Confession: I miss spontaneity

Ok, let's be honest, I've never been a very spontaneous person. And spontaneity probably isn't the most accurate word. I guess I miss not having to plan so much before leaving the house. (And I am a planner by nature, but this is a whole new level of planning!)

Things got more difficult when we got dogs, but seriously, crap got REAL when we had the kid!

I can't leave the house for a quick trip to the grocery store without some diaper essentials....spare diaper, wipes, change pad, butt cream. Then we need a sippy cup of water or milk, a snack....cheese string, cheerios, etc. Granted things are easier now that we have passed the newborn stage in which case I would also need the following: nursing cover, blanket, change of clothes, toys, pacifiers, car seat &/or stroller, car seat cover (weather dependant). Thankfully, I have never forgotten my wallet, but I do often forget my reusable shopping bags and end up purchasing plastic on the fly.

The above has transformed my 15 minute shopping trip (including travel time) into a 30 - 45 minute event. Don't forget that remembering the essentials (note I forgot to mention grocery list above) is just the tip of the ice berg. You also have to dress the child appropriately. And I fully admit that in summer, if I am running late, I will leave the socks & shoes at home and just let Parker ride in the cart...it isn't worth the 5 minutes getting socks and shoes on a fidget bum for the walk from the car to the store - Mother of the YEAR! Once the kid has been clothed, you need to cart all of the accessories out to the car, along with the child, somehow lock the door to the house and strap the fidget bum into his car seat. Times were easier when using the infant bucket and you could strap the less fidgety kid into the seat in the house, then snap and go in the car.

Arriving at the grocery store, you have the dilemna of where to park. Do you park in the mother and child parking space that is close to the store entrance, but nowhere near a shopping cart repository? Do you park close to the shopping carts and chance it with the looming clouds overhead? I usually opt for close to the shopping carts...getting into the store isn't as big of a deal, but you don't want to have to dump the groceries in the car, then walk a mile to drop off the cart, then walk all the way back carrying fidget bum (or letting fidget bum walk and have repeated heart attacks when fidget bum tries to make a run for it and a car approaches). At the end of your shopping experience, I want to get it over and done with and home for a rest!

So you get home and fidget bum has passed out in the car seat. WONDERFUL! Indeed it is wonderful if you have an infant bucket seat....pop that thing out of the base, and dance into the house knowing you probably have at least enough time to unpack the groceries before kiddo wakes up - Heaven! Wait, you have a toddler in a convertible seat? CRAP! The dilemna I always face is do you leave the kid in the seat while you run the groceries into the house (in full view, windows rolled down, door locked....NOT abandoning your child and causing overzealous neighbours and delivery men to call the cops on your negligent ass) OR do you attempt the car seat to crib nap transfer? I have had limited success with the transfer, so sometimes admit for the borderline negligent mother option...don't judge until you have faced this scenario!

Whew, groceries are done, you are home, child is napping....then the dog barks.

Fidget bum is lucky he is cute! ;)