How to make shopping with kids suck less...

how did our parents do this parenting thing?? Especially lacking that parenting manual. BTW, if any of you come across this so called manual, hook a mom up!! I don’t feel that is asking so much?! We are all still searching for the answers and most of us are learning as we go. Most of the time our children are teaching us… Anyway, if any of you should come across this manual please, please let me know. Hell, let the world know. In the meantime, I have some tips for you the mom or the step mom heck even as the wife.

My children have gradually taught me that I do not have the patience to take them to the grocery store. Heck the local drug store is even pushing it. This is 50/50 deal. Most of the time, I want to make the trip quick-I know what I need I just want to go into the store and come out in under 10-15min. Nope, never happens because MOMMY I really need these Hershey kisses at 9 am, or this cheap toy (that will probably break before I am out of the damn parking lot)… So now the screaming and the fighting begins and I get down to my child level and calmly tell them NO, not today (thanks super nanny). This usual does not work unless I black mail them with something else later in the day….

The other 50 percent is me, I am now lacking patience and on the verge of a damn panic attack because I am spending way more then I had thought--- and oh yes I am now at check out and hey I forgot the item I went to the store for to begin with! You all know this has happened to you! So yes, I am super mom. I try occasional blackmail…but I am over doing this. What I should do is act like my sweet innocent well behaved children act like in public; such as but not limited to stomping their feet and climbing in and out of the cart, and hiding in the clothing racks and the list goes on and my anxiety level goes through the moon. Let’s not forget, Mommy I want underpants like my big sissy sooooo yes you guessed it—my youngest (2 at the time) took her diaper and pants off in the middle of the store isle. There she was standing in the local store in her birthday suit. With her diaper at her feet. True story! I laughed and I still do because that is funny! Most of the time we just have to laugh…to get us through the day. I have to remind myself more patience and to laugh more. These years are going by so fast.

So yes, what my children have taught me is online shopping is where it is at! It is all the rage and I am a fan, I am on the bandwagon. I mean we have the accessibility…we don’t have to deal with other’s annoying kids doing what my kids normally do in the stores. Arghh don’t these parent have control of their kids, don’t they discipline them?? Will you please shut that kid up??!?! We all have had those thoughts and you know it.

ONLINE shopping folks. Yes, even grocery shopping! Walmart, Amazon, and now Meijer are all offering grocery shopping online and you then pick up! I am sure more stores are going to join this fabulous idea. While this is not just for the mom that is not willing to tote her kids to the store. It is great for the folks that are constantly on the go and just don’t have the time. Why not take advantage of these modern day conveniences?? Seriously think this through--- One, you are not impulse shopping which in turn equals saving money due to lack of impulse shopping as well as on the gas to and from the stores, Two, you are saving TIME as well as your patience (time that now can be spent with your kids doing something interactive without one of you having a meltdown in public. Disclaimer, in my childhood my mom an aunt may or may not have tried to embarrass us by the two of them throwing an absolute fit on the ground (toilet paper isle??) of the local Pick-N-Save. I mean an Oscar performance. This I assure you was an embarrassing performance, and it was not a boring silent tantrum--- oh no it was a laying on the ground kicking and screaming tantrum. Again, may or may not have happened. I may or may not threaten this to my children. I still have time. Hey, it would be cool to win an Oscar!? I will add it to my bucket list.

Currently, Amazon is offering a discounted Amazon Prime membership . Check this out:

Amazon offers anything from organic veggies bundles, to steak to snack packs:

Amazon does offer a large selection of items, so check it out!

Don’t forget to use your coupons, and cost saving apps to save even more money!

Online shopping is seriously the best. My kids have proved this to me over and over…. because on some occasions I do have to take them with me. They can behave, I have witnessed it. Kids will be kids but if I can spare myself some stress. I am all for it!