Grocey Shopping + 3 Kids

I went grocery shopping with all three kids in tow this morning (which method I tend to avoid like the plague – but sometimes you need food and you’ve already asked your sister-in-law to babysit too many times this month…).\par
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It went well! Amazing! By the time we left I was still in full possession of my faculties and was neither breathing hard, seeing red, nor in any way distressed!\par
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The plan was thus: Monica rode in the child-seat\’c2\~in the front of the cart, Ezra rode in the cargo area until the dairy dept. at which point he had to get out and walk next to the cart to make room. Judah held onto the cart and walked along side. They didn’t grab things, touch things, run off, ask for a million things, whine, or complain (much)! I think the pep talk I gave them before the event was helpful: If you obey and follow these rules, you will get a doughnut at the end. If you do not, you will not get a doughnut and there will be dire consequences at home. Yes, this could be described as bribery, but I like to\’c2\~think of it more like promises of blessings to the faithful. Right?\par
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Judah especially impressed me. He did offer some helpful suggestions, he mostly held onto the cart, he fed the baby cheerios when she started to get fussy, and he helped load groceries onto the conveyer belt. He is now solidly an asset, rather than a liability! Who could’ve imagined such a thing?!\par
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow!