There are moments in parenting where you stop and ask yourself, “How did I get here?”
Today’s answer?
Sitting outside of Five Below for TWO HOURS waiting for the doors to open… so I can hopefully buy two viral squishy dumplings.
Yes. Dumplings.
Not real dumplings either. Tiny squishy collectible dumplings that somehow took over the internet overnight.
And honestly? The wildest part is that people are paying up to $80 online for something that originally costs a few dollars.
The internet is a strange place.
From “What Even Is That?” to “WE NEED IT”
A few weeks ago I had no idea these things existed.
Now suddenly every kid, collector, reseller, and TikTok feed is talking about them.
That’s how these crazes happen though. One video blows up. Then another. Suddenly kids are trading them at school like it’s the stock market. Parents are driving across town hunting inventory. Stores sell out in minutes.
And somehow… here we are.
Coffee in hand.
Half awake.
Questioning life choices.
The Parent Math Makes No Sense
What’s funny is how quickly your brain starts justifying the chaos.
“Well, if we get them retail it’s better than paying reseller prices.”
“At least the kids are excited about something harmless.”
“We already waited this long… might as well stay.”
That’s how they get you.
The next thing you know you’re refreshing store inventory pages like you’re trying to buy concert tickets.
The Reseller Madness
The craziest part of all this is the resale market.
People are buying entire displays the second stores open and flipping them online for insane prices. Some families just want ONE for their kid, but others are treating squishy dumplings like rare gold bars.
I get supply and demand… but $80 for a squishy toy?
Absolutely wild.
Still, someone somewhere is paying it, which keeps the cycle going.
Honestly Though… It’s Kind of Fun
As ridiculous as this all sounds, there’s also something funny and weirdly memorable about it.
Years from now I probably won’t remember the exact toy. But I will remember sitting outside a store before opening with other exhausted parents who all had the same mission.
You start making eye contact with strangers like: “You here for the dumplings too?”
No explanation needed.
Just mutual understanding.
Parenting in the Viral Era
This is parenting now.
Our parents dealt with Beanie Babies and Tickle Me Elmo.
We get viral TikTok squishy dumplings.
Every generation has that thing everyone suddenly needs RIGHT NOW or life will apparently end.
And even though we complain about it…
We still sit in parking lots for two hours because seeing your kid excited makes you do ridiculous things.
Even if the thing they’re excited about is a squishy dumpling.
Have you waited in line for a viral toy or collectible yet? Or is this your sign that your turn is coming? 😂
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