Commissary Day....

So, it has been a bit since I posted about a Commissary trip. The last post-worthy trip really was something that nightmares are made of.

Today was not like that day.

Hallelujah!

The children were excellent! Really. 

I looked like a parenting rock-star.

I, however, wanted to behave like a little brat complete with a kicking and screaming tantrum.

What, you ask, could motivate me to feel that way???

Car carts.

Or lack thereof.

Let me explain: car carts (carts where you can contain 2 small children while still having space for your groceries)  are absolutely AH-MAZE-ING.  They make the commissary a total blast for my children. Bitty Bean gets to be in charge of Boy Bean and share her free cookie with him; they both get to drive, honk the horn, and see all the action of where we are going. Jumping Bean and String Bean get to alternate turns placing items in the cart with twirling in the aisle.

And all is well in the world.

EXCEPT.

Except when there are NO car carts available.

Which is bound to happen sometimes because there are only 7 for the entire store. 

Now, I really am fairly understanding about there not being car carts - sometimes it is the minivan brigade in the parking lot (which now includes MY Swagger Wagon!!! Woohoo!) so I am prepared there might not be a cart available.

But here's my beef.....be warned: I am about to RANT.

(I apologize in advance for offending you)

When I walk through the commissary with my 11 month old son in the regular cart, my 2 1/2 year old, 4 year old, and 6 year old daughters walking behind and around me - and see someone using a car cart for their ONE child; I get annoyed. 

I'm not really annoyed if the child is fairly young.


BUT if your child is so old they can barely fit in the car cart - I'm going to be ticked.

And I get extremely close to irationally-eye-twitching-mad when I see your ONE child....who looks close to 8 years old....PUSHING the EMPTY car cart.

It is purely because I am trying to set an example of how to behave in polite society that I don't go all crazy-mama on them and chuck a box of diapers at the adult's head.

I don't understand this thought process. It is totally fine if you have one child - I don't think everyone needs a tribe. BUT I do think you should be considerate of other people. And taking something you don't need, just to placate a child, helps no one.

The child learns selfishness and greed because they want something - so they should get it.

The parent is not wanting to tell their child no - which is absolutely terrible for all parties involved.

And there is someone coming soon behind them who actually NEEDS that cart - and can't use it and now has a much more challenging trip ahead of them.

Seriously people.

So, today, as I encountered 5 of 7 car carts loaded with one child (all at least 4 years old), and the other 2 of them being pushed by a child older than String Bean.....

I was able to address the importance of being considerate. 

Of thinking of others. 

Of not taking something you don't need, just because it is there - or free. 

Of realizing that sometimes your fun time can ruin the chance someone else has of having a need met.

That is what is wrong with this country, isn't it? 

Everybody wants what they want because they want it - without regard for others, without caring about the ramifications of selfish decisions - because the all important "I" is number one.

To that I say: Maybe you should think twice the next time you want to OCCUPY a car cart.

Some sleep-deprived mama of four might just go all crazy on you.

~Whitney

Copyright 2011

Commissary Fun

The strong-willed child....also known as - every-child-I-have-birthed.

Well, Boy Bean hasn't show-cased his strong will yet; but since I know his parents quite well, I am certain he will not be compliant.

Anyway.

Today we had the treat of the "light commissary day" - we alternate between "big" and "light" days at the commissary. On "big commissary day" we have to drive *GASP* and creatively load the cart to full capacity. Soon - Very VERY soon - we will be a 2 cart family. Crazy.

Anyway.

"Light Commissary Day" means we walk to the store.  I push Boy Bean in the double stroller and load up the other side until I need more room.  Then, out comes the Snugli baby carrier!  Boy hops in, the three girls follow the train, and I push the double with all our groceries. I LOVE living so close to the store!!

So, that is what we were up to today.  Normally it is a fun trip and the children are all fabulous.

Really, they are normally great!  

They love to go to the commissary and get their cookie and help me treasure hunt for the items on our list.  If they are good - they get to pick which shape of pretzel we bring home.  

I indulge them, I know. ;)

Unfortunately, today wasn't a completely normal day.

As in - it was great! Fabulous! Wonderful! 

No awkward-random-stranger encounters, only nice faces for me and my tribe, happy attitudes from all Beans, no whining, quick obedience, and listening ears were tuned to Mommy.

It was beautiful.

And then the wind changed. In a moment.  
The moment I picked up the LAST item on our list. 

And suddenly I'm stuck in the clearance corner with a loaded double stroller, a happy boy kicking his toes at my thighs, a singing-skipping-Jumping -Bean, an obedient-String-Bean-retying-her-shoe, and a Bitty Bean emitting shrill-ear-piercing-cries-as-she-kicks-and-screams-on-the-floor.

Oh how I wanted to crawl into a corner and have someone else claim the screaming-spawn as their own.

Why, oh why, was my sweet little 2 year old deciding to scream so hard I saw blood vessels pop on her face? Because she wanted me to hold her.
And I couldn't.

I tried to get her to calm down....although the older woman who suddenly joined me in the clearance corner did not think so. I heard enough "my, my" and tongue-clicking and teeth-sucking to be plenty aware that she thought I was handling it wrong. 

By the way - teeth sucking? Most annoying sound ever. Drives me crazy. And I am the mother of four young children - I am FLUENT in annoying sounds.

Oh well.

These moments are really moments I hate. The moments where you have to stick to your guns and be consistent no matter how embarrassed you are, or you will PAY later.

So, I picked up the screaming-writhing-ball-of-anger and carried her sideways under my arm....the length of the commissary.... so we could have our standoff in the bathroom.  Bitty Bean was trying to kick me (hence the side carry - much weaker kicks!), Boy Bean was giggling from the bouncy speed walk, I was pushing the loaded double-stroller with one hand, Jumping Bean was skipping behind me, and String Bean was covering her head in shame taking up the rear.

Unfortunately, the handicap stall was occupied.  Which meant the two eldest Beans followed protocol - they stood outside the small stall and sang quietly - so I know exactly where they are! - while Bitty Bean, Boy Bean, and I, had a pow-wow.

5 minutes later - all was solved.

So I thought.

We collected the stroller....unloaded all items....paid....re-loaded the stroller....and Bitty Bean decided to try round 2 of The-melt-down-of-the-century.

Moments like that I always have to say to myself - out loud - "I am more stubborn than you can dream of being." Somehow it helps me win the standoff.

We parked our paid-for groceries outside the bathroom and - HALLELUJAH! - the handicap stall was open!!!!

In we all piled.

For 45 minutes. FORTY-FIVE MINUTES. 45 minutes!!!!!


Bitty Bean would not stop crying, screaming, and pitching a fit. All she wanted was for me to carry her. I know that is not a horrible request. But it was an UNREASONABLE request. There was no way that I could carry her home and push the groceries.

So for 45 minutes we parked in the bathroom at the commissary. With timed intervals of discipline occurring. 

I am sure I sounded crazy - because at one point Bitty Bean was screaming in Boy Bean's ear while laying her head on my shoulder and Boy Bean's cries entered the ruckus and Jumping Bean smacked her hand on the toilet and joined the cacophony of sobs and String Bean was singing an operatic rendition of "You are my Sunshine" and I started laughing maniacally.

I mean, really, what else could I do???

Bitty Bean finally caved. She found her happy attitude and decided obedience was a good decision.

We all streamed out of the stall and realized both of the other stalls were full and there was a line out the door  waiting for the toilet.

Oh well. Public embarrassment is just a part of parenthood. Right? Right?!  

Don't worry Bitty Bean.  I'll have my turn when you are about 15. I'm plotting my revenge already.....

Copyright 2011