What could be worse than going shopping on your own with 2 toddlers? Going shopping on your own with 2 tired, hungry, disobedient toddlers - that's what. I thought it would be nice to take the kids out to Borders for playgroup this morning. We usually go with a couple of friends but today they weren't joining us.
I had to run an errand on the way. I drove around Hamilton for 20mins looking for a park. I ended up a block away, around the corner and down the street. I had to lug both kids and the pram into the optometrist, which only had steps and no ramp. Very short sighted of them don’t you think? Not wanting to stay in the pram, my son Jude (3) proceeded to explore the shop, pulling as many glasses frames from the displays as he dared then coming to model the latest looks for me while I paid and pretended I wasn’t bothered by his behaviour. It was very cute but embarrassing. Luckily he didn't break anything.
With that job done, off we went to Westfield Kotara. By this time, they just wanted to get there, no child likes waiting. After discovering there wasn't much left to do at the book shop as a result of arriving late, both my kids turned to pulling all the books off the shelves. Little Mr. Men books strewn all over the floor, Thomas The Tank Engine box ripped open and a jar of link-a-do thingies tipped upside down all pointing towards Mummy’s melting point. I tried, I tried. First trying to stop the book spilling, trying to tidy up their mess while they went on to destroy the next thing. Aaarrrggggh!
I'd had enough and strapped them kicking and screaming into the double pram then promptly left the shop, not looking back to see the staff rolling their eyes disapprovingly.
So time to eat. They were hungry so that went well. No complaints there. Unfortunately my attempt to leave the centre failed miserably. En route to the car park was the playground. I was so stressed I wasn't thinking straight.
Upon realizing my horrid mistake, I made a choice. Let them play. To avoid another tantrum I ruled that we were to have 5 minutes play before going home. Everyone was happy, until.....it was inevitable really. I should have just walked straight past and dealt with the complaints. It was harder in the end to get them out of the playground and back into the pram. By this time of course they were over-tired which made things even worse.
Eventually we were on our way home. Baby goes to sleep in the car? Check. Toddler whines all the way home? Check. Fed? Check. Successful trip to the shops without spending money or making a detour to the pet shop? Check.
Happy to be home? Double check.
