Ava is an ace with the carts; she has used them at Whole Foods in the past. This was Liam's first time driving a cart. Entering the store, all was fun. The kids each picked out a cart and we headed on our merry way. The kids picked out some fruit leather (fruit that has been pureed and dehydrated) and we picked up a few other things. I felt like a cart-wrangler. And we avoided the wine aisle like the plague... New cart-driver Liam + stacks and stacks of glass wine bottles = impending catastrophe. Disaster averted.
We went to the check-out line, where I then saw a neighbor (from the next street over in our sub) standing behind me. I said hello, but I wasn't sure if she recognized me. I then turned my attention to the cashier, so we could check-out. In the meantime, Liam is straying with his cart. Somehow he took Ava's (as I later found out), and Ava grabbed it back. With a vengeance. Neither would let go. With both kids wailing, the cart ended up on its side with a crash that only a grocery cart can make when turning over. :-) WWF Smackdown just about ensued. (I kid, but Liam was crying VERY loudly). I had to be "that mom" that day in the grocery store, grabbing my kids by the elbows and whispering what might look like death threats into their ears. Fortunately I remained calm and didn't yell at them. Serenity now!
With (what seemed like) all eyes on me, I didn't sink into the floor this time. The neighbor behind me says "Oh but you'll miss this when they're older." :-) Hmm. I told her I would doubt that... In the past I would've melted into a puddle, but for some reason, I didn't. I'm learning not to sweat the small things, I guess.
Liam and Ava play SO well together, for the most part. The only issue is if someone takes a toy from another (or someone wants a toy the other one is holding - of the 50,000,000 toys within the perimiter of our house). It happened, though. I don't think I could've helped it.
We then made our way to put the carts back, but Liam was upset when we had to return it. He wanted to keep it. He started wailing again. I had to carry him out of the store as he attempted to escape my grasp. I guess that's what I get for taking them there before dinner time.
We went back as a family last weekend. We didn't go at dinner time. So much easier! Liam EVEN ventured down the wine aisle and didn't bump into anything. (I still might suggest bumpers in this aisle to them sometime... :-) Doug took the picture below on our family trip there. These are our professional shopppers!
As a sidenote, a few days after said incident, I took the kids to Pike's Nursery by myself. It was pretty hot and humid that day. Each of them wanted to pull one of the Radio Flyer wagons and put a plant in their wagon. One of the workers commented that she was very impressed that I was able to coordinate two kids both pulling wagons and simultaneously direct traffic. There weren't any plants that spilled over, no wagons overturned. It was a fun and uneventful trip, until Ava's nose started bleeding in the mini-van on the way home! :-0 Small victories, I guess.
Peace, love and kid cart calamity,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam
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