves as a reminder. A permanent reminder that I am a bad judge of what we should buy: an irrational economic actor.
- Waterluvian
I went on a backyard trampoline once as a kid and it ended with the entire neighbourhood searching for me. I just couldn’t stop playing with my friends and was hours late for curfew. I had forgotten to tell anyone where I was.
Fortunately, I integer overflowed my mom’s level of worry and she was too glad to have me back to be angry. Though, seeing her unwind from genuine terror was more effective than any level of scolding and I never again forgot to tell them where I was going.
Trampolines, man.
- lbrito
>A reminder to buy the kids things they say they desperately want.
If I were to follow this, I'd be spending half my days driving to stores to buy the thing my kids happen to "desperately" want today :)
Also a reminder that you're not obliged to _buy_ everything. Its kind of amazing how ingrained this is into a large amount of peoples' heads. You can get a lot of things for free or secondhand. I got my kids' large trampoline for free.
- eweise
I sweated the years we had a trampoline. It was visible from the street so anyone could have jumped on it and broke their neck. One of my children's friends did get hurt but fortunately, not enough to become an issue. They're a huge liability and not sure insurance covers them.
- usefulcat
We bought a trampoline when our oldest was five. He didn't ask for it, we were just guessing. We got a good deal on one from Craigslist or similar that was brand new, still in the box, so probably like $50 or something.
He loved it and many years later he still uses it, pretty much every day that it's not raining. He's well past the age where I would have thought he would still be interested. We've replaced the mat and all the springs to keep it going.
Point being, sometimes you just don't know what kids will like.
- HDBaseT
I've jumped on a trampoline effectively every day for the last decade.
I find it very relaxing it helps me de-stress and think about things deeper than I would sitting in front of a computer.