My Grocery Shopping Confessional
My Grocery Store Confessional
The grocery store trip that was doomed from the beginning. Times are estimates.
Monday, July 25, 2011
4:30 pm > Enter grocery store. With both kids. SIGH audibly.
- I do it despite my knowledge that it’s the worst possible time to go grocery shopping.
- Wander aimlessly.
4:45 pm > Realize I don’t have my list. Decide to attempt the trip anyway.
- Proceed to put produce in basket. Get dirty looks from people because I have my kids with me.
- He towards dairy section.
- Witness Logan pushing the basket around in circles in the middle of the aisle as I grab the milk.
- Make the mistake of walking past the ice cream.
- Go back to the produce because I forgot half of what I needed.
4:55 pm > Go down random, unnecessary aisles to avoid the masses.
5:00 pm > Remember I have an iphone and that I can look up a couple of recipes for ingredients.
- Attempt to park the kids out of the way so I can double check what I need.
- Double back for kalamata olives so I can make Mediterranean Pasta, or something like it, for dinner.
- Realize I’m out of parmesan and have forgotten it the last 4 times I’ve been shopping.
5:03 > Get more dirty looks because I’m saying “no” to all the kids requests and most likely am wearing my favorite expression – the “perma-scowl.”
5:05 pm > Remember that I’m out of sour cream. Head back to dairy.
- Give in to Madeline’s requests for popcorn.
- Declare that we’re DONE and no one better complain, nag, whine, or hit…otherwise it’s a TIMEOUT when we get home.
5:08 pm > Make a bee-line for the shortest check out line. Actually pick up my pace so I can get there before another person eye-balling the short line.
- Get another dirty look.
- Tell Logan to stop touching the magazines and that we’re NOT getting any candy.
- Decide that I want a Skor bar. Hide it under the food so the kids don’t see.
- Get ready to pay and then realize I DON’T HAVE MY WALLET.
5:10 > Vent on Twitter. Go home. Get Wallet. Do.Not.Pass.Go.Ever.
5:20 > Get back in line. Thank the nice person who didn’t put the food away. Pay.
- Answer phone. It’s Jamie. Tell her what happened. She laughs.
- Mentally stick my tongue out at her. Decide that’s not very mature.
- I agree that I might laugh too…in a few days.
5:25 > Load Car. Leave Store.
- Get honked at.
- Miss my turn.
- Take a detour.
5:35 > Make it home just before Eric. Decide it’s leftover night.
- Eat leftover soup even though it’s nearly 100 degrees out.
I’m sure we’ve all been there and I realize that probably 98% of the population despises grocery shopping just as much as I do. So, give me your worst. Leave me your grocery shopping confessional. Dish out the dirt.
Dana @ Hot Pink Apron says
I just experienced this very same nightmare this afternoon! It is so comforting to know I’m not the only one! Thank you!
Kids finally asleep now. I think I’ll just here and stare at the wall for awhile and let the day fall off me. sigh.
Chelsea says
I had ton a TON of shopping at a large store 25 miles from my house. They bag the groceries and you pull around for them to put the groceries in your car. I got all the way home (25 miles) and opened the back of my tahoe – EMPTY! I forgot to pick them up!! I’ve done this twice! Apparently it happens all the time, because when I called them they acted like it was no big deal:)
Bonnie Banters says
This sounds like one of my really bad days like I described recently as dealing with a bad roll of toilet tissue that just wouldn’t roll right! Hope today was a better day!
Dawn says
Not exactly the same, but I took all of my nieces and nephews for ice cream one time. They’re all standing around licking away when I realize I don’t have my wallet. I was so flustered! I had to apologize a million times, getting dirty looks from the employees while the kids leisurely ate their cones, then take them home and come back with my wallet. I was so embarrassed!
Liz says
That sounds like my normal grocery store trip:) my worst was shortly after my 4 yr old had just had her tonsils out. I really didn’t want to take her and my two other children to the store but I had no choice. My 4 yr old was very cranky that day. The carts for multiple children were all taken so my 4 yr old had to walk along the cart with my 6 yr old so the 18month old could sit in the front. She wasn’t happy about walking. I told her we would be quick andif she was good I would let her pick whatever popsicle she wanted at the end. Well she was NOT good. So after I told her the popsicle privledge was gone she started a tantrum. to the nth degree. Screaming at the top of her lungs, refusing to walk with me, and running away at every oppurtunity. By this point the 18 month old was done and pulling at the stuff off the shelfs. So the last 20 min of the trip was pure managment. And yes I recieved plenty of massive dirty looks. They are bound to happen when you are walking away from a child screaming and crying loud enough for the whole store to hear. But what else could I do? That was the only way I could get her to come with me. I do believe I aksed the cashier if they accepted children as a form of payment that day.
eveleve says
My worst shopping trip ever. I was 10…my mother did not have access to the commissary on base – so I did all of our grocery shopping by myself. List and cash in hand – usually not so bad – military men and women were always friendly.
What made this trip horrible…..
The clown suit I was in. It was spirit week at school – and I didn’t have a change of clothes.
so picture it….
10 year old girl
4 foot nothing tall
clown suit!!!!
lots of really cute men in uniform…
having to ask one of them to get something off a top shelf for me!
Very embarrassing!
Katie says
I love it! Not so fun as a 10 year old though!
Liz says
That sounds horrible! I have an almost three year old and if I can’t get to the grocery store by 10 am I usually just forget it. My least favorite part of shopping is when she sees something horrible for her and freaks out if I don’t buy it! That’s why we have Dora cereal right now. Haha. I downloaded the shopshop app on my iphone and I love it because then I know that I am never going to forget my list.
Katie says
I used to be so good about using the list on my iPhone. The one I used was through Intuition, but I’ve been so busy this summer that I’ve gotten out of the habit.
Mike@The Culinary Lens says
I don’t even have kids and have a permascowl in supermarkets LOL..
I am sure you will at least smile in a few days.
Denise @ Creative Kitchen says
Stopped over when I saw this via Twitter….
What a horrible trip that was. I’m glad you share since the shopping with our kids is something all moms can relate to. I’ll never forget my first time shopping with 2 kids (one almost 4 and the other a couple months old). I don’t remember anything traumatizing about that trip except the fact I was nervous about juggling 2 kids there for the first time ;P
Now I have 3 LOL!!! Much easier now since my oldest is 12.5 I can at times run up & have her babysit during nap time. I’m not sure I’ve done it yet, but it’s nice to know I have the option. We usually go as a family after church some weeks, and other times hubby stops & picks up a few things.
Have to say I wouldn’t definitely never give you a dirty look…..if anything I’m the mom that went without her kids that has to hide a smile only because I’m feeling your pain. You know the feeling that you’re glad you’re not the only one LOL!!
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
Thanks for sharing and reminding me that this happens to EVERYONE! My annoying/stressful grocery store shopping trip happened just a few days ago where in the end I too had forgotten my wallet at home!
Tracy says
Aww, you poor thing – that totally sucks! I hope you’re able to look back and laugh about it now, though. 🙂
Sarah says
I feel for you. I generally do my grocery shopping with my 5 year old, 3 year old and 10 month old. I try to go early when they first wake up. The crowds aren’t usually too bad and I don’t have to worry about the glares from others when my 3 year old is running around pulling things off the shelves, and then there was the time he had a tantrum in produce and started throwing avocados all over the floor and at other customers.
Chandy says
A couple of years ago I stopped at the grocery store before picking my kids up from daycare. I did all of my shopping, loaded my purchases up in the trunk of my car, and then closed the trunk…inside the trunk, of course, was my purse, cell phone, and car keys. I had to stand in line to beg to use the phone to call my parents so they could first go pick up my kids before daycare closed, and then come rescue me. Then… as we were driving in my parents’ car to go get the spare key to my car, they had a flat tire. So we had to call in yet another rescue. When I finally retrieved my car and my poor groceries (thank goodness it wasn’t summer!) we all went out for hamburgers… not my finest moment 🙂
Jessica @ Coffee and a Cookie says
I feel for you. I haven’t forgotten my wallet – yet! But I often forget my list which just makes me want to give up before I start since I am always shopping with a toddler. She is usually very well behaved but occasionally has a meltdown halfway through and starts yelling NUM NUM! over and over. I’m pretty sure people think I never feed my kid before going to the grocery store!
Cindy H says
Oh my, this was wonderful and so well written. I’ve had too many experiences to relate them all.
Years ago (Daughter is now a well adjusted 25 in spite of me) –
1. Daughter wanted me to buy bulk Gummy Bears.
“No”.
I turned my back for a second and turned around to see her with something in her mouth. I was horrified, and her eyes were as big as saucers. I threatened to take her to the manager and told her she had just STOLEN. She cried so hard, I felt terrible and gave in to her entreaties NOT to have to talk to the manager. She never stole again. :o)
2. Embarrassed to admit – Left same Daughter in turned OFF truck for a ‘Second’ while I ran in to buy something in grocery store. At cashier I looked out the window, and the truck was GONE! I was frantic! Then I saw her little face outside at the grocery window with streaking tears. She had put the truck in neutral, and as it rolled backward onto a meridian, she had leapt out. Anyone who reads this? Please take heed.
Katie, I loved your confessional, it’s all too true, and I loved everyone’s comments.
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says
Oh Katie, when I saw that tweet yesterday, I internally cringed for you. I *hate* not feeling prepared, and not having your wallet is like the worst for that! For what it’s worth, I would never scowl at you in the store.
I recently took my nephew and niece, (5 and 3) to Target. It was the most exhausting trip to Target of my life. And they were well behaved, each got a toy, and we didn’t forget anything on the list.. so I can only imagine how you felt! You have my admiration for doing that trip twice in one day, with kids. I think I would have said screw it and ordered pizza.