Toys still thrill Mom, do nothing for kids.

I still can't believe it. I took my kids shopping at an outlet mall and they didn't visit the toy store. I'm speechless. They walked right past it, didn't even slow down.

I reacted as usual. My pulse always gets faster and my pupils enlarge when I get near a toy store with my kids. My arm automatically tightens around my purse, my hands form fists. My adrenaline starts pumping. But this time my defense mechanisms were in vain. They didn't even glance at it.

I'm very confused. Where is the son who declared he couldn't live another day if I didn't buy him baseball cards? Where is the little boy who begged for Spider Man comic books? What happened to the little girl who plea-bargained for My Size Barbie?

I'm stumped. Could it be true that now they are only interested in clothes, caps, and shoes? Are they no longer interested in Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers?

I couldn't stand it. When the kids went to the car, I fled to the toy store and looked around. I breathed in the scents of Tyco and Mattel. I fingered a lock of a rag doll's yarn hair.

"May I help you?" asked the lady at the counter.

"No, just remembering," I said.

As I walked back to the car, my daughter slid down in her seat. "Mom," she said, "what if some of my friends saw you in that silly store for kids?"

Undaunted, I answered. "it's too late. I saw three of your best friends in that store."

She didn't know I was talking about Minnie Mouse, Tweedy, and Barbee.