Sometimes you're merely disappointed. You didn't get the one you wanted, the quality kind of sucks, the toy breaks. Your mom never lets you get two in one trip.

Other times, though you have this ennui that you can't quite explain.  Sure the toy sucks, but what is still in the machine will rock your world. If you could only keep getting into those bubbles, it's all there for you to get at.  It only costs a quarter.

A lot of people seem to live their lives like this. They pour their hopes into their own bubble, expecting it to pay out in some grand way. 

The point? We all get caught up in dumb crap all the time. Be it work, petty politics in our little sphere, things outside our control. The best thing we can teach our kids is to look in the little bubble, realize it sucks, and pay attention to the cool, important stuff. Use the grocery trip to ask your mom to make those pancakes you really, really like. It's a better use of energy.