Round 3: TKO”¦
It wasn’t too much longer that the very same toddler started laying down his independence by the bucket load. No longer happy to cuddle me in the Ergo, look about from the comfort of the ring sling or sit in the trolley seat, it was now time to be just like his big brother and drag around a basket on wheels. Fair enough, it’s a big thing for a little kid, and we weren’t in a hurry so I gave them both a basket and set about our list. Thirty seconds in and I was threatening that we would have to go home. Apparently, no one explained the rules of shopping to my two-year-old, that collecting food items from around the store was ideal, whilst filling the basket with plastic $8 Disney cups was not. I’d have been happy to let him fill it and ditch the basket later, but he was adamant we weren’t moving from that stand at the front of the store. I played my parent card and put him in the trolley, screaming, of course.
Feeling very overwhelmed and way outta my depth, I leaned over and popped my forehead on the trolley handle for a moment. When I looked up, an older lady was staring at me, I waited for the attack. What she said shocked me completely. ‘Breathe Mama, just breathe’. Holy shit! A supporter! I smiled, thanked her and moved toward our next stop. On the way, another lady with her arms full of a feral toddler smiled and said ‘We’re having one of those days too’. Oh wow, I wasn’t alone! I might be able to cope and get through this after all.
The Cool Down
We had reached the yoghurt fridge and my wildling was climbing the trolley (god he can climb), so I held him in my arms, hoping to avoid a potential neck injury and to possibly calm him. No good. He wiggled out and slid to the floor and then lay there still screaming. I left him there while I spoke to my eldest about which yoghurt to get. After thanking my big kid for being so patient and understanding (and in turn not losing his shit over the ear-splitting shrieks coming from his brother), I noticed another lady surreptitiously glancing up at us. I briefly explained I wasn’t abusing him, he just wanted a basket and the dilemma that brought us, to which she replied ‘Oh goodness, no need to explain, I’ve been there and done that!’ What? More support? When the lady in the bakery section avoided all eye contact completely and pretended to hear nothing, I was just about jumping for joy. Because I was able to keep it together and stay cool, little man was gradually calming down. By the time we paid and put some coins in the guide dog statue at the door, all was then forgotten. For him anyway, I am still quite traumatised.
To My Support Team
I will remember, possibly forever, the simple but kind words of support from those ladies who I didn’t know but will share a bond with now each time I see them. If I see them that is, I’m sure they’ve made a note of the day and time of our encounter and have avoided the aisles since! I want them all to know that I only coped with that situation and am much more confident now when we shop because of them. Today, I was insanely brave and allowed both boys to have one of those wheelie-baskets each and guess what? We got our shopping done with no screaming, no tears and no $8 Disney cups. So now that things have turned a corner for us, it’s my turn to be the supportive parent and lend my kind words when I next see the toddler-parent struggle in full force.
