Sahail AshrafWhat a Good Little Boy!
December 14th 2006 02:29
Today I was totally prepared for it. There were only a few last minute Christmas items to get and I needed to take my 18 month old with me. Instead of dealing with the inevitable problem of handing over a roll of wrapping paper and plastic Christmas tablecloth with a screaming toddler arching her back as she tries to wrestle her way out of her stroller, today I went in armed and ready.
I took my toddler out when the predicted 34-degree temperature had not been reached yet – that is, pre 9am. It was not near naptime, so no fear of over-tiredness, and a fresh nappy was firmly adhered to one bottom. I packed all the essential ‘keep a toddler happy in a shop’ items: water; sultanas; rice crackers; little plastic animals; and of course her favourite ‘dude.’ The next step was speed. I had a list prepared and knew exactly which two shops I was going into. Upon our arrival at the dreaded shops we were quickly parked and out of the car.
Okay, into shop number one. The next step in my forward planning was to grab a trolley by going to the department store first. Thankfully, it’s still a novelty over going into the restricting stroller and the added height provides a better sense of freedom for my toddler. It didn’t take long before she was saying the T word.
Spotting them a mile off, no sooner had we entered the store than my child was saying ‘toy’ and pointing. I ignored it but then a little whine escaped. I had to head it off before a whine became a scream. This called for a quick distraction technique. I reached into my bag, grabbed the lunchbox, opened it up, and handed her a box of her favourite food in the world – the sultanas. Plan A worked a dream and I was able to hastily select two appropriate books to give as Christmas pressies to her young friends.
Onto shop number two. Taking the trolley with me, albeit with only two books and a baby bag inside it, I headed into a little two buck shop. I caused a couple of upsets parking my trolley in the narrow aisles and by now the sultanas were finished. After a polite ‘excuse m,e’ said through one woman’s clenched teeth, I shifted the trolley as far to one side as possible. Hence my darling grabbed a box full of fragile Christmas ornaments.
It was time for plan B. I moved the trolley once again but to a less enticing section of the store. Out came the rice crackers and my little one happily munched away while I selected Christmas goodies. To my advantage some Christmas lights in the shapes of stars and wheels were strung up and my toddler happily pointed out, ‘Light, light,’ while I said repeatedly ‘Yes, lights.’
We were almost there. Then, just as I was finishing my shopping a lovely older lady said to my toddler, ‘What a good boy you are.’ For one second I was tempted to say to the woman, ‘Actually she’s a girl. She may not have much hair yet but the yellow dress covered in flowers kind of gives it away.’ Instead I just smiled to myself as I placed a roll of wrapping paper in the trolley and headed for the register.
In the happiest expenditure of money this Christmas season, I handed over the cash. The sour woman at the checkout quickly turned to smiles when my happy little girl waved and said ‘bye-bye’ as we left the shop. No need to tell them how much preparation and timing had gone into taking out my perfectly behaved princess.
I took my toddler out when the predicted 34-degree temperature had not been reached yet – that is, pre 9am. It was not near naptime, so no fear of over-tiredness, and a fresh nappy was firmly adhered to one bottom. I packed all the essential ‘keep a toddler happy in a shop’ items: water; sultanas; rice crackers; little plastic animals; and of course her favourite ‘dude.’ The next step was speed. I had a list prepared and knew exactly which two shops I was going into. Upon our arrival at the dreaded shops we were quickly parked and out of the car.
Okay, into shop number one. The next step in my forward planning was to grab a trolley by going to the department store first. Thankfully, it’s still a novelty over going into the restricting stroller and the added height provides a better sense of freedom for my toddler. It didn’t take long before she was saying the T word.
Spotting them a mile off, no sooner had we entered the store than my child was saying ‘toy’ and pointing. I ignored it but then a little whine escaped. I had to head it off before a whine became a scream. This called for a quick distraction technique. I reached into my bag, grabbed the lunchbox, opened it up, and handed her a box of her favourite food in the world – the sultanas. Plan A worked a dream and I was able to hastily select two appropriate books to give as Christmas pressies to her young friends.
Onto shop number two. Taking the trolley with me, albeit with only two books and a baby bag inside it, I headed into a little two buck shop. I caused a couple of upsets parking my trolley in the narrow aisles and by now the sultanas were finished. After a polite ‘excuse m,e’ said through one woman’s clenched teeth, I shifted the trolley as far to one side as possible. Hence my darling grabbed a box full of fragile Christmas ornaments.
It was time for plan B. I moved the trolley once again but to a less enticing section of the store. Out came the rice crackers and my little one happily munched away while I selected Christmas goodies. To my advantage some Christmas lights in the shapes of stars and wheels were strung up and my toddler happily pointed out, ‘Light, light,’ while I said repeatedly ‘Yes, lights.’
We were almost there. Then, just as I was finishing my shopping a lovely older lady said to my toddler, ‘What a good boy you are.’ For one second I was tempted to say to the woman, ‘Actually she’s a girl. She may not have much hair yet but the yellow dress covered in flowers kind of gives it away.’ Instead I just smiled to myself as I placed a roll of wrapping paper in the trolley and headed for the register.
In the happiest expenditure of money this Christmas season, I handed over the cash. The sour woman at the checkout quickly turned to smiles when my happy little girl waved and said ‘bye-bye’ as we left the shop. No need to tell them how much preparation and timing had gone into taking out my perfectly behaved princess.
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Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I've had someone tell my daughter that she has a boy's name. Hello, it's a unisex name. Luckily she was a baby at the time.
Well done on getting your shopping done. I've been putting it off and the list is getting longer and available time is getting shorter. My stomach goes into knots just thinking about it.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Candice
Strangers have a knack for making inappropriate comments about your children hey? It still amazes me!
The Christmas shopping is thankfully now complete, minus the food. I know what you mean though, it's getting so packed in the mad world of retail. I was in and out as quickly as possible today. My sister has three kids and she hired a babysitter so she could get her shopping done tomorrow night. Can't say I blame her - it's smart thinking.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Comment by Candice
My forward planning skills have certainly developed after having a bub! There definitely should have been fan fare for me because I was so proud of myself that day LOL.
Good luck with the Christmas shopping. Ahhh! At least I heard the week before Christmas is actually less busy than two weeks before. Not sure how true that is though! Have fun.
Comment by Anonymous
I think the shopping centre I went to today actually bussed people in just to tick me off! Argh what a nightmare. Thank goodness its mostly finished now and I didnt have any kids in tow so did`nt have any forward planning to do. I agree you deserved at least a Gold Star?
Ash
Comment by Candice