So yesterday, I took Jasper (the puppy) to pick up the kids, and on the way home, I suddenly remembered that I needed to stop at Target. The problem? Unless we could somehow fashion a fake, green, service dog outfit for Jasper, there was no getting inside with all four of us. And there was no way in hell Jasper was staying alone in the car (have I ever mentioned the $250 seatbelt chewing incident that occurred with our last dog?).
What did end up happening was, well, frickin’ awesome.
Driven by her overwhelming desire to get an Icee, Elfie agreed to go into Target without me and do the shopping. Newt decided to join her after a few theatrical renditions of, “Why do I have to do everything?” On the shopping list: eggs, apples, and Eggos.
I gave them a twenty, stood outside with the dog (where he basked in the adoration of passers-by), and waited for all hell to break loose. But incredibly, ten minutes later, the two of them trooped outside with looks on their faces like they’d just won the Super Bowl.
They handed off the groceries, turned around, and went back to get their perfectly poured, not-over-filled Icees (and I say this because whenever I’m with them, guess what occurs…).
If this wasn’t a good reason to get a dog, I don’t know what was. Without Jasper, I never would’ve been forced to make them go into a store alone. Their solo shopping trip would’ve been an artificial situation that they would’ve balked at or aborted because they had an out. But because they knew they had no other choice, they absolutely kicked butt.
Now if I can just get them to the store by themselves, I’ll be solid…
No problem…as soon as they are 16 they will use ANY excuse to use the car. “Mom, do you need milk? Eggs?? I’ll go! Can I use the car? Oh and stop off at the yogurt shop on the way to meet my friends?”
That’s the truth! Newt is already talking about driving. And he’s nine!
Awesome for you! Do you think they argued a lot in the store? Because I think my daughter and son would fight like beasts if they had to work together on such a project! LOL!!!
They don’t argue that much (crossing fingers, knocking on wood, tossing salt, what else can I do?). So I think they actually worked together on this. Plus it was basic survival. Live together or die alone…
I think this is a World’s Best Mom moment!!! I love it when I actually have cash, and P and S ride their bikes to the store to pick up garbage we don’t actually need.
What!? You let your kids ride to the store? Alone? In 2013? Call social services…
Yay! So far, I’ve only sent my 8 year old into the store to return Redbox movies, but actually shopping will come soon enough considering I have a 10 month old.
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That’s really great! I have two so I have the luxury of the buddy system. If they were going solo I probably wouldn’t be so brave. I know — pathetic.