Before I birthed two children, I always returned my cart. I felt it was my civil duty. In fact, I was bothered by the lazy people who didn't. I smirked at their inability to accomplish such a simple task.
When I had one child, I usually returned my cart. I could unload groceries, push Noah -still in the cart- to the holding place and then take him back to the car. Unless it was extremely hot or cold or I was in a huge hurry, I most often returned the basket.
Now.
Now, I sometimes return my cart. I've tried to start parking near a cart return (what in the world are those things called?). If I don't park near one, I don't return it.
What are you supposed to do? I'm not going to leave my kids in the car just to put a measly cart away. I feel like moving it out of the center of the parking spot is quite a favor now.
I think the solution is to not do any shopping with two kids, but for me, thats often unrealistic unless I want to be on solitary confinement to my home.
I guess what I'm getting at is that something that annoyed me in the past is now just the norm for me. There are a lot of things like that. That's just where my life is. It isn't as structured, full of criticism or easy as it used to be.
What do you do? Do you return the cart? Do you judge those who don't?
13 comments:
Yes, I too once was the angry woman who did not understand why people were so lazy...oops...I am now that person. Honestly, I am also one who is more likely to put the cart back ONLY if someone is watching me. Oh, the peer pressure.
Great post! Um... I always return the cart, but I don't judge the people that don't. I just get real annoyed if I find a great parking space, and a stinkin' cart is there, preventing me from parking there. I also get annoyed when the store doesn't make an effort to gather up carts from the parking lot on a regular basis.
Now. I don't have any kids, so it's not a difficult task for me yet. But 10 days from now, when little Eisley is in the mix... who knows. I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and don't at all judge you for not returning the cart! But I like your solution of parking next to the cart return when at all possible!
I always return the cart but I only have one child so...
I judge those who don't.
hehe.
Seriously tho, I go grocery shopping with my double stroller and go often enough so I don't have much to buy in one shopping session... also because getting out of the house and going to the store is fun??
Sometimes I just drag Britt along with me after he gets off work... family time... er, right?
HONEST TRUTH: I didn't always put it back even with one kid. Dang!
hmmmm, I don't have kids so I can't really empathise, but it does bother me when I try to park and nearly drive into a trolley that's been left behind.
However, I will now give some thought as to why it's been left behind and not start cussing and cursing!!
It "used" to annoy me when parents would let their child run around in only a diaper or a diaper & a shirt in public. I still do not like it, but now I look at it as "Well at least they had a chance to get a diaper on their kid".
You are always a perfect parent, until you actually become one.
Jenifer
I usually try to park near the cart return (and I'm not real sure what you call those things). If I don't, then no, I don't return them with two kids in the car.
I would love to do the park too, but GREAT NEWS!!! My sweet sweet wonderful Mom-in-Law has given us a 6 month membership to the pool! We went today, and I hope to go often. So I would love to do the park or the pool with you!
In grocery cart news, my justification for not returning a cart (and leaving my babes in the car) is that I always take a cart from the parking lot on my way into the store. So by leaving a cart out in the parking lot when I leave, I feel I am cancelling myself out. Wow, when I right it down, it seems a little ridiculuous . . . but that's what I do.
I also return my cart. But i don't live somewhere as hot as you do, so I don't feel uncomfortable about walking a little farther (if I have to- to return the cart.) I don't judge others that do, I just feel that it is considerate and helpful to others to do my part, no matter how small. I think it's part of being raised in the south. Manners are ingrained into who you are. It's not something taken lightly. It's expected. BTW- I love your last couple of posts on prayer. "Beautiful!" I'm in a really wonderful place right now. Maybe the best it's ever been in my life. That's not to say that I don't feel the Lord preparing my heart for change. I know He's ready to grow me, and chisel away some unnessisary things from my life. I'd love to pray with you on this subject. I really feel a burden that we as woman need to help one another out as it says in Titus 2. I think this is a wonderful tool of out reach for all of us, no matter where we are in the journey-(like you said.)~Blessings!
I try my best to park near a return and it's not so bad w/ only one child to return it. Yes, I definitely USED to judge people who don't return it, but now I totally understand! As long as they don't leave it in a parking space, I don't care! :)
Funny post.
Yep, I always return my cart, but my children are 6, 10, and 11, and can get in the van and buckle themselves. When my kids were young like yours are, there was no way I could return my cart everytime.
No judgment from me though...I totally get it!
I always put the cart away and I dont mind putting yours away too. HA!! Did not know if you saw this article or not http://www.amarillo.com/stories/073108/new_news3.shtml
That article is funny. Coincidental :) I had not seen it.
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