Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is synonymous with feverish early-morning shopping, crazy consumerism, bargain-hunting, and unfortunately trampling troops of over-ecstatic shoppers rushing into stores in search of their hearts’ supposed desires.
During my twenty-something years living in America I never before participated in this retail hype and hoopla. For the entire duration of the Thanksgiving weekend I avoided every mall and merchant, save my local grocery store for an odd gallon of milk.
But all that changed this year. I decided it is high time I experience this annual ritual, observe the throngs for myself, negotiate the crammed parking lots, and join the winding check-out lines of turkey-stuffed shoppers.
I planned to get up in the wee hours of Friday morning, but my strategy quickly evolved after Thanksgiving dinner. My friend and I were chatting as our kids watched a movie, and our husbands stretched out on the couches, when a light bulb went off in our heads. Stores were opening at 8 pm. What better opportunity could there be, for two mothers of four kids each, to abandon ship and brave the retail wars?
So off we headed, credit cards in hand.
Now where do you think two mothers with eight kids between
them would end up?
The toy shop, of course!
Shoppers were happy, helpful and chatty. Must have been all that Thanksgiving turkey made everyone relaxed.
People searched the giant retail floor for their own unique treasures, then searched even harder for the end of the check-out line. Carts stood head to tail, snaking through the aisles. It took nearly two hours to pay for the few items we amassed in our ten-minute shopping foray.
I must confess it was a most enjoyable experience. Thankfully, Kentuckians love a good chat as much as I do, so my friend and I learned all about our fellow shoppers’ Christmas wish lists, their Thanksgiving feasts, their kids, their grandparents, their aunts, uncles, and cousins, their ancestors – nearly their links to the Mayflower itself.
We arrived home at 11 pm only to learn one of our children had thrown-up and another had a fever. But our husbands had rallied to the cause, and taken care of the sick so that we mothers could take a ‘break’.
On Black Friday itself, at the very respectable hour of eleven in the morning, I actually braved the mall with my little girl in hand. After a great night’s sleep I didn’t mind the crowd, loved the festive feeling in the air, and thoroughly enjoyed our girls’ day out. My shopping spree of lunch and a few hair bands won’t shoot up those retail numbers the media always hype. I just wasn’t willng to test those check-out lines again.
Yesterday I learned an important lesson. For years I have railed against Black Friday and American consumerism, believing most people equate happiness with spending and acquiring things they often don’t need.
As I roamed the mall I realized not everyone was shopping, or
gripped by a media-hyped sales frenzy.
They were there for the atmosphere,
to take in the first hours of the Christmas season en masse.
We met friends, neighbors, and teachers on our trails. Children lined up for a first glimpse of Santa. Mothers and daughters paired up for a fun day out. Sisters roamed from store-to-store chatting and catching up. Husbands sat on the walls of decorative mall fountains patiently sipping their Starbucks.
I never thought I would say this, but Black Friday is not just about consumerism.
There is a deep element of connection, community spirit and tradition associated with this day. I was blissfully unaware of its deeper meaning, until I finally ventured out.
Maybe I overdosed on turkey L-tryptophan. Perhaps I was seeing the world through rose tinted glasses. But when my little girl asked me a very poignant question as we drove home from the mall, I fully understood this day.
“Can we do Black Friday together again next year?” she asked.
I realized she had felt the atmosphere, caught the Thanksgiving bug so-to-speak. She wasn’t gripped by consumerism, because we bought very little. She sensed we were starting our own annual girls’ day out, a not-so-unique, family tradition, that would connect us forever to the American world around us.
And so yesterday, as I braved my first Black Friday ever, I took one giant leap on this journey that is my American evolution.
Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving weekend.
Slán agus beannacht leat!
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
Vince says
November 24, 2012 at 3:10 pmWhy didn’t you leave the kids with the men. Ramrodding 8 kids through the worst shopping day of the year is bordering on masochism. I really don’t see how they could be managed without shock collars and lo-jacks. But then not having kids it might be I’m over egging the difficulty.
Is that pool thing with the tree rising out a sort of quarantine for the fellas that are foolish enough to follow you in.
Irish American Mom says
November 24, 2012 at 4:57 pmVince – Rest assured we left the kids behind watching that movie in their fathers’ care. I think we would need our heads examined if we even dreamed of crossing the threshold of a shop with the whole brood in tow. The poor men had to deal with two sick kids, but they rose to the occasion.
I think the pool definitely was a retreat for all the men in the mall. They congregated there with shopping bags piled around them, and some with a few kids clambering over them. You wouldn’t catch my Donegal man next, nigh, nor near the place.
All the best,
Mairead
Aimee says
November 24, 2012 at 10:24 pmI love how you can find the best in what most might consider the worst! You are inspiring Mairead! 🙂 I’ve done ‘Black Friday’ twice in my life and that’s enough for me! I tend to start my Christmas planning and shopping in September, so I really don’t have need to doing anymore shopping the day after Thanksgiving. But I love the idea of making it a Mother/daughter date day! My little girl is just 2, so she’s not the most helpful with shopping just yet, but what a great idea to tuck away for future years! I did brave our Mall area this year (where our Whole Foods is located) as I didn’t stock up on enough eggs, and was greatly surprised to find that the traffic was much better on Black Friday than it was the Saturday before Thanksgiving! Go figure!
Irish American Mom says
November 25, 2012 at 11:00 amAimee – I agree with you about the traffic this year. It was far worse here before Thanksgiving than on Black Friday itself. I admire your organization, having done most of your Christmas shopping already. I am a little bit of a procrastinator, but am making a big effort to be more organized as the years go by. I have already printed our Christmas cards, so I must get started on writing them. Everyone in Ireland loves to see photos of my children each year. Our annual family photo at Christmas is a great way for everyone to watch them grow.
All the best,
Mairéad
Aimee says
November 25, 2012 at 8:05 pmCongrats on having your Christmas cards ready to write!! That’s a huge accomplishment in my book, especially since it’s not even December yet! I’ve got an idea for ours, but have yet to do much with it… First things first though- one more week of school and then we’re done until the new year!
Irish American Mom says
November 25, 2012 at 10:11 pmAre you home schooling Aimee? You have my utmost regard if you are. I really admire anyone who is so organized and dedicated to be able to take on the all-important, formative role of teacher for their kids.
Mairead
Aimee says
November 26, 2012 at 9:33 amWe are Mairead! We’ve done both, but much prefer home schooling. It’s pretty stressful at times and I think I’m going crazy a lot of the times, but when all is said and done, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 🙂
Irish American Mom says
November 26, 2012 at 9:37 amHats off to you Aimee. I have thought about it, but never found the courage. Enjoy your break – you have earned every school-free minute of it.
Mairéad
Martine Brennan says
November 25, 2012 at 5:51 amSo glad you enjoyed the day Mairead and found some special moments for yourself and your little one. Mx
Irish American Mom says
November 25, 2012 at 10:51 amThanks Martine. I can now say I have shopped on Black Friday at least once in my twenty-something years in America. It really was a great Mom & Daughter Day Out.
Best wishes,
Mairead
[email protected] says
November 25, 2012 at 9:53 amThere is always joy for those that wish to see it and dread for those that choose that. And Mairead I’m glad you are in the first category, I’ll choose to enjoy the Christmas season, and remember the joys and good fortune We all have.
Cheers,
Brian.
Irish American Mom says
November 25, 2012 at 10:49 amBrian – It really was a great day out. Maybe because I waited until a little later in the morning, I didn’t run into any issues with major traffic or lack of parking spaces. I went straight to the back of the lot, parked the car and headed on in. I didn’t join the crowd dodging around looking for that precious space right beside the door. So glad I experienced Black Friday, at least this once.
All the best,
Mairéad
[email protected] says
November 26, 2012 at 8:03 amNext you’ll have to experience the last minute Christmas eve shopping extravaganza, oops that really is reserved for the husbands.
Irish American Mom says
November 26, 2012 at 9:35 amBrian – I am going to stay clear of that one. I think my husband will too. If he had nothing bought by Christmas, I think he would print a picture of the present, then write a note on it – “that’s what you’re getting once the sales start.”
All the best,
Mairead
Cheryl Barker says
November 28, 2012 at 11:06 amMairead, I’ve always avoided Black Friday, too, because I don’t like fighting the crowds, but you put a fresh spin on it all. Glad you had fun!
Irish American Mom says
November 28, 2012 at 1:23 pmCheryl – My little girl and I had a memorable day. Looking forward to Christmas now that Thanksgiving has passed. I can’t believe how quickly time keeps marching on. My eight year told me the other day: “Mom, this was the fastest year of my life.” Wait until he catches up with me. They’ll be flying by.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Aimee says
November 29, 2012 at 3:59 pmThanks Mairead. 🙂