Before I had a kid, and even when Noah was a wee babe, I would occasionally hear a mum (why it’s never a dad…) say that she liked grocery shopping because that was her time to relax. And I would have two reactions (in my head, of course): 1. that’s pathetic! (about the time) and 2. I’ll always take my kids grocery shopping because it’s a life skill. Plus if your kids cannot be taken grocery shopping you have horrendous behavioural issues.
So, of course, yesterday I went grocery shopping alone and it felt decadent. I stopped at the library first and I browsed without either having to rush to look over the children’s section shelves to be sure Noah was all right, or having to say every two minutes, “here, you can hold these books. No pull out big books!” etc
Then I got a complimentary decaff coffee at the Valu-Mart and pushed the cart up next to the shelves* and selected groceries in silence, paid, and went home. It was very – relaxing.
* If you have ever wondered why people with toddlers have their carts in the middle of the aisle blocking your way, I will tell you now: it’s because if the cart is not further than arm’s length out, disaster occurs. Trust me on this.
Sing it, sister. My mother watched Jamie for me the other day while I went to Target. I nearly swooned with the joy of being able to look at EVERYTHING I wanted to without “someone” wanting to get out of the cart/go outside/”eat eat”/etc.