Yes You Can: Grocery Shopping with Kids

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Grocery Shopping with Kids in Tow

I know what you're thinking. There's no such thing as grocery shopping with ONE baby, let alone 3. But I have my ways. That is because I ask for help.

A few appointments ran long while the kids were at daycare so here I am at Albertsons in Reseda after picking up my 6-month old twins and my very active 3-year-old. I walk into the store and before I can even get to the first aisle I realize, there's no way I can do this on my own.

The Ask

So, I go to the front desk and ask if a bagger can push the cart for me and walk around the store to get things off the shelf. I was sure this was not going to go over smoothly or that I'd have to wait a long time to get it as the store seemed busy, but, voila, here comes Tariq, a minute later, ready to take me on my grand grocery shopping tour.

Doing My Part

I had a list, and he knew where everything was, so I was able to push the kids in my mega-stroller, the Baby Trend Navigator Double Jogger that is, and just point to and tell him what was next to get. While some outstretched arms and screams did come from the 3-year-old in the ice cream aisle, there was little fuss during our trip, and I got to the register in about 35 minutes. This, my friends, was a personal best, even without the kids, and I was truly floored by how much Tariq and his pushing my grocery cart, picking things off the shelf, and helping me to the car was for my schedule, and my psyche.What'd happen if I could make a grocery shopping appointment!

DUH Grocery Stores!

It seems like a no-brainer that a grocery store would offer this kind of help inside the store, especially to a Mom toting 3 kids, but far too often we don't really think we can ask for VIP service for grocery shopping, and grocery stores don't usually aim to make customers feel special. I do think it's kind of crazy though that they have people available to help you to your car, but not in the store. This has to change. We are the feeders of families...loyal as all get out, and craving some extra time and energy - grocery shopping can take at least an hour or more even if you're alone... You deserve this kind of help. So go ahead... ask your local grocer for your own personal bagger/cart-pusher/shelf picker, with or without the kids. If they say no, go to another store. Anywhere you spend hundreds of dollars a month should offer you VIP treatment. Seriously...

FYI: I also got the same treatment(after asking for it) at Ralphs in Encino and have called in advance to Whole Foods and Sprouts, Tarzana and Chatsworth respectively, to have them bag and/or cart certain items for me prior to my arrival. Lastly, after begging a Target team member to take some formula to Guest Services for me, I had a manager bring it out to my car - twice. Call me crazy, but I needed the help!

What about you?

What would make grocery shopping easier for you and your family?