Temper Tantrums: Grocery Store Experiment Disaster

My daughters hate nothing more than being strapped down. The ride fine in car seats, and I can guarantee at least twenty minutes in the stroller, but beyond that, it's extremely touch and go. There are occasions where I'm forced to do the grocery shopping by myself. This is where I have two options, I can either take in the three seat stroller, or I can use one of those super carts with the seat attachments that the stores provide. (Yes, there have been times where I've had to leave one store and go to another to find an available one that's got all of it's safety straps.) I carry a little travel antibacterial spray with me, and everything works out fine.

So on my first attempt at these super carts, I'm at a local super market and I've grabbed a grocery cart that has an attached bench with two bucket style seats. Unfortunately, the style that this particular supermarket provides are about three feet from the floor, so the girls feet were hanging a good bit, and they didn't have anything to really stabilize themselves with.

So about fifteen minutes into the shopping trip, Elizabeth just melts down. She's thrusting her stomach out. The style of the straps don't really allow me to tighten it up enough, and so now her behind is hanging off the front of the seat. She can't get out, but she can effectively turn the straps into a skydiving harness.

Every time I try to move her back she thinks I'm picking her up, and when I don't she starts to scream louder. So this is now stressing Victoria out, and she starts to whine. Now they are both officially crying and whining, and have now woken up William, who is only a few months old at this point. So all three are crying, I've got a basket full of groceries, and none of them are walking, so I can't very well grab everybody and run. So the best thing I can think of is just smile, go through check out with a big grin on my face, and walk out with everyone staring at me.

I've since figured out different systems, and nothing quite that loud has happened since, but it's always a gentle reminder to go when I know they are in their best moods.