Ups and Downs

OK, so today was a good day...I think. It was an entertaining day at work, but that is not the subject of this post.

I talked with my parents about my intention to save up for an iBook. I had never mentioned it before, I had no reason to. So I brought it up. They asked why I wanted it and wished me luck in saving up.

Today I came home from work. Here's how it went down:

Dad: So how much was the computer you were looking at?
Me : $1266
Dad: [Lists specs for an IBM laptop] ... and all for $1224.
Me: But I wanted a Mac for a reason [Lists specs and reasons for wanting iBook]
Mom: What we thought we would do is pay half if you match it for the other half.
Me: [Utter shock, forces mouth shut]

They had just offered to pay half of the cost of my iBook. I was in Heaven.

Then we talked some more after dinner. My dad is hesitant all of a sudden to spend so much on something that he doesn't seem to think I really need. I think he's disappointed - he thought I was intending on getting this and ditching my desktop, meaning he'd get it for the family computer (a major upgrade from the 1997 machine we have that runs Windows 98 - gag me).

Then I told him I wanted to keep my IBM desktop and have the Mac to do other, different, things. Which I proceeded to list. He looked unimpressed and said we would talk about it more tomorrow.

How can they do this to me? Promise me something something so important, then change their mind. If they go back on this, I won't forgive them for as long as I can imagine. To snatch away something they know I've wanted for months.

Comments and thoughts welcome.