For some reason I was left running about a million errands with my kids this morning. Super fun, especially in my husband's teeny tiny car with two booster seats (aka kids can unbuckle themselves.) It's amazing all three of us made it home.
Here are the ingredients to surviving holiday errands WITH kids, the day before a major national holiday:
--Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Latte. I don't care how expensive it is, it will immediately, without fail ,change your mood and make you smile.
--Christmas music in the car. It will lift your spirits and help you sing through Target to amuse your kids. People will think you're crazy for busting out into song, but look at you.....people already think you're nuts for having kids so close in age.
--Strollers and/or carts. Don't go in without one. If nothing else it will hold the kids' coats and give you an option to strap someone in.
--Chick Fil A. We never ever eat here, but I treated mine to chicken nuggets and the play room and we were good. (Note: if your youngest (or oldest) is between the ages of 12-24 months, do not attempt this without a second pair of hands. Kids stuck up in the playscape can be tricky to get down.)
--Snacks and bribes. Ok, so the whole morning was about food, but at least kids are quieter with food in their mouths.
Really, if you can. Do your errands minus one kid or all the kids. I think even doing them at 8 p.m would have been better than our chaos this morning. Happy Holidays!
I saw this post today and thought of you guys... http://harryjacksmom.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-could-drive-up-tricky-tuesday.html
You could have used that idea at Chick Fil-A today!
Hope you got your errands all out of the way and have a great holiday!
Posted by: Casey | Dec 23, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Good tip about CFA! DH and I had a very scary thing happen there once. I had taken two out to the car, but one 13 month old wouldn't come out of the play structure, and while Dad went in after her big sis almost 3 years lets herself out of both the play area and the main double doors to the CFA... as she was making her way across the parking lot unbeknowest to DH and I (he's in the play thing and I'm buckling kids in the car) some lady started screaming "Who does this child belong to?" It was sooooo scary!! Needless to say, we all stick together inside the play area until everyone is ready at the same time nowadays.
Posted by: MaryBeth @ FourSillySisters | Dec 23, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Haha on ChickFilA -- I had to climb up to get my Drew while 9 months pregnant. Oh what a sight that was.
And yes, leave the kids home for errands. I spent waaaaay too long trying to find X-mas pjs at the mall yesterday. What a nightmare.
Posted by: motherhood uncensored | Dec 24, 2008 at 07:18 AM
I received 1 st business loans when I was not very old and that supported my relatives a lot. But, I require the student loan again.
Posted by: MooreKristen33 | Aug 28, 2011 at 04:21 AM