AKURUM

 

A few months back, I experienced a day that a dad-to-be always dreams of…we took our daughter to IKEA for the first time.  The day was so touching that it took me a while to process, which is why I’m writing about this now for the first time and only time.  When you have a child on the way you’re excited about the birth, you can’t wait until she walks, but more than anything you want to see her reaction when she sees her first ALSVIK at IKEA. 

Just like any other new family, we arrived at IKEA on a Saturday afternoon, our main goal being to find an entertainment center.  After taking the escalator up into the madness, we immediately found ourselves looking at DUKTIG.  If it has been a few weeks since you’ve been to this Swedish superstore, DUKTIG is an entire line of children’s toys!  Oh joy.  They have DUKTIGs of all shapes and sizes, including some that make sounds and have wheels! 

In the lighting section, which was roughly the size of The Netherlands, we found a LJUSAS UVAS for our baby girl.  Speaking of The Netherlands, am I the only one that finds it odd that their people are known as “the Dutch.”  Is there any other country whose citizens’ nationality is that different from the name of the country?  America: Americans; France: French; Spain, Spanish; Russia, Russians.  How did they get “Dutch” out of The Netherlands?  Of course, I think of this because the Dutch lost the World Cup yesterday, and then I was even more dumbfounded when after the game they started referring to their homeland as Holland.  I get it, I’ve always known Holland, The Netherlands, and the Dutch were connected, and I’m sure there is a fine explanation, but regardless it is weird.  The Netherlands/Holland’s soccer team was still in high spirits after their loss, when they all enjoyed a fancy dinner and “went Dutch.” 

Ahh, back to IKEA.  After finding the entertainment center we wanted, the MAVAS, we stumbled upon the children’s section.  We love our baby so much, so it would have been easy to buy her a KURA, a BARNSLIG RAND, and an ANTILOP, but we already had most of that at home.  Yes, I saw the use in getting a GULLIVER and a SNIGLAR for her, but realistically, the next product we’ll buy for her from IKEA is the LATTSAM, which she won’t need until she starts potty training. 

On our way to the cash register, it was hard to pass up a FABLER, and we could use an upgrade on Babs’ SULTAN BLUNDA, but we were saving a few bucks for the Swedish Meatballs with LINGONBERRY sauce.  We all had buyers regret on that purchase just 3.5 hours later.  Have you taken your kids to IKEA yet?  Please tell.