This is how I do it. Others may do it differently but this is my way.
I go to the grocery store every 2 weeks. And I take every one of my children. All 4 of them. From 18 months to 6 years old. Some have the option of going to buy groceries alone. Like, with no children or significant other. I include significant other like I include children because I'm including Mr. Smash. We have made the occasional family trip to Target. We always come home with extra stuff, courtesy of Dad (aka "Sucker"). It's very similar to when your kids put candy in the cart without you knowing.
So anyway, I do not grocery shop by myself.
"I don't know how you do it" they say. "You're crazy" they say. Well, you can do it. It's a mind-set momma! A mind-set!
You are creating adults. And right now you are starting from scratch. Going to the grocery store is a teaching opportunity. I'm not just talking about learning their fruits and veggies or figuring out what's cheaper. I'm talking about how to interact with people. How to say no to what's not on the list. How to organize a trunk/backseat/truck bed full of groceries. And how to push through those last 20 minutes at the store without losing it. L-O-S-I-N-G I-T. We all need to work on that.
I don't make my children sit in the cart the entire time. It's a 35 minute drive to the nearest Kroger. I'm not going to make them sit in the car, sit in the cart, and sit back in the car to go home. Not making them sit in the cart while at the store helps them learn to walk with mommy. Okay, seriously, A4 (18 months) does not walk beside me; or even in the same aisle as me for that matter. Actually, she runs the complete opposite way. The great thing is that A1, A2, and A3 walk with me when needed and come back to me when I tell them to. Each one of them ran away from me at 18 months. So, I keep pressing on.
If A4 deliberately disobeys then she must sit back in the cart for a few minutes. Then she gets another chance. I know it's gonna get better because her sisters act great now. Teaching opportunity! There are times when they will all run down an aisle or start playing with the sprinkles in the baking section. During those times of disobedience they must sit. This is torture! We get those big boat carts that can hold multiple children. I like them because it's a great time-out spot and I can still keep shopping.
All 4 of them will take the groceries from the cart to the shelf. They often get paired together to get produce. I've tried to teach them the correct way to pick out an apple, pepper, bananas, etc. Sometimes they nail it. Other times, not so much. I don't mess with it too much because I'm still not okay with a 4 hour grocery trip during nap time. I'll remind them of the wrong fruit choice when we get home and they want to eat it. Life consequence.
Note: We always get the free kids cookie at the bakery. We get it before we do the frozen aisles. It helps with the "I'm ready to go home" fit throwing. And keeps everyone happy just a little bit longer.
The 3 bigger girls must unload the cart at checkout. This is NOT an option. I have to remind them not to throw, and I do get heavy stuff and glass stuff. Once there is space in the basket I'll put A4 in and let her help. I've got to be on my game though and get the glass stuff out before she can see it.
And when that bagger at Kroger asks me if I want help out today, I look at my 2 full carts and 4 tired children and smile and say "sure!". When we get to the car I put A4 in her car seat, and A1 helps me load up. Sometimes the others help and sometimes they get a pass. By this time I'm tired, irritated, happy, and a ton of other emotions because not only did we make it another trip, I still have to unload the groceries when we get home.
That's how we grocery shop. I take all of them with me, 99% of the time. I enjoy having done it on the days I don't have to go. Why I say having done it? Because it's not fun at the time. Seriously. But I'm glad I get the opportunity to teach my girls how to live life.
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