So everyone once in a while I just need to let it out. Hang on kids…it’s been building.
I usually plan my big weekly errands around times that my two oldest boys are at preschool. It’s just so much easier to go to the grocery store without a 3 1/2 and 5 year old screaming about how much they have to have sugary cereals and lunchables. One cranky child strapped into a cart has become my limit.
So last week when I went to replenish Cooper’s diaper supply I gasped in horror when I realized I was OUT OF DIAPERS. This never happens to me. I plan, I store, I stock up…what is going on??? Not only was I out of diapers I was down to my last pack of toilet paper and paper towels. It was Wednesday…You guys know about Wednesday…It’s the day everyone is home from school. It’s family fun day. But now, we’re going to Target….Heaven help us.
So I pack up the SUV and we’re off. We drive down, navigate the parking lot and find a great space. I should have known right there we were in trouble. Everyone was in a good mood and we all headed for the door ready to pick out our cart. We love Target because they have those BIG ENORMOUS DOUBLE CHILD HOLDER extensions on their carts. There is a limited supply but I would name my next child after the person who came up with them.
This has always been my problem with carts at stores. There really is only room for one kid. My first two are 16 months apart. Keegan was much too little to actually be expected to walk through a store with me while I put Brady in the seat part. Then they came out with those little cars that attach to the front of some carts! Woo-hoo! But now with 3 kids??? Forget it! You’re screwed! Hence we only shop when they are at school. Unless we go to places like Costco with their double seats or Target and their ingenious extensions. Not to mention the fact, the boys LOVE them.
So off we go, to find our extension cart. And to my horror, and Brady who is screaming about going in his “Strap Seat”….THERE ARE NONE! None?? How can there be none??? There is easily 10 of these things. How many people with multiple children could possibly be at Target on a random Wednesday morning at 9 AM?????
So I tell the boys they are out of their “seat strap” carts and we’re off. I throw Cooper in the cart (keep in mind I need big bulky items like diapers, tp, and paper towels so the boys aren’t going to be able to ride long in the big part of the cart) and drag the two screaming ones with me through the store as they lag behind and sulk. We’re shopping and doing their thing when I spot her…about halfway down the aisle with my cart. She’s looking at jammies, her husband is with her, and here’s the kicker…She has ONE KID! Strapped into Brady’s strappy seat! ONE KID! Why do you need a 3 seater for one kid????? Brady spots his cart and says, “there it is mommy, they do have them!” So I announce loud enough for all to hear.
“They are all gone because some rude people with only one child are using the carts that are meant for people with 2 or 3 kids.” She and her hubs scurried away. ”Thanks so much.” I waved at them.
So then again, three aisles over in the bath section I see another. She has like a 4 year old! A 4 year old in a 3 seater cart, and this kid isn’t even in the strappy part! He’s sitting reading a book in the main part of the cart! Not even the seat. So I stare her down on my way to the toilet paper. She pretended not to see me, but oh how she knew I was there!
Of course in my haste to get my cranky kids past the candy and toy section without too much of a battle and get out of the store I forgot half the things I actually put on my list and spent $50 more than I had planned to keep everyone quiet. I yelled at one lady, gave the stink eye to another, was in a terrible mood and it was only 9:24 am. Happy Wednesday!
Anyone out there listening…have a heart. Please don’t take the big ol’ carts if if you don’t need to. It’s rude, unnecessary, and you’ll save your self the stink eye!
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I love this! Because I feel the exact same way. Some of us NEED those carts.
Sorry this happened to you! I don’t have kids but I don’t get the need to have a trolley thats for more than one child when you only have one! They could have at least swapped with you! Oh wel…
Thx for stopping by my blog!
When I had my twins, stores didn’t have those lovely big carts. I can vividly remember having them both in baby car seats in a cart at the grocery and trying to fit a frozen turkey around them! If someone with one kid had a big cart, they would have gotten the stink eye from me too!
LOVE THIS POST! I just found your blog and this is the first post I read, which totally hits home. With 3 little ones and with 1 more on the way, I completely feel your shopping woes. What would I do without the big carts, or even better, the fire truck cart @ the grocery store where 2 can ‘drive’ and 2 can sit facing mom… it’s worth waiting for, which we have been known to do!