April 26, 2010

Some entertainment is a two-way street.

Dear young blonde chic at Walmart,

First of all, I'd like to thank you for being there Saturday. My last couple of trips there with all my kids have been strangely uneventful. Not so much as a "wow, you sure do have your hands full!" comment. It made me feel like an alien from another planet. Like I had stepped through the looking glass into the strange and unknown.

 But with you there, I suddenly felt right at home.


As I pulled my two-cart-train to the checkout counter, you seemed oblivious to me while I watched with great amusement as your eyes quite literally double their size. They widened when they saw the kids, the diapers, and the cart train.

Just be sure to blink next time, I'm sure your eyes were drying out at an alarming rate due to the amount of exposure to the dry air.

I keep eye drops in the diaper bag for just such an emergency.


I was thoroughly enthralled with the show as I watched you nudge the young man at your side, and since I'm still working on my lip-reading skills, I failed to read what you said. But the quick head nods in my direction where awesome. Truly classic. I just wish I had brought my theatre popcorn.

Sadly, I missed your male partner's reaction as I had to unload my carts at that moment. But during the process, I glanced over at your from time to time to find you still staring.

While I was paying, you were staring, while I was convincing he kids to stay in the cart because we were done, you were staring. And as I started to pull the train away from the check-out depot, you were still staring. You should try smiling next time, it puts us more at ease.


But maybe I've got it all wrong? Maybe you weren't staring at my kids but rather at the cart train! It is pretty sweet after all, and so simple to make.

Simply hook the child safety strap from one cart around the front end of a second cart. Ta da! Instant train that is surprisingly maneuverable through the human throng of bodies, some more disturbing than others, that walk the Walmart isles.

Some things just become a way of life when ALL the kids want to ride in a cart. That's an EASY trip!

That hard ones are when they all want to walk.

Anyway, I appreciate the diversion and the entertainment. It made my weekend.

Yours ever,

23 super cool people speak:

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

You really should put a little camera in your purse/diaper bag and next time had it to them and ask them to take a picture.

Ahhhh, the people of Walmart. I see you truly do appreciate them. You are totally sweet.

Hope you have a fabulous week. Next time you go to Walmart give me a call. I want to see the train and you. I also have a sick desire to see the blonde woman. I would try and strike up a conversation with her...oh, maybe that would be useless. She's probably not one of the smartest worms in the can and is unable to conversate.

Scrappy Girl said...

Don't you just love those stares. My problem at Walmart is that my kids think they are still on the farm. They think they can still run, jump, yell, play ball, etc. I usually keep them in a buggy. Thank God for those new buggies our Walmart just ordered. They have 2 blue seats attached to the buggy leaving me with a WHOLE cart to put food in instead of having to shove it around a kids legs in the back of the buggy! My bread even survives the trip!

Also we used to have an 8 year old foster son and I would get the whole "hands full" comments EVERY FLIPPIN' TIME! Now that I am back with only 3...I have not heard it! So even though I have only 2 hands...3 kids are ok...but don't even think about 4! Odd.

Charlotte said...

I love the blue seats, too, although the ones they had at first had two seats facing them. (Who thought that was a good idea?).

I've never made a cart train before, sounds like fun. (Did that sound sincere?). I make my kids walk once they've outgrown and/or been replaced in the cart seat. I'm nice that way.

I do love the looks, though. The subtle (Ha!) counting as the kids wander by. I figure I'm doing my part to make the other customers enjoy the "freaks at Walmart" show.

Saimi said...

I think the young blond chic's jaw dropping stare was all about the conversation the young man told her earlier about wanting her to have his babies.

I'm sure she was quite flattered until she saw the reality of what lots of babies look like.

Susan Anderson said...

I remember well being the object of amazement at the mall as I walked through the aisles wearing a snugli with the baby in it and pushing an umbrella stroller full of toddler while the other two hung on to the handle, one on each side. We were always a hit.

;)

Kristina P. said...

I would totally stare. And judge. :)

Jenny P. said...

I've never even heard of a cart train. I want to go shopping with all my kids just so I can try it...

alpinekleins said...

Hee! Absolutely hilarious! I remember those cart trains. Now I pick up a cart just to lean on as I make my way back to the milk section ;)

Greaat post!

kristin

Jocelyn Christensen said...

Wow...a train...and it's even "coupled" as my son would say. I like it...I can only handle one cart per trip normally, but I often ask for a second cart in which to load my purchases. The checkout lady hates when I do that.

Lisa said...

Bless her heart. She must have been soooooo jealous that you could procreate, AND make a cart train. Maybe you inspired her. :)

Unknown said...

Ah, the people at the Wally.

I can't wait until I'm a source of entertainment for the other shoppers. I'll have to borrow your cart train trick.

Cheeseboy said...

That cart train sounds awesome. I may have to try it, even with no kids there.

Walmart worker folks are the folkiest idiots around. (No offense to anyone that works at Walmart.)

Jen said...

I have so been were you are. Its like people have never seen one woman pushing/pulling 2 charts with 4 kids. I do it all the time. Its no big deal. I say they should stop staring and start pushing. ;)

Stopped by from SITS to say hi and welcome.

mCat said...

And NOW I know how to make a cart train. This would have been useful several years ago.

Now, people just stare at us because we let Sissy run amok. Crap, we are the grandparents we are supposed to indulge her right? RIGHT? : )

JennaK said...

Yes, the hard ones are when they all want to walk. Been there, done that! Life with four little ones!

Pitterle Postings said...

Oh Yeah, been there, done that! Wait until the lady at walmart looks at your oldest child, than at the baby, and says, "Honey, aren't you a little young to give your mama a grandbaby??" Her jaw hit the floor when I explained that they were ALL mine!

Braden Bell said...

I want to say been there done that but I can't. My wife has, though. At Wal-Mart. It's too bad we live so far apart because you could go together and get stares together at the same time.

Cluttered Brain said...

ALL ABOARD! Last stop:
HOME.

Thanks for the laugh. Sounds like fun.

Anonymous said...

I learned something new today...how to make a cart train! I've never done that before! I'm behind the times, I know. I choose not to go to Wal-Mart with the monsters because I don't like being center stage and have people stare at me. I get that enough at church ;)

Evelyn said...

BRILLIANT! I never thought to do that! Now I know how to take all three kids AND keep them in the carts. Genius mommy, genius!

JessieMomma said...

Ok... WOW!!! I am totally going to try that trick! Why didn't I think of using the otherwise comepletely useless safety straps to attach another cart?! BRILLIANT! And for the record... I think you should have that classified published in your local editorial!!!! Hee hee! Love it, seriously.

Mama Smith said...

I do believe I enjoy the COMMENTS as much as the POSTS!!!! (smile)

Ronnica said...

Cute little girl...maybe they were just envious?

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