Dealing with the constant barrage of "I want that!"
If you have kids, then you know that they constantly want EVERYTHING. It's probably deeply rooted in our ancestor's need to ensure they had enough, so the drive to procure and hoard is something kids (and most adults) can't help.
Even if you wanted to bend to every whim your kid comes up with, it's an exponential issue that is doomed to end in failure. There's only enough room for more stuff. There's only so much money for more stuff. How much stuff does a kid really need to be happy anyway?
Probably way less than a lot of kids have. The last few generations of kids in the developed world have had unprecedented access to stuff. And the parents of those kids live in a culture that prioritizes the needs (and wants) of the child - even at the expense of other needs in the family. It's not a sustainable model for anyone. Especially the kids.
We all know that kid. The one from our childhood. The one in our kid's class at school. That kid that never gets told no. The kid who wants for nothing and has everything. Guess what? That kid is usually a mean spirited little monster.
Why? I'd argue it's because when you get too much of what you don't need it isn't good for you. Like sugar. Like beer. Like toys.
So what should a parent do when their kid is constantly asking for something new, but you don't want to (and can't) make their every whim a reality? Teach them to make stuff.
We have always had a stack of felt, some colorful paper, kid glue and colorful masking tape at our house. That and the constant flow of cardboard boxes, wrapping paper tubes, old textiles like sheets and towels that any home probably has. You and your kids can make almost anything out of those few things. Stuffed animals. Cars. Lightsabers. Costumes. Dinosaurs. Dolls. The list of possibilities is endless.
Here's a bonus. When you make the whim of the day toy out of paper and tape, it isn't a toy that's going to last - which is 100% fine because when they've lost interest and moved on to some other idea the paper can be recycled (either into your bin or into a different creation).
Double bonus? When you've taken their short-lived desire for a bulky piece of plastic crap and turned it into a creative exercise it's better for their little developing brain. It keeps them busy and keeps them thinking.
So the next time your kid says "I want that" - say "okay, how do we make it?"