I have no doubt in my mind that I have been blessed with two amazing kids. When we are out and about, as long as I choose the right time to go shopping with them, we hardly have a problem. However once in a blue moon, a seemingly smooth shopping trip can go downhill rather quickly.
Today my Mother and I decided to go grocery shopping during the afternoon. It meant that the kids would miss their nap but hey, that happens once in a while. With lists in hand (well…on cell phone) the group of us marched confidently into the grocery store determined to complete our task. These trips are very to the point (no browsing or dilly dallying) with rules and routine to help get the most time out of the kids. Rules, you ask? Yes b’y!
The Newfoundland Mommy’s Grocery Store Rules
- Do not touch any groceries unless Mommy says it’s ok
- When walking, always stay next to the cart
- Do not bug Mommy to put certain groceries in the cart
- The free cookie club cookie is earned. Do not ask repeatedly for it.
Things started off very well with my Daughter helpfully pointing out her favorite fruits and vegetables and my Son handing me produce bags as I need them. The product section was perfect, the breads area was beautiful, the meat aisle was…meaty? Everything was going fine until we reached the dairy section. Perhaps it was the lighting or maybe the yogurt was sending them subliminal messages but whatever the reason…my kids went absolutely nuts.
My pretty princess decided she was tired which put her into cranky mode. She got upset when her Brother looked at her, when I put lemonade into the cart and each time we went into a new aisle. My little man switched to “I’m gonna ask for pizza five times a minute” mode and when he didn’t like the answer, he whined and whined and whined!! As always, I calmly addressed the issues and did my best to reassure them that we would be leaving very soon.
Thankfully there were no lineups at the check out but the bickering and complaining continued. The cashier chuckled while, at that point, I simply ignored their antics and by the time I got outside I was in the midst of singing “Let it Go” in an attempt to hold onto what sanity I had left. Here’s how it sounded:
ME: Let it go, let it go, can’t hold it back anymore…
KIDS: Mommy!! I want pizza. I’m tired!
ME: Let it go, let it go, turn away and slam the door…
KIDS: Can we have pizza? When is it bed time?
ME: I don’t care…what they’re going to say….let the storm rage on…
KIDS: MOMMY!!! MOMMMMYYYYY!!!!!!!!
ME: Your yelling never bothered me anyways…
Once we got into the car and seatbelts were buckled, “serious Mommy” kicked in. The kids burst into insta-tears because they figured they were going to face consequences for their poor choices. Was I mad? Nahhhh. Frustrated beyond belief but not upset. Like I said, they did miss their nap time and I can’t blame them for the resulting behavior. Pizza for supper and putting them to bed early helped to resolve everything.
What’s the lesson in all of this? There is no lesson really! I just wanted to tell you all about my day. 😉
The Newfoundland Mommy 