TomD
Speaking of stuff like toy boxes... I was looking through Esquire at the Wal-mart the other day, and I noticed a list called something like "70 things we CAN agree on". One of them was Children, Country, Work, or some such. Children were first. I think that is the wrong way around. I'd take a bullet for any of my kids, and what is more I know that I would. But at the same time I sure don't rank them first. Of course it depends on the context. You make sure the horse is comfortable and fed before you feed yourself, but it isn't because the horse is more important than you. The court only cares about the welfare of the children in say a divorce, because they can't take care of themselves, not because they are more important than the parents (though in some cases that would be the best remaining hope).

So... maybe the kids need to learn that if you work throughout your life, and stay true to your soul, you get to have a sandpaper cabinet, that you made for yourself. Is the lesson there stronger than that magic boxes drop randomly into your play space?