|
In response to shopping with the children:
I was a full time student for the past 4 years but now am a SAHM. I have a 4 year old and my hubby works 50+ hours per week. I usually start planning for the week's shopping on Wednesday. I hold onto the Walgreens, CVS, RiteAid, and Target circulars out of the Sunday paper and on Wed. I get the Brookshires and Kroger's circular. I also save the Super D, Dollar General and places like that for my son. I sit down on Wed with my circulars and give my son his. We usually sit in front of the coffee table and I have my coupons folders and the inserts that need to be cut. I also get pencils, pens, scissors, and a calculator so I don't have to keep getting up and down. I give my son a handful of coupons that are expired. While I flip through the circulars and plan my shopping trips, he "writes" his shopping list and "plans" his trips.
My hubby gets paid on Fridays and we pretty much live week to week so I can't go shopping until Friday each week. Friday evening, i usually go to Kroger and (if I have something to get there) Petsmart, Target and CVS since they are all right there together. I take my son and Kroger's has the race car buggies so that helps. Petsmart he gets to look at the animals. Saturday we usually go to Walmart and Brookshires (and if I have to) Rite Aid, and Walgreens. At Walmart, I go straight to the toy section and let him pick out a toy or two he wants to play with in the store while I shop. Brookshires has the kid sized buggies which makes it harder on me, but gets him more involved in the shopping experience.
I've noticed he usually acts worse at the smaller stores (Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens) than at the larger stores. Also, as I'm walking in to each store, I ask him if he needs to potty, even if he just went 5 mins ago because it never fails as soon as I get to the checkout, he has to potty and then with him screaming and grabbing his crotch and me trying to calm him down, I forget a coupon or two, or a price match. I also try to have snacks available or on Friday we will get dinner between trips. Every few weeks, I try to have one shopping trip where my hubby or my mom keeps my son so I can take extra time and go through my coupons and check sales on those items. I've also found that it helps to keep a blanket and pillow in the car if you shop during the day (around nap time) because if my son does fall asleep, I will grab a buggy in the parking lot and put the pillow and blanket in and lay him in the buggy. I have no problems pushing a buggy with him in it and pulling one for groceries if he is sleeping good enough.
|
If you only look at 1 picture, go to page 2, middle left. 
Linear Mode
