Crying in Superstore

  Okay so are you ready for this? Sunday morning 9:19am I leave for Superstore. Last night at midnight both my husband and my sister (I'll call her Pearl) got up because Titus was screaming. I was on a desperate soother hunt. I was swearing and little crazy because as usual I had not had any sleep yet but they both came to my rescue. We did find a soother and Titus was soothed and I ended up with about four hours sleep when morning broke. With those precious hours under my belt I felt up to taking on Superstore and let me just say that when I got to Superstore I do literally feel like I am taking it on!!!! Superstore overwhelms me. Superstore has too many choices and most of them are not full of health or nutrition. I used to tear up every time I was in that store just feeling so overwhelmed with trying to feed this family of mine. I have very picky children in some respects and it has to do with texture issues and control issues, but it makes everything about food that much less joyful. SO Superstore is a bit of a battle ground for me. However it is the cheapest place to buy groceries and so that is where I go.
  We have been very low on groceries the last couple days, but I have not mustered up the strength to fight that specific battle. I prioritized other things, but this morning I felt like it was time, and everyone was hungry! So I jumped out of bed and put on some cleanish clothes, nursed the baby and got out the door in record time. I took my eldest with me as she is one of those personalities that is desperate to get out the door the second she opens her eyes in the morning. So if ANYONE is leaving the house that day no matter where the destination is she better be along for the ride. She is a great help to me and if she is along I find I cry less at the store. So off we went. Keep in mind it was 9:19am on Sunday (Sunday is usually my worst day of the week because I am so done from being so tired). A little tip for up and coming Superstore shoppers ~ on Sunday if you don't get there by about 9:30 just don't go at all. On Sunday everyone else in town as mustered up the energy to fight their own battle there and so they all descend around 10am, and if you are a church goer you are probably there just before lunch. You try to smile nicely at everyone else from your church who is there also, but really you just want to get out of there and get home. So get there at about 9:30 or earlier if you can.  Also a good cart is a blessing! Last week I had a cart that sounded like it was dying and therefore I wanted to join it in its death cries. A good cart weighed down by 500 pounds of groceries needs to be able to turn and be pushed on those tiny wheels as smoothly as possible. Once you get in the store if you have a good list that is somewhat organized by aisle or if you have a path you usually follow it can help things go more quickly. However today I was victorious in my personal battle like never before. I was out of Superstore with a $313.00 bill (and not spent on diapers if you know what I mean) in an hour. The store was busy but not crazy and I was underwhelmed enough that I could think somewhat clearly and my eyes were not blurred by tears. I even stopped in the egg aisle and helped an elderly lady who needed some eggs. I opened up the cooler door and yelled repeatedly until a nice young man came and assisted us. I would have climbed through the cooler into the back of the store to help myself if need be. That is how totally capable I was feeling today. I have never yelled through a cooler into the back of the store before and it might sound like I was being rude but I totally wasn't. When I got into my van I was shocked to see the time. I don't even know how it was humanly possible. We drove home and unloaded the van and I made sure my husband applauded my valor and super powers. When I was a teenager and trying my best to get straight A's in highschool little did I know that one of my biggest battles and therefore victories in life would be conquering Superstore.  I am glad I had no clue because I think I might have just given up right then and there. It is a weekly battle though and one that I seem to be winning more and more. The fridge is stocked now (and that seems to last less than a week these days...with seven people to feed!!!!!) and so onwards and upwards I go. Happy Sunday ~ I hope wherever you are and whatever you do you feel like you are winning your battles be they large or small!