I hear people, all the time, state that they can’t shop when their kids are with them. I’ve got the opposite problem, so I realized recently. I learned that I can’t shop WITHOUT my kids.
So I jet over to the grocery store to pick up a few items one afternoon. I only need to get a few things on this trip. I pick up some bananas. I grab some apples. I nab a container of pimento cheese. Toss a loaf of bread in my basket.
And then I start looking for a package of string cheese. You know what I’m talking about, right? The individual tubes of cheese where you pull off little strips of “string cheese.” Of course! Well, I am standing right in front of the section for, like, two minutes (a long time!). I can’t find the normal brand that we get.
I start to get a bit frustrated, when I slow myself down and think to myself, “Okay, why are you having such a difficult time with this? Why the mind block?”
Then it occurs to me. I couldn’t find what I was looking for because I didn’t see the package with the blasted cartoon on it! CARTOON!
My kids would have realized that immediately. Not me. Of course not.
A couple things to address:
- My apologies to those of you that judge me because I buy something because it has a cartoon on it. Or a prize in it. I didn’t grow up, I guess. Those are still THE BEST kind of foods to buy.
- I need my kids. More than I realize. I love being with them. They are a delight to me.
Sure shopping with three kiddos can be wild. But it can be awesome too. There have been a few times where shopping with them has been less than fun. But, honestly, most of the time it is awesome!
When I take my boys shopping, they know it isn’t just shopping.
It is an adventure!
Shopping cart races, getting the free samples together, going to the toy section for a few minutes, looking at the lobster tank, making the automatic lights come on in the freezer section. What is not to love about shopping with kids?!?
That’s the best way to live life. On an adventure. I hope I never change from that philosophy of thinking. I hope my boys carry that with them as they grow and have families as well.
