Shopping Smarts
Ever had one of those days when your head feels like it is going to split down the middle? Or maybe you just plain feel like crap, but errands still have to be run, meals cooked and the house cleaned? That would be today, for me. I woke up with this headache and it has plagued me all day. Yet, the cupboards were bare and the kids were hungry, so shopping had to be done.
Shopping with three kids is always a lot of fun, if you enjoy saying “No” a thousand times, keeping items from falling off the shelves as little hands extend out to knock them off and keeping your cool when they ultimately cause the mountain of apples to come crashing down. Today was especially fun because of the throbbing in my noggin. I spent the first half of the trip clenching my teeth in frustration and cursing my empty cupboards. Then I realized that I was shopping harder, not smarter. I was ignoring the golden rules of shopping with kids:
- Keep them entertained. Think of games such as finding the letter on labels, spotting colors and “I Spy”.
- Feed them. Pack snacks to curb the hunger whining and keep their little mouths busy so that they do not accidentally insult passers by with comments like, “Why does that lady have a mustache, Mommy?”
- Bribe. I believe in bribery. It works. It doesn’t hurt anyone. I use it when necessary.
- When all else fails…visit the butcher. Our deli employees know the kids well. Every time we pass by, the kids get hats. It keeps them busy for a good ten minutes, so I hold off on visiting him until right before my last stop at the produce section.
I was so consumed by the pain in my head, that I completely forgot the rules of smart shopping. Once I realized my mistake and made the proper adjustments, the trip went much smoother. Don’t get me wrong, it was not a picnic by any means. The headache is still lingering. We did, however, get through the trip and back home with sanity and groceries. Now that is what I call a successful trip!
