Ok. This is the last story....I promise :). Many of you might have seen my update on facebook about having to take all three girls to the grocery store. This wasn't just to get one or two items. It was for the big weekly run. I usually avoid taking the whole crew to the store and lately even just taking my regular partner, Molly, has become a challenge. This is because, Molly now screams for everything I put in the buggy. No matter how I arrange it, she will get those hands and fangs on just about everything from biting into the hot dog wrapper resulting in leaky hot dogs to squeezing the loaf of bread while attempting to grab a taste. Yes, food is important. So on this particular week, it was necessary to take all three. Like a good mother (enter sarcasm), I began with bribery called a "surprise" at the end of the shopping trip if they all behaved. I hadn't decided what that would be, but the thought of the "surprise" was good enough. They behaved with exception of Molly gnawing on anything she could get her hands on. The girls eyed some of those foil balloons on a stick at the registers and asked if they could be the surprise. I said, "yes" and reminded them about the balloons at least once down every aisle. We checked out and I began to grab the three balloons and noticed they were $3.99 each (Yikes, I had no idea they'd be that much). So $12 worth of balloons later we proceeded to the car. Before the seat belts were even buckled the annoyed screams began. So and so was smacking the other in the face or tickling someones neck and the mom "threats" began as I said over and over, "now I'm going to take those balloons (all $12 of them) and throw them away if you can't keep them to yourself." Then a balloon would fall off the stick and crying ensued. This is not at all what I envisioned. We finally made it home and Mary Ella's balloon once again fell off the stick except this time Addy got her hands on it and squeezed it between the door and her seat so Mary Ella couldn't get it (she was smiling I might add). Just as I began to say, "give it back," Mary Ella took the stick and whacked her with it....nice (enter more sarcasm here). I then took all the balloons which provoked more tears and screams and sent them to time out. So I spent $12 to give them weapons to be used against each other. In conclusion, here's the lesson:
1. If you use bribery, make sure it is something consumable or an activity
2. Go to the grocery store after they go to bed at night
5 comments:
These stories will bring such smiles to your face when you look back and re-read them. They are absolutely adorable. Thanks for letting all of us enjoy your moments. Give everyone a hug for me.
your stories are making me feel much more normal. sometimes i rationalize that the grocery store bribery is still cheaper than a babysitter. don't you wish you had just one more :)
3.99 balloon on a stick
2.59 squished loaf of bread
Mommy lessons priceless!
Bribery/Threats
Reward/Discipline
you say tomato I say tomoto
YOU ARE A GREAT MAMA!
I'm sitting in my office laughing hysterically.
You could insert my children's names here and it could have happened in my life. I cannot tell you how many times I have threatened to throw things away. At least there is some comfort to knowing we are all going through it! Unfortunately I take all three of mine to the store at once almost all of the time and swear as we are walking out the door that I will never do it again!
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