Afternoon at Costco

Yes, this could be a book in itself.  But since I only have a few minutes, I will keep it concise.  My husband and I will often brave the crowds at Costco or Sam's Club on Sunday afternoon with the kids.  After all, who doesn't love cheap pizza and countless aisles of everything you never needed?   Today was particularly interesting because I noticed something I had never noticed before... That everyone there is just like us.  I was literally laughing out loud in the dining area listening to all of the dads fussing at their children to stop whining, be still, eat his/her lunch, leave their brother/sister alone, share their drink, etc.  And I watched with amusement as all the mommies did exactly what I was doing.  They calmly ignored their own unhappy and noisy children in favor of the people-watching that I myself was indulging in.  I would occasionally make eye contact with another mom and she would grin, and I would grin back, as if to say, "Isn't this just infinitely better than making sandwiches at home while daddy watches tv or naps on the couch?"  It was like a secret telepathic language, I tell ya.

So we eat, and then my husband says to me "Why do we ever think this is a good idea?  They act like this every time we bring them."  To which I reply, "They act like this 100% of the time, no matter where we are...  they are 3.  This is how 3 year olds act." The thing is, for me, just a change of scenery can make it more bearable.  Plus I didn't have to cook or clean up after lunch, which is really nice on a Sunday.  Because frankly, by the time we get to church in the morning, I feel like I've worked an 8 hour day already.  So I will gratefully endure an hour or so of walking through Costco looking at garden hoses and rechargeable batteries and tools and flashlights and patio furniture and sunglasses.  In heels.  And I will happily ignore my 3 year old shouting ugly words (his favorites are booty and doody) and the sideways glances I get from shoppers with no children in their cart.  (The ones with kids of their own usually just chuckle sympathetically.)  I did have to intervene when Gracie decided to bite Hudson on the arm.  But I did it quietly with the "inside-of-the-arm pinch" that my mom used on me when I was acting up during church. Along with a very scary whisper, "We. Don't. Bite."

And now, we are home, with our new garden hose, and the children and Daddy are napping peacefully in their beds while I sit here and write about nothing, which, in reality is everything.  I would call this SUCCESS.  

Happy Sunday, friends.  Peace, love and Costco.