As I went grocery shopping yet again this week, I prayed the whole way there that they would have fixed the buckles on the dual-ride shopping carts so I could actually have a cart in which to put my 2-year-old (Bean) and my 1-year-old (Bird). Yes, perhaps I could’ve just waited to go shopping till a time when my husband was home and could watch the kids, but part of me enjoys shopping with the kids because it gets us out of the house and to them, it’s an exciting adventure. But when there’s no cart in which to safely put my children, I get a little peeved.
In general, I try to shop with my dual-stroller and a hand basket so as to limit my purchases, but that only works at stores like the Dollar Store or Hobby Lobby. When grocery shopping, the milk alone stops me from using a basket.
I can’t carry both kids, and my 2-year-old doesn’t like holding my hand all the time to walk, so my general plan is to park next to a cart return, grab a cart, load up Bean, and carry Bird until we get inside where all the dual-carts are kept. Which brings me to thought #1: Grocery stores should have parking for mothers with kids next to cart returns for the dual-carts. It is ridiculous to expect the number 1 frequenter of grocery stores to haul their children into the store in order to grab a cart. You can’t leave your kids in the car while you get a cart. (PLEASE don’t ever do that! It’s so unsafe!) So my way is really the only way I see doing it. God bless the women who grocery shop with more than 2 children in tow!
Thank God I’m not pregnant any more, or I would leave all the grocery shopping to my husband, even though I really enjoy shopping. When we lived in Minnesota there was a fancy grocery store (the kind with carpeted floors) that had parking spots just for women. I wasn’t pregnant at the time, but I thought, “Wow that’ll be nice some day. But wouldn’t it make more sense for pregnant women to be given a handicap sign so they can use the handicap spots already painted in all locations rather than the stores having to designate spots that may not be used as frequently as they might think?” (Thought #2)
Anyway, so back to this particular day, when I finally got my kids into a shopping cart, and, no, there’s still no dual-cart with complete buckles so I had to find the one that was at least half-working so I could put Bean there and Bird in the cart. We shopped and everything worked fine other than the fact that I’m shocked that pushing that cart with the bum wheel around full of groceries and two kids doesn’t count as a workout. 😉
Finally, we get out to the car and then we have to unload and get the cart into a return and carry the kids back to the car (even when I’m lucky enough to get a spot next to a cart return I don’t like putting the kids in the car when it’s hot while I return the cart).
Today I had a lovely lady stop me while doing this to compliment my daughter on her gorgeous flaming red hair. It really is beautiful. But all I really wanted was help. Help getting my kids in the car, or returning the cart for me, or something.
Which brings me to my big Thought #3:
What if those older mothers whose children are grown and no longer have to deal with the days of running to the grocery store with children in tow—let’s call them “Mentor Moms”—HELP those young moms they see in the parking lot struggling to load up the kids and the groceries and the cart.
What if every Mentor Mom made it a point to at least offer their help to the young moms they see struggling instead of “tsk-ing” (yes, I have friends who were struggling with four kids who got a “tsk” instead of help from strangers when they finally sternly fussed at the 2-year-old insisting that the 4-year-old was touching her). Even just offering to grab a cart or return the cart for me would make my day!
What if mothers came together to help one another, rather than looking down their noses at others trying their best but maybe having a bad day of it.
What if mothers worked harder to encourage one another, rather than judge and compare.
So, let’s start right here, right now. If I have my kids loaded and under control and I see another mom struggling, I promise to offer my help. Maybe we’ll end up as shopping buddies and can commiserate all the way from the veggies to the dairy! And Mentor Moms, I promise you would make a young mom’s day if you offered to help her at the grocery store! I might even offer you a treat at checkout. 😉