In Praise of Build-A-Bear Workshop

Have you ever taken a small child to Build-A-Bear? Trust me, it’s an experience not to be missed!

We’ve started a mini-tradition in our family: birthday #5 is your Build-A-Bear Birthday. We’ve had two of them so far. When our eldest grandson turned five, I was over-the-moon with excitement about the experience…only to discover GS1 wasn’t interested in Teddy Bears. OMG! Call in the paramedics! Grammie was suffering from dream-deflation!

Never fear. Build-A-Bear was there to rescue me. It seems that more than bears can be built in their excellent workshop. Despite GS1’s disinterest in bears, we had a wonderful day and created a special pal that is still among his faves 2-1/2 years later.

Why am I telling you this now? Well, yesterday we celebrated our granddaughter’s Build-A-Bear Birthday. No paramedics needed for this experience. GD was thrilled to select a bear…a pretty pastel pink confection, which she dressed in a Disney Princess outfit, found the perfect beribboned pink slippers for, and finished the outfit off with hair ribbons (ear ribbons?) and glittering sunglasses. Sparkle Bear is a fashionista’s delight!

As we were driving home after our bear indulgence, GD turned to me and announced that Sparkle would really need another outfit. A girl just can’t do everything in a princess dress! Grammie suggested jeans and a tee-shirt, but GD wasn’t convinced. After discussing the matter with Sparkle, she decided that what was really needed was, and I quote, “beach wear.”

“Oh,” I said in my grandmotherly naivete, “you want a swimsuit for her?”

GD’s shock was palpable. “No! Stuffed animals can’t swim. They get all soggy and go to the bottom and you can never get them back! No, Sparkle needs BEACH WEAR, so she can sit on my blanket at the beach and wait while I play in the water.”

Aha! Soundly chastised by five-year-old logic, I am now considering: What constitutes beach wear for a bear that can’t have a swimsuit? Ah well, I have time to learn. Sparkle will just have to wait until GD’s NEXT birthday for her wardrobe upgrade.