Wednesday, August 11, 2010
P.S.
While I'm seeking advice, how does one go grocery shopping with two munchkins? It is beginning to sink in that I am soon to be outnumbered. The fact that my husband's work schedule is crazy and involves 12 hour work days for a whole straight week now scares me. In case you need me to do the calculations for you....add about 2 hours for commute and you get me home alone with TWO children for 14 hours straight....for 7 whole days. He doesn't get much time off in between either, so it's not like I'll get a whole lot of breaks. Oh, I think I should quit thinking about this. My head is beginning to spin.
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Just watch the Today show video of the Masche sextuplets - that should bring you to a nice calm place knowing that there is only one in there! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://community.todaymoms.com/_news/2010/08/11/4867895-monster-masche-how-do-you-handle-the-terrible-threes
When I was pregnant with my second my midwife told me to get my older daughter used to holding my hand and walking beside me, because a) I wouldn't be able to hold her when the baby came and b)it was really not good to be holding her when I was "out to there" anyway.
ReplyDeleteBy the time Piper (my second) came along, Allie was used to walking and holding my hand.
In the grocery store, I put Piper's infant seat in the front (it latches over the front seat thingee in the cart) and if we didn't have a lot to get, Allie sat in the back of the cart with what we were buying. When we had more to get, we either used the carts that look like cars, with A driving the car and P in the infant seat OR A would hold on to the cart and P would be in the infant seat. But for the most part, we used the car carts or A sat in the back of the cart.
I wanted to add that I found it easier going from one to two babies than from no babies to one. Everything you do now, you just do extra. And it's so wonderful to watch them together! i can't wait to see pictures of your new baby!!
ReplyDeleteBaby wearing :) I still do it... Paige is in the Ergo half the time I go grocery shopping and Fynn in the cart seat. Otherwise it takes a heck of a lot longer for Fynn to be walking with me...
ReplyDeleteIt takes a bit of time, but before you know it you'll be a pro! But truthfully, the logistics of... everything... had my head s pinning when I was pregnant with Paige too.
I don't know what your trollys are like but we always got teh ones with the lay back baby seat for teh baby and put the totler in the metal mess trolly part often sitting on a jumper for comfort. If you are worried that he'd climb out and run off you could always buy a walking harness and click him in but I have always found that if you involve them enough they are fine. when you choose an item off the shelf give it to the child to put in the trolly make them feel that you couldn't cope if they weren't there to pack your trolly for you. As long as Levi feels that he's a superspecial big helper at teh shops you should be fine.
ReplyDeleteAparently we have these trollys here but I haven't seen them, would be nice though.
http://www.babycupcakes.com/blog/index.php/sainsburys-shopping-trolleys/
Wear baby! And Levi in the big basket.
ReplyDeleteYou will find your way, and it will be perfect!
I wore Alice until that wasn't possible anymore. Now she sits in the front and Clark sits in the big basket and he gets groceries piled on him. It's crazy and sometimes food gets smashed. :)
ReplyDeleteYep, wear baby, and have big kid ride in the cart. Not exactly my idea of fun, but you'll manage!
ReplyDeleteOh yes sling Mama sling. I miss baby wearing. And do it when you're ready....
ReplyDeleteBaby wear! but make sure you get a realy comfy one not a baby bjorn or something. I had a mei tei and a ring sling and carried both my children until they were about 2 or 3 its soooo much easier than having to lug around a pram. Oh how I miss babywearing a little one. Make sure you do up a list of groceries before you leave the house so that you dont need to concentrate too much and have some songs to sing with your eldest while you walk around the shop. If he is willing get him to count things as you put them in the trolley or tell you what things are as you put them in, my 3 yr old an 5 yr old both still love to do this and it leads to other chit chat. You will be fine though it seems so much scarier than it actually is because if all else fails just atop shopping and leave it for a better day.
ReplyDeleteBaby wear! but make sure you get a realy comfy one not a baby bjorn or something. I had a mei tei and a ring sling and carried both my children until they were about 2 or 3 its soooo much easier than having to lug around a pram. Oh how I miss babywearing a little one. Make sure you do up a list of groceries before you leave the house so that you dont need to concentrate too much and have some songs to sing with your eldest while you walk around the shop. If he is willing get him to count things as you put them in the trolley or tell you what things are as you put them in, my 3 yr old an 5 yr old both still love to do this and it leads to other chit chat. You will be fine though it seems so much scarier than it actually is because if all else fails just atop shopping and leave it for a better day.
ReplyDeleteStop that brain ticking over Mrs! I can remember feeling like a talented juggler with one. Ha! But I don't feel any more out of my depth with three! I think you just nut everything out as you go - and sure there are comedy of errors moments/days/weeks but everyone finds their feet (and a place to lay their head) and sooner or later you'll be hanging washing on the line, glimpse the sky, drink in the expanse and think: "I'm actually pretty good at all this".
ReplyDeletePromise.
Levi and the new one are similarly spaced out as Anna Cate and Kimberly. I know you have had many suggestions for baby wearing and I know you are a pro at it already; that will be your saving grace until the new little one begins walking. Now, once the little one begins to walk the game changes again and it all depends on its personality. Anna Cate was great at staying close...Kimber Lee not so much. We did use a harness for a little while until KL realized it was easier to listen :) My girls love the car carts, or the carts with two seats too!
ReplyDeleteEverything is going to be an adjustment but you'll get used to it in no time!
ReplyDeleteNell
Ack, don't stress. It's easy to overthink things.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't leave one or both of the kids with someone while you shop, you can put the baby in a sling and let Levi be your "big helper." I found that more frequent but shorter trips to the store were easier than the big weekly shopping I used to do, because a short trip to the store is better for a little person's attention span!
I take all three with me. I believe it is important they understand the work involved, where the food comes from and about nutrition.
ReplyDeleteI still wear Cordi and she is one, though sometimes she is in the cart. Ethan, 3 will walk holding the cart or in the cart if I am in a hurry (which I try not to be). I feed them before we go or make sure I have snacks ready (clean non messy snacks) and we talk a lot about the food we are buying, what we will cook and count and read and have fun with it.
I enjoy shopping with them (most days!)
You are going to be fine. I was so so worried with our second but it all works out, hard to believe but it does.
i only have one but when i would take friends children for the day(or when i was doing home daycare with twin two year olds and their little sister who was six months) i would keep the littlest one in a "cuddler"(with my son it was a wrap with the daycare kids it was a cuddle pack) and the other in the chair... when they get a bit older you can use the double seated shopping trolleys or one can "help" push or get the groceries off the shelf, they loved being my "big kid helpers" and i would give them a special something for being my helper in secret at the end!
ReplyDeleteYou're going to do GREAT.
ReplyDeleteI often grocery shop w/ both of my two in tow.
I prefer:
* smaller grocery stores (Trader Joe's is a favorite)
* stores w/ "two-seater carts" (now that my girls are both old enough to ride)
When my youngest was smaller, I used the 2C Approach: one in the Cart; one in a Carrier. :)
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
When A was a baby, I wore him and put V in the cart. Now, V is great about following along and having A in the cart. You'll be fine. It's scarier in your head than it is in real life. Once you do it a few times, you'll be fine.
ReplyDeleteI remember that panic very well. My daughter was just turned 2 when my son was born and she was very much independent. I asked my dad to babysit Miss M when I went for big grocery trips, simply because she would NOT stay near me in a store. Perhaps Levi is more compliant. When I had my third, it wasn't a big deal at all. I was already used to juggling.
ReplyDeleteBottom line? You'll find your own way. It will work because it's how you figure out how to run your family. There will be adjustment periods. But it will be fine.
Deep breaths.