I always loved grocery shopping with my Mom. I saw any invitation into a store as an opportunity to coax a treat out of her. I had to have something…anything. A piece of gum from the 25 cent machine? A new coloring book? Shoelaces?…it didn’t matter.
It wasn’t long before she started prepping us before shopping trips, “do. not. ask. me. for. a. thing. We’re going in for milk, crackers, and tomato sauce, and NOTHING more! Do you understand? Because we won’t go shopping again if you start asking me for things. I’m not in the mood.”
“Oh yes Mom! We understand!!”
What we really meant was, “just get us in the store and we’ll see if there’s anything there we might want to have.”
I ignored my kids during our last shopping trip for groceries because they simply would NOT stop pestering me for stuff.
It’s amazing how desperate they get to have something new. What starts off as “Can I have a new movie?” quickly changes to “batteries?” or “a water bottle?” or “a bone for Jack?” as we continue walking through the aisle.
I was beyond the point of being annoyed with my spoiled kids constant requests and had moved on to feeling strangely amused.
“What about a pineapple?”
“We could make s’mores!”
“Can we have an umbrella?”
I created these monsters.
“I need a Pillow Pet!”
“Can we have gum?”
“Look Mom! Bird Seed!!”
And I will never shop with them again.
Or…at least for another week or so.
ps I did buy ingredients for s’mores. I’m a weak weak person.
Jessica says
One of the reasons I love shopping at Whole Foods is they have kids club where my kids can get a snack to eat while we are grocery shopping. It stops the I wants for the 2 1/2 minutes they are shoving food in their mouths. After that the I wants return. Then we go home.
Jessica says
Our local grocery has a cookie club for kids under 12. B knows every single time we go in there he can have a cookie. That normally stops him from begging for things for about a whole two aisles. After that, I just tune him out. I normally leave the grocery store with only half my list done.
Karen and Gerard says
I don’t think asking for a bone for Jack was selfish. I hope you got something for your dog! Obviously, they must know you don’t really mean what you say. You are soft hearted, which isn’t a bad thing. I’m sure your kids view is it doesn’t hurt to try and usually you give in. Just guessing.
June Freaking Cleaver says
This is exactly why I used to shop in the middle of the night, when the girls were sleeping.
I thought I had The Boy trained not to nag about stuff in the store, and then I heard him telling shoppers that his sister was sick in the hospital, and he was begging them for quarters for the machine, “so he could get her a little gift”.
Big.fat.liar.
Janmary, N Ireland says
Oh yes – how determined they are to add some extras to the shopping trolley!
My strategy is to say – “of course I’ll buy it …. with your pocket money” – it suddenly becomes less essential!!!
Marta says
I’m the same way and I know I did this to myself. I never get my son anything is he asks or whines for it. However, if he’s acting well I’m a total sucker for the cute face and boom a gift it is. Sadly, he wouldn’t be satisfied with shoelaces, he holds out for the good stuff.
Alison@Mama Wants This says
Bird seed, hahaha!!
I remember being a pest about stuff when I went shopping with my mom. She did the ignoring thing really well.
Amy says
My daughter says things like “wow, that looks like it would be really fun for other kids, I wonder what that would be like.” Guilt takes over and we come home with whatever it was the lucky kids get and the somber, humble kids can only dream of (you know, like popsicles).
Mohamed says
Very cute! I can’t wait to finish this one up so I can see how the whole book will look when fnhsiied. I add my pics as I go from previous camp trips and it is so cute! This is my first mini-album and I can’t wait to do more now. I think I am going to backtrack and do some of the older classes also! I can’t wait to see what is up for next month!
Cinnamon says
Grocery stores would make WAY more money if they had a certified baby sitter run room (like the ones we used to get locked away in at the bowling alley when Mom and Dad were on a league). Then parents wouldn’t rush to get the hell out of there and they would spend more money.
kat says
Ah, grocery stores. I am so weak there. I always end up getting them something. One of the stores closest to us has these little carts that usually keeps Queenie busy enough feeling like a grown up to ask for stuff. Of course, the last time we went in there she felt so grown up that she did some shopping of her own. I got to the check-out with more items than I bargained for. Fortunately for her I am lazy and didn’t want to put them back. More candy now hidden in the drawer!
Jennifer says
But the smore’s were for you so that’s different.
I took my kids clothes shopping this weekend. Clothes for me. I’m sure you can imagine how that went.
Kenna Ray says
My daughter is terrible about this. And you are so right, it’s just any old thing. It doesn’t even have to be something special. It’s not like we’re starving them for treats either. They get to add a couple of things to the list before we even leave the house. It drives me batty! It probably is even more annoying because it makes me sound like my mother when I refuse!
Janice says
I always dread going to the store with my kids. I just know they will ask for something. Especially for balloons. My husband just kinda grunts now whenever he comes home and there’s a new pair of balloons in the house that I just wasted our money on… I can’t help it! They’re too cute!
Tara says
Our grocery store has free cookies for “kids”. I always get one!
Kimmy says
Yes, my child pulls the same thing and it definitely gets annoying. I’m pretty strong but at times I do become a sucker…lol!
A Mommy in the City says
This is why I love the fact that I can order my groceries online and they deliver it to my door. One of the perks of living in the city. When I do step into the grocery store I have to make sure Harlan is either full or has snacks I brought her, otherwise I am in hell.
Ann says
When we were kids my mother would go grocery shopping with us and we were each allowed to put ONE thing in the grocery cart – within reason. It had to be a food item that the rest of the family would eat. It usually ended up being cereal, but we’d spend the entire trip thinking about what we wanted….it worked for her!
Ryan (The Woven Moments) says
S’mores make everything better. Also – the kids can’t talk when they have HUGE MARSHMALLOWS in their mouths. It’s true.
WorldsWorstMoms says
Mine like to ask for healthy stuff like fruit so I can’t turn them down. Then they end up not eating it all and I get pissed off at home, not at the store. So at least I’m not in public.
Jen says
Shopping with children makes me drink wine usually while still in the store which gets me in trouble…. sometimes.
bcIMthemommy says
My daughter’s autistic so the “I wants” combined with crazy sensory experience can quickly turn into a meltdown. So I’ve learned that a list can save us a tremendous amount of frustration. I write the list in big print letters, we go over it a couple of times (since she can’t read–she’s only 5), and then I tell her we only buy what’s on the list and she’s in charge of the list. I don’t have to deal with the “I wants” because if she does ask for something I tell her it’s not on the list and putting her in charge gives her something to do. I use this for my boys how aren’t autistic and it works for them too.
Sarah Ruth says
Girl, that’s what it’s like shopping with my stepdaughter. AND my husband! It takes twice as long with them!
Kisatrtle says
Sounds like a typical shopping trip at my house