Meijers

This entry has been a long time in the making. So many times I say to myself, "I need to blog about this grocery shopping experience." Most of the time I'm saying this because it has been hectic, memorable and brought me close to tears. Last week's shopping trip was no exception.

You see I spend a lot of time thinking, planning, preparing, teaching and shopping for food. I completely enjoy food. Yet, it is the shopping part that I just haven't mastered. I make my grocery list, check the sale's fliers, look for coupons and then I head to the store. Oh the store..... this means I likely head to Meijers (our mid-West Super Wal-Mart!)Meijers carries a large number of food items at a fairly reasonable price, but that is where my excitement for Meijers starts to fade away. It does not help that I usually make a "quick stop" to Meijers after I pick up my girls from school. Let's just say 12:30 PM with two hungry and tired chickas, does not help my love for this store.

Well, last week I arrived with my girls and I ask that all important question - "Does anyone have to go potty?" The response - "nope". Off we go, we are halfway finished with our shopping when my youngest announces, "I have to go potty!". So I race to the front of the store, leave my cart (full of groceries) at the bottom of the steps and truck up the stairs, in time to notice the sign on the door that reads bathroom closed. Then, it is back down the stairs to find the next restroom, at the back of the store. All this to find out that my "sweet and manipulative" 3 1/2 year old didn't really need to go. At this point I'm trying not to cry because we now have three hungry and tired girls! We finish up our shopping and head to the check out. This is when I notice the woman with the clipboard. I feel sorry for this woman, because she needs to deal with women like me (who are hungry, tired and dealing with little kids). This woman's job is to approach people for a Meijer card. She always starts out by saying, "have I talked with you before?" Now, I just hide when I see her coming, because I know if she asks me that question again, I'm more than likely to get a little smart with her (especially with the hunger and tiredness) and say something like, "don't you remember?"

There it is - my Meijers story! All this to say I wish we had some different grocery stores to choose from. I would take a Trader Joe's and Wegmans any day. However, I realize it likely won't impact having tired and hungry chickas who have to try out the bathrooms from time to time.