Today was one of those days. You know the kind—where you leave the house with a simple plan (pick up some suits for an upcoming wedding) and end up in a full-blown emotional negotiation with a tiny human over a giant owl. Yes, an owl. Specifically, Hedwig. From Harry Potter. Because, apparently, our family has an unwritten rule: if you see a toy store, you go in. No exceptions.

So, there we were, standing in the middle of a toy store that smelled faintly of plastic dreams and parental regret. Hari, my ever-enthusiastic mini-me, spotted it immediately: a giant Hedwig plushie. Not just any plushie—this thing was life-sized. I’m talking wingspan wider than my patience after a long day.

Now, here’s the thing. Last time we were here, Hari had his heart set on this very Hedwig. But, being the responsible (read: slightly mean) dad that I am, I told him, “We'll get it next time we're here.” Well, guess what? Today was next time. And kids have memories like elephants when it comes to toys. So, before I could even muster up a weak excuse, Hari looked at me with those big, hopeful eyes and said, “You promised.”

Game over. Dad logic: 0. Kid memory: 1.

I immediately said yes. Easy-peasy. One giant Hedwig, coming right up. But then—plot twist—Hari spotted another Hedwig. This one was slightly smaller, but it was a pillow. A Hedwig pillow. Because, apparently, you can never have too many owls in your life.

Now, I’m all for supporting my kid’s interests, but two Hedwigs? That’s a lot of owl. So, I did what any reasonable dad would do: I told him he had to choose one. Cue the dramatic pause. Hari stood there, staring at the two Hedwigs like he was deciding between world peace and unlimited ice cream. It was a tough call.

After what felt like an eternity (but was probably three minutes), he made his choice: the pillow. But as we walked to the checkout, he was still sad. Like, really sad. The kind of sad that makes you question all your life choices, including the one where you agreed to step foot in a toy store.

So, I did what dads do best: I sat on the floor. Yes, right there in the middle of Westfield. I pulled Hari onto my lap, hugged him tight, and launched into my patented Dad Wisdom™ speech.

“Listen, Hari,” I said, “if you bought two Hedwigs, you’d have to divide your attention between them. And then neither Hedwig would get the love they deserve. So, let’s take this one home, get it settled into our house, and then next time, we can get the other one. Deal?”

Hari thought about it for a second, then nodded. Crisis averted. I gave him (and Hedwig Number 1) a kiss, and we continued our shopping adventure. By the time we left the mall, Hari was back to his cheerful self, clutching his new owl pillow like it was the most precious thing in the world.

And you know what? It kind of was.

So, to all the parents out there navigating the wild world of toy stores and tiny human emotions: take a deep breath, sit on the floor if you have to, and remember that sometimes, a little dad logic (and a lot of love) is all it takes to turn tears into smiles.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go make room on Hari’s bed for a certain owl pillow.

Love from Dad (and part-time owl negotiator) 🦉✨