Poppy and I just had one of those outings. The kind where the other moms look at you with pity and the less-sympathetic scornfully avoid looking at you at all.
To Poppy’s credit, our outings are rarely traumatic. Today, though, all was not well in Mudville.
Our first stop was the grocery store. For nothing more than half a gallon of milk. Should have been quick and painless. It was quick, but it wasn’t exactly painless.
At other stores, I don’t hesitate to take Pi for a spin in the fancy race-car shopping carts. This particular store’s carts are more bumper car than NASCAR, though, so I try to avoid them. Otherwise, I end up crashing into every display in the store.
So I tried to put Poppy into a regular cart, and she spotted the “Red Cart.” And she screamed, and her little legs turned into iron, and she would not sit down. As I was trying to bend her legs, an older woman came over to offer her advice: “Oh, just give her the red cart. Poor, pretty little thing.”
I snapped her cane in half and lugged Screaming Poppy through the store.
Then we went to the post office, where they do not have race-car carts. But they do have an ample supply of People Who Shoot You Dirty Looks When Your Toddler Collapses in a Fit of Woe.
I think naptime might come early today.
Dude, I’m so sorry! I hope it was a good nap.
poor poppy…and poor mom!
and while i’m at it, poor well-meaning older lady. i hope you merely snapped her cane in half with your bare hands and not over her head or anything.
but you must admit, despite their clumsiness, those red race carts are pretty hot…
*hugs for poppy and nikki*
that woman was evil; you let her off easy.
that made me sad for you. the anxious spot in my tummy when rosie (my babysitting charge) first starts screaming (she’s a big tantrum thrower) when we’re in public came to me, as i channeled my sympathy for you. although my good news is that rosie’s dad recently saw her viciously pinching my arm fat (my upper arms are constantly bruised) and punching me in the head as her way of letting me know she did not want her parents to leave the house, and he (finally) put his foot down. i’m proud to report that it’s two weeks later, and we’re virtually tantrum free! my personal favorite was when rosie tried to throw herself out of her stroller to run back up the sidewalk to their house in order to get back to her parents. i was so embarrassed and fearful someone might think i had kidnapped her, i took her down alleys until she calmed down. =) it’s funny now…but not at the time. i’m going to write my own nanny diaries….
I can COMPLETELY relate to this post right down to the car cart having to be red (like Lightning McQueen – duh)! You are so right about their legs turning to iron. How did such a little person get so strong? Jackson is usually pretty good on outings, like Poppy, but on the days he is not, he REALLY lets you know it! Funny! Oh, and bedtime definitely came early in our house tonight.