So I have decided to start doing 2 new things....1) I will actually start to blog on here regularly again 2) I'm adding another element of what I will blog about. I have decided to have posts about the joys and challenges of motherhood. This obviously goes along with the whole "how to survive/better being a house mom" theme I have going on here. The point of this is to A) have a place I can..well, vent I guess. I don't know if that is necessarily the word I'm looking for but either way I'll go with it and B) hopefully give other moms hope/realization/encouragement that they're not alone in their happiness, frustrations and moments of thinking they are a bad mom. So here goes the first of many:
I decided to go the grocery store today while Ty was at work. I really don't do this too often due to not having the car and because Cam can be a little difficult at the store at times. However, today I thought I would give it another try because we really need milk and Ty would be home too late for me to go after he got home and still be back in time to feed Cam and get her to bed at a decent hour. Well, lets just say I will probably never do this again. She gets harder the older she gets and though its not HORRIBLE (she just has her days) it is MUCH harder when I'm trying to keep her in check and get our groceries all the while having trouble walking due to my sciatic nerve problem getting worse as I get larger with the pregnancy. As I was trying to steer the shopping cart and hold my 16 month old daughter who was throwing a very large tantrum it dawned on me that in 3 short months I would have another child here with me while dealing with this. I became rather overwhelmed and that is when I decided maybe grocery shopping would work best when I could go by myself after the kids have gone down for the night. I know this won't always be possible though so to all of you mothers out there who already have multiple kids here is my question: Where do you put the older one? I mean, I'm guessing the baby is in the car seat in the front, the groceries are in the back of the cart and although I could put Cam back there I know I would then have all of the eggs being dumped on the floor....but I also see it being a problem just letting her walk because then she gets really upset when I don't let here pull everything off the shelves onto the floor...or she refuses to leave an aisle and move on to the next one. If I put the car seat in the back and Cam in the front then where do the groceries go? I'm hoping this complicated problem will be resolved after I have the baby and my "motherly instincts" kick in to high gear. Or that ya'll have some great advice! :) I hope that this post doesn't come off as me complaining too much about my "angel baby" as people have referred her to. Don't get me wrong, I know I am SO lucky....Cambryn really is SUCH a good little girl...there is just something about the grocery store and tantrums that seem to go hand in hand in her little mind. :)
3 comments:
The joys of shopping with kids...... :) I have gotten to the point where I shop with all four ONLY in emergencies, otherwise I wait until one or two are somewhere else (school, friends' houses, etc.) before I will venture out shopping. With two little ones I would suggest turning the car seat sideways and placing it balanced on the basket. (I hope that makes sense) We do that a lot with Hadley. It makes it a little tough because you have to maneuver the food under the car seat, but it leaves the seat in front open for the toddler you do not want wandering freely around the store. Because in my experience, a wandering toddler is ALWAYS a very bad idea. :) Another thing I have found that helps is to have a special treat for the kids to eat while you are shopping. We have used fruit snacks, crackers, and our girls' favorites dum dums. No matter what it's always tricky and depends on the mood of the kids when you shop. Good Luck!
I think Melyssa is right - only take the kids in emergencies other wise go alone & enjoy the time out to shop. :) Especially if Cam still likes you to hold her while she pushes the cart! I yi yi- that's hard! :)
Smarties always worked well with Cooper. And putting the baby seat sideways in the actual basket like Melyssa said is also how we do it. It does suck when you're trying to unload stuff onto the belt, but never ever EVER let a toddler out of the cart while shopping. I've found that once you do it, they expect it every time. I always keep toys, keys, small calculator (kept Cooper busy), crackers, juice box (special treats just for shopping) or what not on hand to keep them busy. That and I don't have a problem making a fool of myself at stores. Sing songs with actions or dancing, talk to them and ask their opinion on what you should get and then clap when you put it in the cart, or if there isn't anything that can't break in your cart, have them drop it in the basket. Hold up two of the same item and have them pick which one. Just keep them involved. They don't like being right infront of you, but ignored the whole time you're at the store. That and always go in with a list because you'll be distracted by the kids and will forget atleast one thing if not more if you don't have a list.
I don't do much shopping alone(without kids) because...well it's just not an option right now. But I don't really mind. I want my kids to learn how to behave, especially if it's just me. I guess practice makes perfect. Granted I might be singing a different tune when someday I have 4.
Love ya
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