Where Was This When I Needed It?

Everyone who knows me, knows that I am not crazy about a lot of "modern" things.  There are things that technology can do that makes our lives easier, but...  It leaves us open for things like identity theft, telemarketing, pfishing(?).  Computer games keep us from interacting on a real level.  Texting...don't even get me started.  You cannot see the face of the person texting, you can hear inflections in their voice.  It has cost us some of our humanity.

All that being said, Covid has now forced us to be more remote.  I used to go to the grocery store frequently.  Now I am able to order my food on line, drive to the store at a designated time, sit in the parking lot in my car and have my groceries brought to me.  All this with little or no human contact.  Of course it took me quite a while to learn to do this.  My first experience took one hour on my cell phone only to have my whole order disqualified.  I didn't give up though, I tried it on my laptop with success.  Apparently even my phone objects to being used in this way.

Anyway, I have thought about this a lot.  Years ago, when all my children were small, I used to take all six of them to the grocery store.  ALONE!  There was no such thing as a quick trip.  Loading them into the car was an experience in and of itself.  On arrival, we commandeered two grocery carts.  I would push one and pull the other with the help of the two oldest.  Two would sit in the seats and two in the carts.  (Keep in mind these children ranged from infant to 12.)  Off we went!  It was somewhat of an Olympic event catching items that they tried to sneakily toss into the cart.  Keeping my cool while they cajoled me into buying snacks and treats was a lesson in psychology.  

These trips were never accomplished in less than one and a half to two hours.  Now, for anyone who has been around small children, you know that they have a limit to how long they can "behave" in public.  That limit arrives at about one hour and 15 minutes.  First comes questions, like "how much longer"?  Then comes comments like "this is boring", "I'm tired", I'm hungry", "I have to go to the bathroom", "Can I have this?", "Why can't I have that?" This is quickly followed by squabbling.  "She touched me!"  "He's looking at me!"  "Stop pushing me!"  "Can I ride?"

If you don't get out of the store soon, temper tantrums start.  These can range from screaming or crying to flat out laying down on the ground and refusing to move.  You haven't lived until you have experienced a full out temper tantrum in the cereal aisle.  "Mommy" has personally experienced this as a parent herself.  Now, with six children you have no choice but to endure the event as well as the looks from people with no children or those who have forgotten.  If you have one or two or someone helping you, the solution is simple.  You football carry the offender out of the store!

Well, I guess my conclusion is this.  I survived and so did my kids.  Maybe we all learned from it.  But, where on earth was the ability to order groceries and pick them up without ever leaving the car when I needed it!?!  Be a little patient and kind when you see a parent in the store with children.  Try to remember the "good old days".  Smile and say a little prayer for the parent and children.  God bless you and have a great week!