Grocery Shopping

First in my mini series on duties (I always chuckle when I say that) of a stay at home parent is Grocery Shopping.  It sounds simple enough at first glance.  Drive to the store, put what you need in the cart, pay, put it in the car/van, drive home, put it in the house.  But on further examination it is a bit more than that.  Here are a few of the things that go into just making/keeping the list.  

• Keeping track of what you have on hand.  For some reason it seems that many people are unable to let you know when you are about to run out of things or you do run out of things.  Thankfully the CFO is not one of those people.
• When do things expire?
• Who likes what, today:)  You must also keep track of any diets.
• Finding and using coupons to save money.
• Searching for sales

Let's not forget to mention that you usually are shopping with the kids!  This adds just a little bit to the put things in the cart and pay for them, this includes:

• Don't let any of them get hit by a cart (you try keeping three three year olds in a cart)
• Who wants to sit where NOW?
• Answering 100+ what's or why's 
• We need to get everyone a free cookie (you better get the right kind) and balloon (not only is the color of the balloon important but what about the color of the ribbon and balloon weight?)
• Who has my list now?  When and where did you drop it?
• No, you cannot hold the raw hamburger meat.  WHY?  Because I need to cook it first.
• Please put down the jar of pickles... GENTLY!
• Yes, they are Triplets:)
• No, we are not buying that because... it is not on sale, not good for you, because I said so.
• Yes, everyone will get a turn putting the groceries on the checkout conveyor belt.
• Please stop pushing cancel on the keypad at the checkout.
• Then you get to unload all of this in the heat, rain, cold, etc... after getting your kids in the van.
• Did I mention that one of the balloons just flew away?  No bueno!
• GREAT!!!  I forgot to get the.... eggs, milk, item that we cannot live without.  OK, everyone back in the cart, Daddy forgot something:)

Once you get home (did I mention that a balloon popping in a van is LOUD?) you get to unload everything, with their "help" of course:)  I usually just do the frozen and refrigerated stuff leaving the rest for nap time or after they go to bed.  

So, that quick 30 minute trip to the grocery store....yep, it took an hour and a half to two hours!  

If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut.

Albert Einstein

The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.

Oscar Wilde

Al