I used to have a fear of grocery shopping, but over time it's softened into mild anger, displacing the panic attack it used to induce. As such, I always wondered who the hell was mentally deranged enough to take small children grocery shopping. Unless I suppose you are a military family and your spouse has been deployed overseas or similar. But if you have an able-bodied partner or family member residing within an 80-mile radius, why you'd choose to bring your kids along on such an already unpleasant task is beyond my wildest imagination. Really, isn't grocery shopping a big enough ass-paining without pushing around kids who are hollering for a big bag of Skittles or want to tear into a box of Cap'n Crunch?
In Alabama, the kids had their first Publix (the Jewel equivalent for Chicagoans) AND Walmart experiences. Before that, I guess they thought food magically appeared in our house. The Walmart in Birmingham, Alabama is NICE. Shockingly nice. I could have wandered around there all day long in a discount-shopping tizzy, unlike the time I went in Chicago and almost stopped at a gas station on the way home to take a French shower in the public bathroom.
So in addition to learning this month that Southern mothers need a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy critiquing of their toddlers, I found out it IS possible to take kids shopping. Possible, not pleasurable.
PS -- What is the etiquette regarding letting toddlers eat bananas you haven't quite paid for yet? The cashier seemed a bit put-off when I introduced two empty peels along with our groceries.
PSS -- I don't recall supermarkets having bribes such as balloons and carts masquerading as cars when we were little. When did this trend start?
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ok, seriously that cart is a dream come true. I live in CA and have never seen anything like it. I don't get it? why wouldn't every grocery store have those?
ReplyDeleteThat cart is an absolute godsend. Our grocery store has two kinds: one, where they've slapped some sort of car attachment onto the front of the cart, so you're now driving a cart twice the size of the normal grocery cart; and the other, where they've halved the grocery basket and stuck a little racecar on the front, which, despite the two seatbelts and two steering wheels, will definitely only hold one child. They're both banned now, as far as I'm concerned. That thing looks just brilliant. (And yes, I do regularly take all three kids to the store. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.)
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't know what the cashier there was thinking, but as far as I'm concerned, half-eaten (or entirely eaten) snacks are par for the course. Ive paid for half-eaten bags of crackers, open sets of juice boxes, and apples that weren't much more than cores. Better that than screaming they can hear on the next block!
Love the French shower.
ReplyDeleteAnd regarding bananas, just say something like, "Are these discounted because the insides are missing?"
It's okay to let the kids eat things that are pre-priced but bananas usually have to be weighed to be priced. That's probably why she was put off. Give them goldfish or something next time! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anonymous. Wow, wy can California stores spring for carts like that?!
ReplyDeleteOne of the twins looks terrified...and the other looks like she may be stealing the keys to your car soon!
ReplyDeleteI also like the cart but I have found that if you do it once then you have to find a car cart for the rest of your life! My son (2 1/2) has not yet been inside one of those car contraptions... ignorance is bliss. And, yes, he eats anything and everything while we are in the store. Even weighted items - I just ask them to weigh the apple (or whatever) twice... no big deal. Any checker should be used to it.
ReplyDeleteI have been enjoying the delights of Publix for many years. They have the best of everything. Even their own brand of products are awesome. Publix should be nationwide. They put most all other chains here to shame, and out of business. Glad the twins had a fun time. They have race car carts too. If you get another chance to go, the bakery gives a free cookie to each kid, and customer service gives free balloons to the kids. Take care.
ReplyDelete-Kiki
Whoops! Just realized the twins had balloons. Missed that.
ReplyDelete-Kiki
Love the grocery cart!
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