Terrible Twos & Store Adventures - 04/29/2006

Continued from earlier's "I Tiwad" blog entry:


J is at his dad's family all weekend. My ex m-i-l, one tough & wonderful broad, is very ill - The Big C. :( So, he's spending time with her. David went to work, so it was just me and Mrs. Squeaklefritz. We went to Bed, Bath & Beyond (aka Bed, Bath & Beyond My Budget). She hates riding in shopping carts, but if I don't put her in one, she runs amok and I get zero shopping done. I put her in..."Waaaaahhhh." She calmed down by the time we got in...for about 3 minutes. As I am walking through the bath section looking for a shower curtain, she's not so much crying as growling, grunting and acting angry. I am ignoring her and it's actually not bugging me. I think I learned to tune it out. I am sure there were many people wishing I would shut her up or leave. But I continued. A married couple in their 50's came up behind me and said "You're a good mother. You're doing the right thing." I looked at them, a bit puzzled. She continued : "Most parents would be trying to cajole them, bribe them with something or pick them up." (he interjects: "Wrong thing to do.") "But you stick to your guns..." etc. It was kind-of odd, and yet a little rewarding too. I am so not perfect with the kids. Just ask my husband...or Jake. I am a nut-case. Every once in a while, I do feel I do a good job though.


Next up, Target. Again, in the shopping cart out by the car and "Waaaaaaaaaah!!" And also some growling and whining with a touch of kicking. She actually stopped before we even got through the front door and was really good. At the register checking out, she noticed the candy. Damn those stores for putting that stuff there. They are evil. EVIL!!! Don't get me wrong....I am NOT perfect. Puhlease....I have purchased the cookie/candy/toy to quiet them once in a while, but for the most part, I try not to. I scooted the cart right past the candy, towards the credit card machine thingie, told Squeak "Nope, there's nothing there you need," and proceeded to scan my card while she cried crocodile tears. Then, the young cashier says "I want to commend you for being a good parent. Most parents give in to their kids when they see that candy and start to scream, and it's hard for me to watch." While she is saying this, another baby happens to be carted by and Squeak immediately stops crying to look at him. I turn to Squeak, say "Big faker," laugh and thank the cashier.


J was such a good baby, I always used to say "My next one's going to be a hellion." I jinxed myself. She turned two and (*insert pea-soup spitting, head-turning horrors here*)...Wham. She's nuts one second, happy & giggling the next. This was such a weird shopping day and I'm glad of the feedback I received.