If you don’t have kids you probably think going to the supermarket is a necessary but pretty boring job on your to do list. You don’t know how lucky you are. Enjoy it, the peaceful browsing of the aisles where your biggest problem is the old lady who takes too long to choose what yoghurt she wants.
Once you’ve had kids, the supermarket trip becomes the stuff of nightmares. If you have a newborn you’re still generally in the lucky group as they tend to sleep most of the way round, but once they hit the toddler stage, you need the arms of an octopus, eyes in the back and sides of your head and the patience of Mother Teresa. Sadly, I have none of these things so after today’s latest experience online food shopping will the way forward in our house.
I tried to butter O up with a yummy Tesco cafe lunch of sausage and chips. Honestly. I needed the caffeine to psyche myself up. After being the noisiest kid in there by a mile (prompting an elderly gentleman to come over and say “it isn’t easy, is it?”) I should have known this wouldn’t end well.
O needs trainers for his Rugbytots class so whilst I was trying to choose him a pair, he decides it’s time to play hide and seek! I kept him in view as he was only a meter or so away from me, but then suddenly he wasn’t there. That awful feeling for a split second when you can’t see your child is terrifying.
Luckily, 2 ladies were on hand to point me in his direction. O found this hilarious and after refusing to stay stood anywhere near me (despite several stern words in his direction) his fate was sealed and he was relegated to the trolley seat! My son hates being in the trolley seat so the soundtrack that accompanied my shopping was Cry Me A River, O’s special version!
Once we’d got to the tills I thought the worst was over and soon we could go home. This false sense of security resulted in the boy being let out of the trolley. After paying and heading towards the exit O decides he wants to be carried to the car. Now trying to carry a heavy toddler whilst also pushing a full trolley (of course, I’ve got the one with the wonky wheel which veers off to the right!) is a bit of a challenge so I put O down for him to walk. This is the moment he chooses to do his first ever lying down on the floor crying tantrum.
I am blocking the entire exit aisle with O and my trolley so behind me is gathering a pissed off audience who have no other way of getting out. I couldn’t bring myself to turn around as I tried to display at least a smidgen of control over my child without completely losing the plot. O was quickly scooped up and we headed out of there as quickly as we could. With a dodgy trolley, it wasn’t quick enough for my liking, but bless the lovely woman who helped steer the damn thing with me.
In the safety of my car I text hubby to tell him shopping was now out of the question with a terrible two, and filled him in on some of the highlights of the trip. My loving husbands response “Haha, that’s made me laugh. OK let’s try an online shop x”
What do you mean you didn’t enjoy shopping Mummy? It’s worn me out!
I could have written this! LOL, we gave up real shopping a long time ago, our toddler has just turned 2 and we simply to the click and collect from tesco on our way home, nice and easy, no stress (except when they try to help you put things away)! We also add to the shopping list in front of the TV whilst on our apps on the ipad so it really is simple, you’ll love it!
Kat x
I always forget about click and collect, great idea. Today was so embarrassing I don’t think I can face it again! Little monkey x
I had that moment in the cinema, well in fact he was an angel in the cinema, but as soon as it was time to put his coat on, he legged it – so embarassing having to chase him!
I always go in the evening or on my boyfriends day off – I never do a full shop with the girls! If I had no time to do it I would do it online xx
I won’t be doing again. What was I thinking? Silly woman x
I always go in the evening or on my boyfriends day off – I never do a full shop with the girls! If I had no time to do it I would do it online xx
I always on-line shop, ALWAYS!! It’s so much easier x
I will mostly be doing from now on! xx
I hope your next post is about something lovely and relaxing that you have done instead of supermarket shopping.
What a lovely picture to end with!
What is it about babies/toddlers that as soon as they fall asleep they look like Angels and you instantly forget the little terrors they’ve just been! Lots of nice relaxing activities planned for the weekend 🙂 x
Oh god i feel for you Jo as this has happened to me MANY times. TBH i rarely take F to supermarkets/shops/errands anymore as i can’t be doing with the fallout, he always see’s something he wants and then kicks off when he can’t have it! FML.
We always do the food shop on-line – just so much easier. We pop to the shops for 1 or 2 bits because Monkey does like going and we can be in and out. No way could I face doing the big shop while trying to keep him entertained ! Good to know I’m not the only one 🙂
Oh this made me chuckle because we have ALL been there, done that, stress over and decided that online shopping was our best ‘less-stressed’ option. I avoid at ALL costs taking my kids shopping. AT ALL COSTS! lol. I just don’t think its far on them to have to try to contain their energetic natures. So I don’t take them. Ever. lol. Great post hun and I hope online shopping works for you!! Cute pic of the wee man snoozing, haha.
Thanks so much for linking up to the #MMWBH xx
I feel for you, I really do. I remember those awful times having to drag Little Prince around with me. Thank heavens for online shopping, it was truly amazing when I did it for the first time. I hope your shopping will be a lot less stressful in future. x #MMWBH
Haha ohhhh god, Supermarkets with children are like toddler heaven and parent hell!!! Z just darts off and chucks everything in the trolley – it is SO much more relaxing doing an online shop. Well done on getting through it all though 🙂
Oh my gosh, this is what I have to prepare for when my lil man is a toddler?! Haha. I think I’ll join you with the online shopping! X
It’s just a pure nightmare isn’t it! Shopping with my two drives me insane – they run in opposite directions and I always end up forgetting half the things I went in for!
#MMWBH
This is why I have purchased an annual delivery pass for this year, haha!
Online shopping is definitely the way forward with kids, especially once you have more than one! It’s so much easier!
When my kids were young there was a wonderful supermarket that had a creche attached and you could see into it from the store, and they even took my special needs daughter. Wonderful!