Grocery Shopping

Oh how I used to loooovvveeee grocery shopping.  
I would take my time.  Find new stuff to make and try.  Ooh, sundried tomatoes.  Ooh, Fresh avocado.  Ooh Lime, I like lime on everything! Wander leisurely through the aisles.  It was therapeutic.

That was B. C.

Before Children.

Now, not only is it a chore, but most days I would rather bang my head against the wall than to actually have to drag Dyleva to the grocery store with me.

Oh, when they were babies it was tough, but as long as I was quick, and could keep them smiling, it was fine.

Now it's like, extra awful.  Because they are old enough to know better and don't care.  When I only have one of them; it's fine.  But on the days I'm blessed with both of them, they play off each other.  

Dylan is mostly good, he just whines.  "When can we be dooonnneee????"   And walks around super dramatic because I pulled him away from his Pokemon cards. 

Eva is super hyper and annoying.  "Mom, can I have this?  Why not?  Why aren't you answering me?  That's not a reason.  You said we could pick out something.  You lie.  You're a liar."

Or they both get the giggles and start creating a scene.  One time I walked out and left the cart right in the middle of the store because Dyleva was chanting, "Nuts! Nuts!  Were making Mommy nuts!"

I am pretty sure they have been banned from several local grocery stores.

Also, one of my biggest pet peeves, is the lack of concern for the people around you.  I find it incredible, how many people, park their cart right in the middle of the aisle, and don't move until you verbally have to say, "Um, excuse me?"

Well Dyleva has zero spacial awareness.  They walk right in front of other peoples' carts.  They stand in the middle of the aisle when someone is trying to get by.  Awful.

Today I foresaw this going down.

I was determined to have a quick, productive, fun, trip to the grocery store!

Our local store.  They know us there.  I swear when they see us come in, they shake their heads.

I made  both Eva and Dylan each their own grocery list of about 10 items.  

Then I laid down the ground rules.

"You have to stay together, and you have to return to my cart to deposit every item.  Oh, and don't talk to anyone unless you have to say excuse me."

That way, they would be checking in with me about every 5 minutes or so.

It was fantastic!  They worked together, it was like a scavenger hunt.  And once they completed their list, they were able to choose one snack they wanted.

In the end, we sacrificed a little bit of health, (I would NEVER have purchased Lucky Charms for 'cereal' on their list.) But they had fun, were successful, and gave me a peaceful shopping experience.