Both kids were with me, which in and of itself, is unusual. At least for grocery shopping.
Let's back up a bit.
You see, until recently, grocery shopping was "me" time. I'd go in the evening after the kids were in bed. I'd put on my iPod and tune out, relaxing as I wandered the aisles. When I got home, I'd walk in the house while Chad unloaded and put away groceries.
It was a perfect system.
Until I became a single mom.
Now, those quick trips to the store because I'm missing two ingredients for a meal and I'm not going to order pizza for the fifth night in a row have become Expeditions.
Which is why the kids and I wereTrader Joe's in an effort to make pesto. We needed a key ingredient (pine nuts) and TJ's has, by far, the best price.
Chad had borrowed my car, leaving me with the Titan. I pulled into the tight parking lot and realized that I hadn't left room to get out of my door. So I climbed into the back seat (in my maxi dress) and unbuckled the kids, exiting from the passenger side door.
We got out, opened up Elizabeth's doll stroller - because she'd insisted on bringing it and her doll - and started walking across the parking lot, herding Elizabeth who stopped in front of an oncoming car because oh my God her baby was slipping in the stroller!
Getting both kids safely into the store, I prepared for a quick shopping trip.
I wasn't prepared for the Customer in Training mini shopping carts.
Which both kids wanted.
I put away my cart, put Elizabeth's doll in her cart, folded her stroller down and hooked it onto her mini cart. And thus began the longest shopping trip ever.
If I put bananas in Joseph's cart, Elizabeth insisted she get some too. Joseph piled in gummy bears and gummy penguins while I was apologizing to a woman Elizabeth ran over. There were other children with mini carts which meant bumper carts in the frozen food section. And when we had to pass the wine to get to the pita bread, I held my breath as Elizabeth rammed into a display.
I was so distracted, I forgot to grab a bottle of wine. Horror!
Finally, we got to the check out line where the kids insisted on unloading their carts, much to the dismay of the man in line behind us.
And then Elizabeth realized the shopping cart wasn't her's. Cue screams of disappointment.
As I steered a much larger cart filled with bags out to the truck in 98 degree heat, a doll stroller looped to my arm, a crying toddler on my hip, her hand down the front of my dress and Joseph trying to push the big cart into traffic, I couldn't help but think the Trader Joe's people are sadistic S.O.B.'s.
Until we got into the truck and Joseph said, "That was the best shopping trip ever! I can't wait to go again!"
14 comments:
I am sorry.
I am also the Queen of Shopping with Multiple Children. I have maxed out at 5. That said, I am super mean. No personal toys in the store, and no chances with those mini carts. If you misbehave, I will move the contents to my cart and abandon it mid-trip.
A dozen years in the trenches have made me a hard woman.
In fact, just today we abandoned a small cart in the packaged meat section as Betty rammed the back of Felix's legs because she was running. We do not run.
And as for the TItan, Mark drives on of those things, and I'd rather pay for a cab than drive it.
Add two more children and now you know how I felt for how many years..they look so cute and they won't learn if you don't teach. ;O)
SO sorry, hon. I've been there. Sometimes I'm prepared and tough, but sometimes, I'm just wanting to get out of there without a fight. It's a struggle. Hugs!
You kind of scare me.
Just a little.
We were perfect angels at all times.
It all worked out in the end. :)
...but did you get the pine nuts?! :-)
I laughed out loud at this. My rule is only go with both kids when I don't have anything important to get. And thanks for reminding me that I am lucky to be able to go at night by myself.
I took 6 kids shopping earlier this year. They ranged in age from 4-10 and to this day I don't know how they didn't manage to burn the store down and or have me institutionalized.
Thank god we didn't have those little shopping carts because that might have put me over the edge. Oy, it sounds like you managed it quite well, all things considered.
:( I can't tell you how many times I was told to "simmer down" while at the supermarket, through my father's tightly-clenched teeth. I feel such pity for him now...
Yikes! I think grocery shopping with one is horrible. At least they had fun - right? Good luck with the rest of your adjustments to singlemomhood. I can't imagine how tough it is.
Oh wow. I think I would have blocked that experience from my memory. lol
Revenge of the parents or something like that.
Thank you. And yeah...at least THEY had fun. lol
We went to TJs on Saturday and my kids insisted on those too. I told Chris "I really fucking hate these carts" (can I say fuck in Mandyland?) and my friend (who was the checker at TJs) said "oh.. we do too.. but we have no choice".
I think we should write to TJs management. :)
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