Day 13 - The Re-Supply Mission

CAMP MOMMY - Day 13

Out of sheer desperation, and running out of dishwasher soap, which is just nasty--we went to the grocery store today for the three-weeks' delayed and much-dreaded re-supply mission.

It was as awful as I had feared--and I only had two of the three with me. Zach went to Daddy's office today, which is a wonderful option to have once a week or so.

I took them to McDonald's first to try and burn off the energy they had built up all morning, helping me get the house ready to show this afternoon while we were out (two different showings--fingers crossed!). I made them drink milk and water instead of soda, and we didn't even have ice cream. But it didn't help. They were still crazy in Publix (although I did not go to my usual store--I don't want to burn bridges with my people!), making it a very stressful half-hour. It seemed much longer than that--

It's not even that they are that bad--they don't break things or run uncontrolled through the aisles. They are just high energy, they talk a lot, and they do tend to get in the way, typically dancing in the center of the aisle, playing with their free balloons. There were no double-carts available when we started shopping, and I didn't have room for them to ride in the cart, so...you do what you gotta do.

I avoided making eye contact with anyone, and kept up a running commentary:
"Tiger, single file Honey--don't dance in the middle of the aisle."

Most Embarrassing Moment: When Tiger decided to share his new shopping etiquette with a large black lady, pushing her cart down the aisle toward us, Tiger yells out:
"Hey! You're in the way, Big Lady!"
(Which is just what he hears, except he's "Big Guy".)
Oh.My.God...

I tried to explain, apologize, crawl under the cereal display, but what do you do? When you know, in that moment, you have contributed to some beautiful young woman's decision *never* to have children...

I smiled, rolled my eyes, grabbed the child, and fired off to the other one:
"Haleigh, can you find me the Lucky Charms? How about the Grape Nuts for Daddy?"

(The Treasure Hunt is by far one of the best strategies for getting through the store with age 7 & up.) (I don't know what to tell you for almost-five-year-olds.)

By the time we got to the check-out, with our overloaded shopping cart and $200 worth of groceries, I was over the edge. Done. Fortunately, the checker and bagboys took over, with the groceries and the kids, who always love a good conversation about sports, school, or video games. It distracts their attention from the impulse candy and gum.

God Bless the bagboys--

Day 13 Total = $10 lunch at McDonald's
(I didn't buy any rewards or treats today--I bought them food, by god, and they should have paid me for good behavior in the grocery store!)