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July 5, 2010
Ministry of Reality: Shopping with Toddlers
*And the ministry of reality blog challenge begins! Later today, I'll link to some of my friends who are participating as well*
Taking two 2.5 year olds out to the store. Most of the time, pretty uneventful. Actually, I usually wait until Tim gets home because I'm still intimidated by the process. At least then we can divide and conquer, if needed. Or Tim can take them to a fun section of the store while I do the real shopping.
But waiting for Tim to get home sometimes means that either the kids get off routine for their dinner or for bedtime. And occasionally, that leads to some tantrums--mostly, we just try to get through them, since it's kind of our fault that they're out of their routine. There's nothing like pushing one of those car carts with TWO tantruming toddlers in it while the rest of the store stares at you. Only happened once or twice, but it's engraved on my memory.
Last week, we had to go to the store to get Elanor's glasses worked on. Because of Tim's summer class, he gets off rather late each night, but we didn't stop for dinner because we wanted to make sure that the eyeglasses department was still open by the time we got there. It took a bit to get things taken care of, and the nice woman waiting on us gave my kids some of those fun shaped rubber bands to play with.
By the time we got the glasses situation dealt with, and did some shopping, it was getting late. They were headed towards a meltdown, from tiredness and hunger, so I suggested to Tim that I get them some pizza while he waited in line.
I took both squirmy kids with me to order the pizza. I said, "I'd like to get one slice with everything and one...ohhhhhhhh...never mind" as Ian projectile vomits across the floor.
Meanwhile, Elanor has lost one of her 'pecial rubber bands and starts melting down at the loss. Ian is totally squigged out that he has vomit on his hands, so I'm dragging two upset kids across the floor to get to the napkins, and then come back to try to help wipe up the mess. The twenty-something year old young man who was waiting on me brings out a bucket and mop to clean it up.
Mortified, I try to slink off when he stops me and hands me a purple rubber band. I thank him gratefully because that takes care of Elanor's problem. Then he gives me A Look (which I interpreted as a "wow, you're a negligent mother for letting your kids play with age-inappropriate toys" look) and says, "I think this was the problem." In other words, he thought that Ian had tried to eat it.
(I don't think he actually did, he's mostly past that kind of oral stage, plus Elanor would have loudly informed us "Ian is eating my rubber baaaaaand" if he had) (but hey, be careful with those rubber bands!)
I took away all rubber bands, prompting more tears, and finally, Tim was out of the line. We left the store as fast as possible. His later take on the situation? "Well, at least you have material for your Ministry of Reality post."
Ministry of Reality | By Tim and Jo | 10:15 AM
Comments
There's nothing quite like vomit to put an end to an outing.
I agree with Tim.
Posted by: MinistryofReality at July 5, 2010 10:59 AM
Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh. Ugh. Top to bottom. I fear grocery shopping with all the kids. And then the vomit at the pizza counter? Nightmare. Ugh. But. Very, very real. :-)
Posted by: rylee95 at July 5, 2010 11:05 AM
I remember the first public projectile vomit. Mom and I were driving to a memorial service/concert for a pianist we knew, and being in a hurry, we fed Karl some IHOP food and a bottle of red kool-aid. Guess what color my dress and his little church suit ended up that night....
The folks in the audience at least looked away, but didn't offer assistance. Mom was cool, she just looked at the egg chunks on my lap and said, "Well, I guess we're going home to change."
Posted by: tracy at July 5, 2010 1:16 PM
Other than the vomit that sounds about like my life =) i've kind of figured out how to shop w/ the 3 kids EARLY!(uh oh I said it out loud)! I try to be back from shopping before lunch at the latest. usually works well...but we've had our share of tantrums. the great thing is that before i had kids is that I was sure MY kids would NEVER have a tantrum in a store...lol...
Posted by: Leigh at July 5, 2010 1:48 PM
Actually, I was green with jealousy at "Taking two 2.5 year olds out to the store. Most of the time, pretty uneventful." That is impressive!
And Silly Bandz should probably be banned.
At least you can put a good spin on a really harrowing experience! :)
Posted by: Elizabeth at July 5, 2010 5:04 PM
Oh my. Public vomit. I think I might start praying now that this is not in my future. ;o)
Posted by: Kate at July 5, 2010 5:39 PM
Vomit bad, public vomit, very bad... oh my...life with children...never a dull moment
Posted by: LauraK at July 5, 2010 8:57 PM
Oh yes, definitely. Silly bands should definitely be banned. Mine fight over them all. the. time. (Though I kind of wish that I'd thought of them; they seem to sell really well)
Posted by: Tammy at July 6, 2010 12:10 AM
how many times have I written in the newsletter, "at least now I know what to write about in the paper!"?
tip from a neighbor mom that I take to heart:
ALWAYS get a shopping cart. Even if you're only getting one small thing. It keeps both of them contained in one spot and they don't get as tired out a fast because they're not walking.
there had been times when I have left everything in the cart and just gave up and went home!
oh, and one thing I have learned.... a good babysitter is worth EVERY PENNY! seriously, find someone in your area that can take them now and then for a couple of hours. It'll save your sanity
Posted by: karen at July 6, 2010 10:02 AM
Hee, I guess public barfing really struck a nerve. Thanks for all *your* honesty about real life.
Tracy, I laughed out loud at your story!!!
Karen, I always appreciate your candor about parenting. It really is refreshing!
And definitely yes on the carts. Actually--it's worse than that for me--if a store doesn't have a fun cart, many times I just don't go there (I can't believe I'm making my shopping choices based on car carts!).
Posted by: Jo at July 7, 2010 7:45 PM
I'm with you on this! When Melody was close to 2, I went with her, my mom and Alice to Whole Foods. My Mom and Alice went off to find something, and I headed over to the vitamin area. On the way, I gave Melody a little chunk of cheese. While I'm looking at the shelves, I notice that Melody is choking. I'm about ready to pull her out of the cart to whack her on the back, when some of it came up. I managed to catch all of it in my hands. I was pretty proud of myself. About 20 seconds later, she started projectile vomiting. It looked similar to Linda Blair in "The Exorcist!" I spare you the details about my helpful clerk, and the mess all over their lovely hardwood floors!
Posted by: Martha Armour at July 8, 2010 6:36 PM
Martha...oh my...that makes my barfing story look like child's play. Giggling at the exorcist image!
Posted by: Jo at July 9, 2010 2:33 PM
