Yesterday, I had to run into the grocery store closest to my house to just grab a few items. I had to search through the rows of shopping carts at the entrance to find one with a complete set of functioning buckles because I have been having a very hard time with Little Red standing up in the cart.
Halfway through the produce section she figures out how to unbuckle herself and tries to stand up. I scolded her, sat her back down and buckled her back in... only to find her unbuckled and attempting to climb over into the bigger part of the cart. This is how the the whole trip went, this back and forth game. I told her she would fall out and get hurt, but next to spanking her right there in the middle of the store (which I did and she didn't bat an eyelash), I could not come up with any other sort of consequence for this behavior. The times that I have tried to bribe her or deny her of something fun like going to the pool or park haven't worked yet - I think she still just lives in the here and now and doesn't have the maturity to realize what I mean. Anyone have any ideas on that because right now I'm just chalking it up to the terrible two's?
So anyway, we had this battle the entire time we were shopping. By the time I got to the the check out I was exhausted and frazzled. I'm putting groceries on the belt thingy when of course you know who is standing up again. I ask her to please sit down - then the cashier asks me, "Do you have Internet access at home?" I answer yes thinking maybe its a coupon or discount kind of thing... she says "Do a search for 'grocery cart accidents' so that you can fully understand how serious this is. I have a friend in California whose 4 year old granddaughter fell out of a cart by doing exactly what your daughter is doing and now she is completely paralyzed. When I take out my grandsons they know better then to do that with Granny."
Completely embarrassed and in tears, I put my sunglasses on, paid for my groceries and left. I got in my car and cried until I had a headache. I called Brian and luckily I was able to catch him on lunch break. He calmed me down, I love him dearly.
I just can't help but wonder about people who do that to other moms. Why do you have to judge? Lady, do you honestly think that I let my child stand up in the cart without any fear of her falling out? What would you say or what will you say to me next time I bring her into the store with me and I'm walking her on a leash because I have one and I'm not afraid to use it! The only reason I don't use it in the grocery store is because I know my child. Given the chance she will throw everything off the shelves and onto the floor. But if that is the safer option for her then so be it!
