Shopping Made Fun

 To start the week off I go through the kitchen and make my list of needed groceries and any other necessities.  I am trying to graduate to planning my meals for the week to help make shopping easier and maybe expand on our meal choices.  Meal choices are for another blog down the road, but lets just say that chicken and cheerios are very popular around our house. 
 My actual shopping experience generally includes one or more of the kids and can make for a long visit to the grocery store.  My wife and I have tried to make shopping fun by letting the kids push their own small size shopping cart, which only resulted in a few bumps and bruises.  The elderly lady said her shin would heel and not to worry as kids will be kids.  We tried, with three of the kids, letting them all ride in the shopping cart while pushing a second for groceries.  This was working well until they started to impede upon each others space and wanted to throw each other out of the cart.  We have asked for best behaviour, not to touch anything, and even taken to idle threats.  At this point I want to pack up and leave, but they are 5 years old and three years old, what do I expect?  What I do expect is for me to be the father and hold it all together, after all, Dad's can do it too.
 Today was shopping day and I had three kids with me.  I decided to create three shopping lists, one for each of them.  They were excited about having their own list and could not wait to get started.  Once at the grocery store each of them were excited to find the items on their list.  Now I caution anyone trying this as it does work and they had a great time, although due to height restrictions every item they pick up gets dropped into the shopping cart, even the eggs if your not watching.  On the upside vegetables are exciting if they are on your list as my son would not stop asking about the broccoli. 

 My tips for time out with the kids are to watch your time and don't push your luck.  Try to make it interesting by involving them.  Ask for their help whenever possible and let them have some fun, especially if you are at the mall and there are kid distractions.  They cost a few dollars, but can buy you more time to get through your shopping, as seen in the attached video (simulates hurricane winds).  Finally, don't worry about what other people are thinking if the kids get out of hand, as odds are they have been there themselves.  Enjoy the time spent together out of the house.