Lucy is now my grocery-shopping companion. I remember freaking out in the first month or two about how I would ever stock up on food again with a constantly screaming baby. But now, she is a pro — and there are some bonuses.
p{color:gray}. Photo: I was seven-months pregnant here, so I suppose Lucy was accompanying me on this shopping trip, too!
Here are my top five favorite things about shopping with Lucy these days:
# Knowing when to stop
Lucy has instructed me about the limits of grocery shopping. No trip should take more than one hour, maximum. She is very strict about this. I appreciate her limits — it helps me to not get lost in the twilight zone of deciding between flavors of Triscuits.
# Planning ahead
Because of Lucy’s time restraints, I’ve become a lot more efficient in my shopping. Several years ago, I read an article in _Real Simple_ magazine about mapping out your local grocery store and writing out your list in that order. I tried it for awhile, but it seemed like more trouble than it was worth. Now, it _is_ worth it!
# Help outside
At my local Jewel, the cashier always asks, “Do you need help outside?” I never before took them up on the offer, but now I do. And it is fabulous. Someone pushes the cart out with me and loads all the groceries in the trunk while I pull Lucy out of the sling and settle her into her carseat. And off we go! Thank you, Jewel grocery baggers of Chicago!
# Attention
Lucy causes quite a stir everywhere we go, but especially at the grocery store. Kids, old ladies, the butcher, and the pharmacist all want to talk to her and giggle about how cute she is. As her publicist, I allow it — it helps the people to know that she cares.
# Companionship
I never knew it before, but grocery shopping can be a lonely business. I rather enjoy babbling away at my pint-sized friend, informing her that we next need to find the whole wheat pasta, or inquiring about her preference between two red peppers. Plus, I get to snuggle a bundle of love, and who doesn’t like that?
I’m sure that the day will come that Lucy and I will clash (“Why are you buying that brand of feta cheese, Mama? Go for the good stuff!”), but until then, I’ll just enjoy these adventures with my tiny shopper.
Just wait until she starts to talk! It gets real fun.
“What are those?”
“Apple!”
“What color are the apples?”
“Red!”
“And what are those over there?”
“Bapes!”
“Grapes, dear. And what color are the grapes?”
“Cookie!”
“Uh…green, kiddo.”
And so on…
Hey, my life changed so much when we moved here because we have drive up service…I shop and pay then Maddy and I go to the car get in and drive to the loading area where a lady meets me with my stuff. they load it in and off we go! Plus they always ask, paper or plastic. Plus dad now can find us in the store because Maddy is a beeper. She blows rasp-berries so loudly that he can hear us where ever we may be.
I to love shopping now that I have her, We go really early in the morning when all of the older people are out and we have so much fun that everyone knows us and keeps up with us. The only draw back is when I don’t want people to know what I am buying (personal items) but I guess that it is ok that they see that too.
heehee…ted works at trader joe’s so cadence goes grocery shopping A LOT. she flirts with anyone and everyone!
btw, i found this on the web and i thought of you since you’re the crafty type:
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/index.html
they have a bunch of patterns for baby carriers if you want to try some other ones. i wish i knew how to sew…i’ve shelled out over $200 for the carriers we have, and i’m shopping for a mei-tai right now!
Ann – I loved your wonderful reflections on grocery shopping with Lucy – not only could I, with pleasure, picture you 2 in the aisles of Jewel, but it brought back vivid memories of shopping with Wilson and now with Clara! Amazing what a thrill it was for her just to be able to hold the zucchini – as you say, you look at the world with new eyes yourself, and even the most mundane chores take on a special delight when shared with your tiny “assistant” – thanks for sharing -hugs all around, Nancy