Shopper in training

For a few short seconds, I actually missed having my kids during my 3 hours of freedom today. I was at Trader Joe's, stocking up on easy dinners for the next two weeks before moving, when I saw kiddie shopping carts. I saw moms of younger kids each picking one up, letting their smiling toddlers nip their ankles as the kids got used to their new set of wheels. I almost teared up right then and there!

I hadn't seen these carts in ages, back when the old Whole Foods in Cupertino had them. When the new gargantuan WF (biggest one west of Austin) opened, they never brought back the little shopping carts and I hadn't seen them since, maybe by now over a year.

And for sure I hadn't seen them since I felt like I could trust Eli with one. Because I could handle Tobey with one while Eli sat in the baby seat of my grown up shopping cart, Eli oblivious to the notion that maybe he too could push one. But two kids with two shopping carts? Someone slap me now.

But perhaps it's another step forward in my parenting "career". Much like no more diapers or when both kids are in school, I feel like I am now at a stage in their childhoods where I might be able to trust both kids with a shopping cart. Like Tom said recently, the kids are at a point where he isn't fearing a meltdown or tantrum at any moment. We can actually ENJOY outings together. 

And maybe that goes for certain shopping excursions as well. I'm still not planning on taking them clothes shopping anytime soon (that trait of intolerance for fashion shopping they inherited from their father). But believe it or not, I can't wait for my next trip to TJ's and I'm planning on taking the boys with me.