One of my major goals in life is to never go grocery shopping with all three of my children. I know....many of you may be thinking I should aim a little higher with my accomplishment expectations. Those of you with multiple young children feel my pain though. I mean, it's not that I don't love my kids or want to spend time with them. And it's not that I am so overwhelmed by grocery shopping that I can't handle the thought of taking my kids....even though it takes three times as long....and involves pinching and shoving and threats (from a veritable treasure trove of combinations - we're like a math word problem. "If a mommy and her three kids all go to the store, and each person threatens bodily harm to the other in every possible variation of combinations, how many threats can you calculate?'). And, while we're at it, it costs more. Because at some point, even the most strict and determined of mothers runs out of steam in the "no, we are not buying that" argument. Plus, they tag team. They alternate between acting like if we don't buy everything in sight the world will end, to getting incredibly excited over basic foods (like it's shocking I am providing sustenance for them), to distracting me with someone's meltdown or crazy social interactions so that the others can sneak goods into the basket. I feel kind of bad, like I am painting a picture of crazy hooligans at the store. Well, if the shoe fits.... |