You would think by the time my kids were 4.5 and 3, I wouldn't need the capability to strap people into a stroller or cart, but each time I enter a store without the stroller or a cart, I want to hit myself upside the head at my lack of preparation.
Most recently I found myself at Home Depot (my LEAST favorite place after Best Buy) to pick up some staples for the staple gun. That's all I needed was a package of staples. Five minutes tops is what I thought to myself. I don't need a cart for staples and the stroller is too much work. Plus my kids are 4.5 and 3, they can entertain themselves with display staple guns for five minutes. After trying to corral my kids at least a dozen times and then finally screaming at them to stop running down the aisles with the very large sharp objects, they finally clung to my side in fear as I tried to decipher which staples I needed. Damn Home Depot!
After relaying the story to Cara, she reprimanded me on breaking a cardinal rule of Baby Bunching: Why wasn't at least one kid strapped into something? Good question. So I learned again why even at this point, you must have a way to strap people in--even if it's only a threat. Often, I use this as a way to get them to behave. "If you're naughty, you have to sit in the cart STRAPPED IN like a baby." Oooooo...that will get them right there. I even tote around the stroller just in case. The looming stroller as a threat of bad behavior.
This weekend my husband decided the Mountain Buggy (all hail to the Mountain Buggy) was taking up too much room in the back of our RAV-4. "The kids are too old and this is too big. Why is it in the trunk all the time?" The answer is simple: Because the stroller is a way to keep me from losing a child or losing my mind, and I need it in there just in case I might do either (and I don't happen to be in Target with a nice big red cart.)
Whether your bunch is under the age of two, three or four. Always have an out with a Baby Bjorn, stroller, cart or some other item where everyone can be self- contained and preferably strapped in.
Great tips! My boys are 21 months and 3 days apart, now 3 and 1. It has been a challenge to say the least! One of them ALWAYS has to be strapped to SOMETHNG when we go out. :o)
Posted by: The Glamorous WAHM | Sep 03, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Yes, sometimes I strap those kids into the stroller and I feel a sweet calmness come over me!
Posted by: Kelcey at the mama bird diaries | Sep 03, 2008 at 10:09 PM
I learned this the hard way at the doctor's office yesterday with two kids. ALWAYS keep your toddler strapped in or it's game over!
Posted by: Casey | Sep 03, 2008 at 10:29 PM
you are ABSOLUTELY right! I made the mistake of letting my 2nd child out of the stroller and he sprinted away from me in Target. He was playing with my oldest child who promptly ran after him. I had their 1 year old sister in the stroller so I couldn't even go after them. Target staff was great- they found them within a few minutes and walked each of them back to me, they couldn't even find each other! It was probably one minute but it seemed like 5 or 10. I will not be letting my 2 year old out of my site again...
Posted by: therese | Sep 08, 2008 at 11:26 PM
That is great that people can take the mortgage loans and this opens up completely new chances.
Posted by: HarrellDANIELLE | Aug 13, 2011 at 06:03 AM