My Grocery Shopping Confessional
My Grocery Store Confessional
The grocery store trip that was doomed from the beginning. Times are estimates.
Monday, July 25, 2011
4:30 pm > Enter grocery store. With both kids. SIGH audibly.
- I do it despite my knowledge that it’s the worst possible time to go grocery shopping.
- Wander aimlessly.
4:45 pm > Realize I don’t have my list. Decide to attempt the trip anyway.
- Proceed to put produce in basket. Get dirty looks from people because I have my kids with me.
- He towards dairy section.
- Witness Logan pushing the basket around in circles in the middle of the aisle as I grab the milk.
- Make the mistake of walking past the ice cream.
- Go back to the produce because I forgot half of what I needed.
4:55 pm > Go down random, unnecessary aisles to avoid the masses.
5:00 pm > Remember I have an iphone and that I can look up a couple of recipes for ingredients.
- Attempt to park the kids out of the way so I can double check what I need.
- Double back for kalamata olives so I can make Mediterranean Pasta, or something like it, for dinner.
- Realize I’m out of parmesan and have forgotten it the last 4 times I’ve been shopping.
5:03 > Get more dirty looks because I’m saying “no” to all the kids requests and most likely am wearing my favorite expression – the “perma-scowl.”
5:05 pm > Remember that I’m out of sour cream. Head back to dairy.
- Give in to Madeline’s requests for popcorn.
- Declare that we’re DONE and no one better complain, nag, whine, or hit…otherwise it’s a TIMEOUT when we get home.
5:08 pm > Make a bee-line for the shortest check out line. Actually pick up my pace so I can get there before another person eye-balling the short line.
- Get another dirty look.
- Tell Logan to stop touching the magazines and that we’re NOT getting any candy.
- Decide that I want a Skor bar. Hide it under the food so the kids don’t see.
- Get ready to pay and then realize I DON’T HAVE MY WALLET.
5:10 > Vent on Twitter. Go home. Get Wallet. Do.Not.Pass.Go.Ever.
5:20 > Get back in line. Thank the nice person who didn’t put the food away. Pay.
- Answer phone. It’s Jamie. Tell her what happened. She laughs.
- Mentally stick my tongue out at her. Decide that’s not very mature.
- I agree that I might laugh too…in a few days.
5:25 > Load Car. Leave Store.
- Get honked at.
- Miss my turn.
- Take a detour.
5:35 > Make it home just before Eric. Decide it’s leftover night.
- Eat leftover soup even though it’s nearly 100 degrees out.
I’m sure we’ve all been there and I realize that probably 98% of the population despises grocery shopping just as much as I do. So, give me your worst. Leave me your grocery shopping confessional. Dish out the dirt.
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
FYI…I’m still laughing.
Deliciously Organic says
I saw your struggle on twitter and felt for you! I think we’ve all had those terrible grocery store experiences. Gosh, I don’t remember my “worst” but I wanted to leave a comment to sympathize!! 🙂
Deborah says
I’d never give you dirty looks, because I’d probably be going through the exact same thing!! Loved this!
Skinny Fat Kid says
Skinny Fat Kid and I used to grocery shop together. Then he stopped. Now I spend more money. Haha.
I try to go every two weeks. If I need some fresh produce, I just stop on my walk home from work. Seems to work out and I only end up fighting the crowds twice a month vs. once a week.
I don’t have kids but can only imagine. I’ve had carts pushed into me by kids, stood in aisles because kids were throwing temper tantrums in the middle, watched kids throw fits over not getting the Oreos, etc. etc. Since I’m not a parent, its annoying but I can only imagine the feeling when it’s your kid who is fighting you over a $2 bag of chips. Something to look forward to…
Donna says
You got a lot of shopping done in a short amount of time. As much as I dread taking the kids shopping (thankfully they are finally old enough to leave home) my hubby is the worst! He drags me back and forth and all over the store in search of the best deal and something he just remembered! Augh!
ps. Once I filled my car up with gas and when I went to grab my wallet I realized it was somewhere else!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
I strangely don’t mind going grocery shopping with the girls but I will avoid the store at all costs when the work crowd is out and shopping or in the afternoon on weekends – no freaking way will I step food in there at those times. I will actually ask 4yo to go w/me these days to help. Your story cracked me up though, only a parent can understand!
Holly says
I’m one of those people that actually enjoys grocery shopping. At least I do when I go by myself. When I have the kids with me it’s a whole different experience. Your trip does sound particularly bad though.
Jessica says
I find myself always complaining about the grocery store. I should be thankful that I can buy groceries…but I still do it. 🙂 A year ago we moved from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta, Ga to a small town in rural Kentucky where I have to drive 60+ miles to what I consider a “decent” grocery store. I do most of my shopping in “the city” but I can’t help forgetting things once in awhile and I have to shop in the town I live in. The produce is always bruised/rotten, the stores [we have 2]are dirty, and it never fails that there are only 1-2 lines open in a store that serves a county of 50,000+ people. Sigh… I have to go now, actually, because I forgot to get my vitamins at Whole Foods last weekend. They probably won’t even have the kind I need…again, complaining, but I will remind myself that I can drive 2 miles in my air-conditioned vehicle and spend money on something I need. 🙂
Katie says
I would go nuts if I had to drive that far to a decent store. My dad used to live in a small town and he had to drive 20-25 minutes to his grocery store. It was a nice one at least. But I’m so used to being able to run to the store for a couple things on my way home from anywhere without going out of my way. Have you tried looking for things that are repeat buys, like your Vitamins, on Amazon? I have Amazon Prime so I get free shipping on just about anything regardless of the price. I took notes shopping a few times to mark down the prices and the things that are a better deal with Amazon I get shipped to me (cleaning supplies, some non-perishable food things, the almond butter we like, wipes, and when we needed them – diapers). Lots of the items are available for subscribe & save. You get 15% off the price and you sign up for delivery every 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. It auto ships whenever it is time. I would do this with more things, like pantry staples, if it were available and/or cheaper.
Yammie @ Yammie's Noshery says
I hate the dirty looks I get when I bring my little siblings along with me to the grocery store. Whenever I see a little kid, I can’t even help smiling.
Kita says
I don’t even have kids (nor the stress of shopping with them) but this post made me giggle. Im just as forgetful without them! Not sure what that says about me.
Carrie @ poet in the pantry says
Make that “your” timing. No coffee yet today. 😉
Carrie @ poet in the pantry says
Oh, yeah. Shopping with 2 kids is always interesting–I don’t know how my mom did it with 4 kids! You’re timing is pretty good, though. Usually takes us over an hour to accomplish the little we have to do.
Shawna says
That sucks! Sorry, I have no other word than “sucks”. It’s not easy shopping with two kids and I’m looking forward to when school starts 🙂 Is that terrible??
Emily says
No, I love grocery shopping! Probably because I am a student who goes with her best friend every week (its our “thing”, and has been for almost twelve months without fail). Yours sounds awful though, and almost identical to one my mama took with me – but when she got to the checkout sans wallet, had to pick up my sister from ballet and then come back. It was a stressful evening.
Joyce Pinson says
I talk to myself as I walk down the aisles. Too much salt! No MSG! You call that FRESH produce, I’ll grow my own thank you! What do you mean it’s cheaper to buy the smaller package than the economy one???
Is this organic? Is this Genetically Engineered? Is this a GMO salmon?
Between my takling and adjusting my bifocals to check ingredients I have become somewhat of a local joke. I don’t mind. Someday I’ll change the world. LOL
cassie-b says
I’ve had some difficult grocery shopping trips, but yours has got to be the most difficult of all time.