Grocery Shopping with Tots

Back in the day (when I only had two children) the biggest frustration with grocery shopping was the constant "Mommy, can we get this?" "NO", "Mommy, can we get this?" "NO". This question and answer session started just past produce where the grocery stores cleverly start hanging $3.97 bags of reptiles, snakes, fish, trucks, and other "toys" most likely Made in China and full of lead and parts that fall off before you get to the car. I used to "ride" the boys around in one of those carts that looks like a racecar. Cool huh? Well, not exactly. You see, those carts don't hold as much stuff, there is no place for "delicates" (bread & produce), the "steering wheels" are covered with disgusting things (even if you do wipe them down first) AND to top it off the boys were already bored after about 10, no 5, no I'm sure it was only 2 minutes of "driving".

Then once Princess came along, there was no room for her in the cart, so I would carry her in a sling. Try holding 15lbs in a sling, steering a cart with 75 lbs of toddlers and two 24 packs of bottled water (that my husband insists we consume) all while going thru your stash of expired coupons. It's enough to make you call for pizza every night.

Anyway, so, my last couple of trips to the grocery store, I made the switch. Not to store brand - I already did that to the displeasure of my husband. I made the switch to the mini "Shopper in Training" carts. Have you seen them? They are cute and they keep the whining 'cause I told them NO future shoppers BUSY. I give them each a "list." BIG gets the apples, LITTLE gets the bananas and so on. Princess, by the way, just sits in the cart and flirts with EVERYONE. (Don't tell her daddy!)

And because they have a "list", when Little Sticky stopped to add Chocolate Covered Madagascar Puffed cereal to his cart I simply said, "Those aren't on our list lil' Buddy." He responded with "Oh, OK." Did he just say ok and put them back? OMG, pinch me!

BTW, thankfully none of this matters anymore come September when the boys go back to PRE-SCHOOL!! Grocery shopping switches to Tues-Thurs from 9-1 ONLY.