Tuesday, 11 November 2008

• My Wal*Mart Adventure: Shopping with My 5 Kids

  Guest post by yodertime

  

  A while ago, I was at a McDonalds drive-thru and my kids were begging for a Happy Meal so that they could each receive a toy. Despite the fact that McDonalds had decent looking Hot Wheels cars and Polly Pockets instead of the usual gruesome alien action figures, I stood my ground and told them I'd much rather spend a bit more on a better toy from Wal*mart.

  Somehow the kids took the toy comment as a promise for new toys the next time we go to Wal*mart. No matter how hard I tried to explain, I failed to pry that thought from their little minds. So I decided to wait out going to Wal*mart. (It's amazing how long I can stay away from that place if I have too.)

  Even more amazing though are my children's solid memory. I mentioned going to Wal*mart one day  for diapers and suddenly they all volunteered to accompany me. The gleam in their eyes gave them away so I set ground rules for receiving a toy -- no fussing, stay with me, etc.

  We loaded up and headed north. All too soon that blue and grey building came into sight and I started having second thoughts about bringing the whole crew. Luckily, my shopping list was etched into my mind because once we were inside there was no stopping to look for a piece of paper in the bottom of my purse. Carson asleep in his carseat went into the top part of the cart and Essie in the front. I couldn't see a thing over the carseat but, with Carrie and Corban walking on one side and Grace on the other, they navigated for me.

  We found the toiletries and furnace filter with me only losing a few brain cells. Finally, we entered the toy zone. The kids picked out appropriate toys after debating way too long over which one they preferred (that is, until I ordered them to make a decision quickly)! A few more brain cells died a painful death as I started realizing I might not make out of the huge store alive.

  Should I just ditch the cart and bolt? No, then I'd have to come back. I better just keep going, I thought to myself. 

  We then proceeded to the Rubbermaid tub section. I needed the right size so I began reading the labels. Suddenly, Carrie lifted Essie out of the cart without my knowledge. I had moved on to the next aisle thinking the kids were doing fairly well, and that we were thankfully almost finished. I turned to put something in the cart and noticed Essie was missing! As we retraced our steps, I told the girls if they ever let Essie out of the cart again they would really get it. I'll figure out later what it is.

  We found poor Essie happily clearing off a shelf of Rubbermaid containers. My heart started back up again and I plopped her into the cart along with the one container she had a death grip on. I then ventured forth, determined not to let 5 children get the best of me. I tried not to look too closely at the price tags on all the packages of diapers I put in the cart, hoping to salvage a few of those precious wisps of patience. Bananas, coffee beans and we were on the home stretch. Check out lane in full sight-- haleluia! After swiping my card, I held my hands over my ears as the checker announced the total, pushed my cart out the door and loaded up again for the treck home.

  It's been a few days and I think I have recovered fully yet I'm pretty sure I'll return to nighttime shopping.  I'll gladly give up a little sleep in order to walk around the store all alone.

  Do you usually go to the store with your children or venture out alone?

  • 1:03 PM
  • 1806 Views
  • 38 eProps
  • 21 Comments