HomeLife

a first time for, well, everything

I’ve made a lot of trips to the grocery store with many children.

(And by a lot – I really mean a lot.

As in, if you average just one trip to the grocery store per week since Riley moved in with us, that makes 520 visits.)

It is not at all unusual to have five or six kids with me at every Publix tour that I pull.

And in all those trips,

those hundreds of trips,

made with many small children

I have never had a child sneak an unapproved item into the cart.

I don’t really know why that is, actually.

I just know it is not a problem with which I have ever had to deal.

(It’s funny how the previous sentence is grammatically accurate, but sounds simply off.

Oh well.

Grammar wins today.)

At any rate,

I have never found myself at the check out aisle

surprised at what the cashier is asking me to purchase.

Six kids.

Over 500 grocery trips.

No surprises.

Until this week.

When I paid for an item I know that I did not place in our grocery cart.

It really wasn’t a big deal.

I think its cost was less than a dollar.

And this is what made it from a child’s desire

into the cart

completely unnoticed.

The other kids quickly ratted Piper Finn out as the culprit.

And later everyone enjoyed the spoils of her victory.

9 Comments

  • seriousbethy

    How in the world do you go to the grocery store with six? I do everything in my power to not have to take my three and when I do I almost always regret it. You're inspiring me to be more daring, but I'd like to know how you maintain your sanity first.

    • LaceyKeigley

      Let's see.
      1. To be fair – I usually just have five when I grocery shop. (Our oldest is at school.)
      B. I would like to say I have a great plan and some cute motivational system. I do not. Sometimes I make threats inside the car before we open the doors, though.
      Thirdly. I would love to say that my children are model citizens. But you have probably heard them at church. Or in a grocery store.
      D. I think I can only manage it because it has mostly been my only choice. And one thing motherhood (adulthood/marriage) has taught me is thus – you endure what you must.
      12. You assume I have maintained my sanity.

  • tiffany p.

    My kids never sneak things into the cart, but boy every time my husband in there I find all kinds of junk food in the cart, all the contraban ends up in there!

    • LaceyKeigley

      That makes me laugh.
      My dad was infamous for this.
      He would buy the most bizarre flavors of ice cream.
      Now that I think about it – I don\’t think he probably liked the flavors either – he probably just wanted something none of his four children would eat before he could.

  • Amanda

    thats good piper finn.

    your going to love this…

    Well, we end up on a "monthly" basis with several items in our cart. because at Kroger my 3 year old daughter insist on being a mama herself {she will be in for a big surprise when baby three comes:) anyway, she has to have her own buggy and load it up herself..i give up usually…

    I have a bag that I put these uneeded items in and return "monthly" last months kid purchase:

    1. sardines
    2. Miralax
    3. pimentos

    in case you are wondering….she most always goes for the little bottles or packages which she thinks are cute.

  • Gretchen

    Yuck……..I certainly would not have chose that. I dislike mac and cheese to the upmost highest!!! But I know 2 people in my house who would try to sneak it. I never make it either. But Eli and Page love Mac and cheese.

  • stephaniekandray.com

    I dont think I even snuck anything into the cart, but I definitely snuck something into my pocket. Be thankful you actually paid for yours. 🙂