The Differences

The other day we did a quick trip to get some groceries. The commissary here has little carts for kids to push around. They have cute little flags that say "customer in training". What a cute idea, but not for my boys. The first time we tried this it became bumper carts for everyone in the building. It was a mad dash hitting people and knocking items off the shelves. Yes, we were totally "that" family.

Cole and Brad ask every visit if they can get their own carts. Several factors go into play: (1) How busy is the store, it must be almost dead (2) how long I think we'll be there, the quicker the better. They tend to get unruly after about 4 minutes (3) Is there anyone I know in there - I don't want to further enhance their belief that I only have 5 % control of the boys at any given time. I like to give the appearance I do.

It just so happened that this particular day that the stars aligned and YES, it is ok for Cole and Brad to get a little cart and help mommy out. This turned into a learning experience for ME. (oh, and Keith was there to help which was another factor in the YES answer.)

We always start with fruit. Cole can eat himself some fruit. I wish I had a garden for that kid. I would save $ big bucks $ every month if we grew our own produce. He starts the cart-filling with his request for apples and bananas. Simultaneously Brad is across the other sections screaming loudly "We don't got no KIWI, Daddy". We around the lunch meat section where the boys start fit #1 for lunchables. Good Gravy, I hate me some lunchables. Their favorite is the little pizzas you make on a pita with nasty cold sauce and old pepperoni - then the cheese... because it doesn't melt it becomes confetti on the table, chair, and floor. What a bargain for 89 cents. I cave and they each get the small pizza pack.

Brad takes off and heads directly for the honey. I don't know why, but he thinks syrup is honey and he has a need for it all the time. I have to convince him that we have 2 jars of honey at home. He turns the corner to see the Cheese Nips display. His eyes turn big and he starts grabbing several boxes for his cart. As I'm taking those out, Cole is yelling for cashews. He is telling me his love of this nut although I don't ever recall him eating them before.

We round the corner to the baking aisle. Brad sees the marshmallows and Houston we have a problem. We have marshmallows, I'm not buying more. They see the jello and before I know it there's a 4 pack in each of their carts. At this point I let them have it. I've said no about 7 times in the past 2 minutes. Next aisle snacks. Cole picks up his cashews and Brad picks up fruit snacks, another box of Cheese Nips, peanut butter crackers, and frosted animal cookies. We head to the cereal... out of all the choices of sugary crap my sweet Cole desperately wants plain Cheerios. He even tells me it's only two and three nine dollars ($2.39). Brad picks frosted flakes only because Cookie Crunch is too high for him to reach.

This continues during my race to gather dinner ingredients. The differences between sweet tooth Brad and healthy Cole are obvious. I'm positive that it's because Cole never had any of that crap when he was a baby. Brad did because I wasn't as strict. Keith joked when they are teenagers this is what it will be like filling a cart each. I did not find it funny because I know it's more reality than a joke. We made it almost all the way through the store before the bumper cart crashing began... I say it was a successful trip!