Trolley Trauma

Now, what I'm about to say may be considered controversial...

I actually enjoy doing the food shop. Even with the littles. In fact, especially with the littles. I don't put it in the same category as having to bundle everyone out to nip to get some bread (I really don't enjoy that - I'd rather eat a brown banana and some stale crackers for lunch than bother with that nonsense). The food shop is more of an event. A day out... Like in the newborn days and it's 'health visitor/weighing day'. (Times have really changed in my life...)

Recently however, and I really didn't see this coming, I've experienced some trolley issues. Just when I thought Tesco had all bases covered I've discovered there is no trolley designed to carry two trolley-aged, non-tiny-baby children. Or if there is, it's hidden away from me. Either way, it's been ruining my days out!! The options are: a trolley with a baby seat and a normal seat or a trolley with one normal seat. I have to opt for the former as I need to have leverage with Little P, who has recently been taking the trip on foot. There's a vicious cycle that goes something like this:

Little N sits in the trolley seat while Little P walks > Little P keeps picking things off the shelf > after third warning Little P is moved into the trolley seat and Little N into the baby seat > Little N, feeling disgruntled at her demotion and able to do little else, sets about removing clumps of Little P's hair  > Little N moves back to the trolley seat while Little P goes back on foot... (and so on, you get the picture) Any ideas??

In honesty, it's Mummy Pride that keeps me going back so eagerly. I like all the old ladies stopping to have a chat with the girls and comment on their hand-knitted cardigans (thanks Nanny). As mentioned in my last post, Little P is a bit of a toddler going on old lady and like the other old ladies, likes to stop for a chat with...well everyone, actually.

Mostly I find it cute (ok, really heart-warming) and sometimes I'm just embarrassed. Today I experienced both ends of the scale. Seeing a little girl walk by with a butterfly transfer on her arm, Little P's eyes lit up. "Mummy, look! She has a beautiful butterfly on her arm" she said, loudly enough for the girl to hear. This girl knows what she's doing. She was deliberately reaching out to this girl hoping to snare a friend. It paid off as the girl looked up with a big smile. That's one 6 year old in the bag for Little P.

Next aisle was a different story. We were alone with a sour-faced 'middle aged/old' couple who apparently liked each other as little as they seemed to like us. Cue Little P's friend making tactics. "I'm having soup for dinner, I chose my own roll!" Now, while I agree that that the couple should at least have acknowledged she was talking to them (they were the only ones there and she's only 2 for goodness sake!!) I don't agree with the way Little P handled her rejection. With the same gusto and volume as her previous friend-making missions she asked "Mummy, (although we all know she was directing it to the couple) they're not talking to me! Why won't they talk to me?". I tried to hush her and explain they were probably busy. Not good enough for Little P. "Well that's not very nice, is it?". AWKS.

Little N gets her supermarket kicks a very different way. She is a tough crowd at the best of times and I think she secretly enjoys the desperation in the voices and on the faces of every customer and staff member as they ask "can I get a smile?" I dread it every time. I know she can smile but she doesn't like it to be public knowledge. She just returns a dead-pan stare. Unless they are prepared to really work for it, she's giving nothing away. The usual happened today, while we were at the check-out but luckily the lady cut her losses and jumped to commenting on the cardi (thanks Nanny).

Just as we were leaving, the girl with the butterfly arm stole past in her own trolley and Little P leaned in and said to me "I think she was nearly going to talk to me that time!"