Grocery Store Sing Along
As a mom without a TV in the house, I don’t get to see too many movies these days. But today’s episode at the grocery store really was like being IN a movie.I try to minimize the number of mornings dedicated solely to running errands, so I often find myself heading to the grocery store late at night or swinging by the dry cleaners and post office with the stroller en route to the playground. But about once or twice a month, we have to forgo fun morning activity (usually the playground) in favor of tedious tasks.
Today was one of those days. After a rough night (continued teething woes for Andreas), we got a late start getting everyone dressed, fed, and ready for the day. Because of the specific items I needed for a few recipes I’m making this week, I knew we’d need to head to two grocery stores to complete our list. We headed out for the dreaded errand run and made good time getting through both stores. Even better, we had successfully avoided meltdowns. . . but I could tell we were on the brink. Andreas was NOT happy about the extended search for chicken bullion cubes (Aisle 4 at the New Hampshire Avenue Shoppers, for future reference).
So as I’m pushing to finish up and get home for lunch and naps, admittedly buying peace from Andreas with a graham cracker, the check out woman gets chatty with Simona. Bad move. I guarantee you that a 3-year-old can out-chat anyone. Even the chattiest of grocery clerks.
Then, as is liable to happen around here, a random acquaintance of the clerk walks up and joins the conversation. Pretty soon, Simona is pulling up a pant leg to show off her “owie” from tripping on the sidewalk on Sunday. Now, mind you, this minor scrape had already spent two days covered by a Curious George band aid (which in turn meant not bathing for two days). Suffice it to say that the wound was well on its way to being healed. But, the clerk and her friend decide that a band aid is necessary, and preferably a Barney band aid. They begin discussing looking for the first aid kit, which, I’m sure, would contain no Barney band aid. I’m already envisioning such a prolonged search for Barney that nap time will have come and gone before we finish paying, so I, smilingly but firmly, convince them that Simona really is OK and that we can skip the first aid kit.
Finally convinced, the cashier resumes checking groceries but now is singing the famous “I love you” Barney song. Simona hears it, jumps in, and before you know it, we have a grocery store sing along happening. I am not lying. Two cashiers, Simona, and customers in each of the two check line are singing. Andreas is amused and entertained; I am able to quickly finish my transaction; and we manage to leave the store as the MOST (instead of the usual LEAST) popular customers.
Crisis averted, and another successful morning as a mom is in the history books.
