I can't do this anymore... grrrrr (vent)

[loving-my-babies]

I can't go out shopping with my 2 kids... it's impossible.
I just came back from the mall, and I you would laugh if you would see me right now, I am trying to hold my 2 kids (one 3 the other 3 months), diaper bags, purses, shopping bags, strollers, carseats... no. it's impossible
It's terribly hot here so I am sweaty, uncomfortable and even though I got some shopping done, it was between changing ds's diaper (he happened to have his first "exploting" poopy diaper today, no, he can't have that one at home, just when I'm out and have no extra clothes for him)
Am I bound to have a shop-less life? I can't go out with my kids alone anymore...

Does it get easier?

How do I handle 2 kids when going out?

To make matters worse, when I parked, right outside my door, there's a banana peel on the floor... I slipped and fell on my butt! ouch!

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

It does get easier as you get more used to doing it. I found it helped to simplify what I carried. My wallet & cell phone go into 1 lg. diaper bag. Everything else in my purse I've found I can live without. By 3 he wouldn't use a stroller, so I only had the one. But I drove, maybe you are walking and/or using public transport, which would make it much harder. I don't bring the carseats in and out -- they pretty much live in the car. Also, in the car I carry an "emergency kid kit" of backup clothes, large first aid kit, water bottles, juice boxes, snacks, diapers, wipes, sand toys, and a blanket suitable for putting down on the ground. Some of these things are duplicated in the diaper bag, but not all of them. If I have them in the car, I don't have to worry about treking them in and out.

But mostly it takes practice and it really does get easier -- I promise!

[jeca]

well, I go out with three kids sometimes four when I have my neighbors daughter. pack as light as possible for one. Do you use a sling or carrier? that REALLY helps me. it does get a little easier once you get the habg of it. Keep everything you may need in ONE bag. my daiper nag is my purse and I keep my wallet, cell and keys in the front part. if you never used a sling or carrier just try one, you may be surprised how much easier it makes things.

[brusselsprout]

It does get easier!! I can even take all three of mine to the Mall now (as long as we trade....1 store for me one for them)


I found a really cute messenger style bag for less than $12 at Target, all my stuff fits in the front and I keep the kids stuff in the big pocket. I keep spare clothes in my car. We start out the trip with Oobi (2.5) in the stroller and Boo (9months) in a sling or carrier. I can hang my diaper bag on the back of the stroller. I keep a spare sling in the bottom of the stroller. Sometimes Boo rides in the stroller for awhile while I sling Oobi, sometimes I sling them both and the diaperbag or shopping bags ride in front I actually have started doing this even when I am not walking a long ways...into the coffee shop or movie theatre etc (and yes I do take all three of them to the movies by myself) because it is so much easier to keep everything together and I KNOW I am not going to feel like I am about to drop the baby by the time we get to the car

[mamaduck]

Oh NO! I do not go shopping alone with both my kids. And they are older than yours! I just do NOT do it. I consider it a logistical impossibility. If I absolutely *must* go into the grocery store for a gallon of milk than I just might coax them both into cooperating. But ALL other shopping trips occur when either my husband is with us, my mother is with us, or when one of my older child is in school and I only have to take the younger one, or when DH is home and I only take the older one.

Too many times, the whole experience has gone sour and we've all come home miserable.

[Frazzled Mama]

Like the mastercard commercial. "Shopping without your kids.....priceless"

I much prefer going solo. I go in, do my thing and get out!

[Lisalee2]

Shopping with 2 or more definitely takes some getting used to. I try to keep my car stocked with diapers & wipes. I hardly ever have to change a dipe while we're out running errands though so it really isn't an issue for us. I keep our trips short and no more than 2 stops.

Of course, having someone watch dd while I shop with ds is much easier on all of us. I rarely shop alone though.

[Fleurette]

Oh boy, do I know how you're feeling! The first time I went out with my three (22 months at the time and 3 month old twins), I thought I was going to die! It was really tough, but we muddled through. It does get easier; really it does. It takes practice, some patience and little good luck to boot.

Hang in there; before you know it, you'll be an old pro!

[hippiemom2]

I use the 1-2-3 magic system and getting to go shopping is one of their "rewards". Typically they both don't get enough stars on their charts for me to take them both so it is a little easier with just one.

But, I can totally understand the frustration. Mine are 5 and 3 and they still get so excited whenever we go into a store. It is as though their little consumerism switch has been pulled and they suddenly want every single thing in the store. They pull things off of the shelves, yell, run, jump, and fight with each other. I don't take them if I can help it.

I hope it does get easier. I keep waiting....

Peace,
Shelbi

[BusyMommy]

I'm sorry-I promise I only laughed for a second about the banana.

I actually love shopping w/the kids. They have such a blast. But...maybe I'm meanmeanmean. My little one is always in the backpack unless there's a double cart or no cart; ie. the mall. You could sling or Bjorn. My 3 y.o. is always in the cart or told to stay right next to Mommy. I borrowed a trick from my dh--NO diaper bag! I fold up a diaper and put a couple of wipes in a teeny sandwhich bag and shove them in a pocket or a backpack pocket.

I always keep extra clothes in the car--use a lingerie bag for that just to keep it orderly. But at that exploding stage, I would prob. just bring an extra one piece in the pocket.

At the grocery store, I hand it to my little guy and he hands it to his brother standing in the back of the cart. They have their "jobs."

I have never had toleave, but I know lots of moms who've had to just walk out to make it clear to their kids that no playing rough will be allowed.

+ you could bribe them w/the free cookie most stores offer. I don't but think it's a great idea.

Good luck!!!

[loving-my-babies]

thanks for all your advice, ladies!

I truly hope it gets easier with time... I don't see myself having a shop-less life!

busymommy- it's ok, I even laughed when it happened. When I told my dh he couldn't stopped laughing. Meanwhile, my butt still hurts and today we're staying at home, I just can't handle two days in a row of all that crazyness! we're waiting for daddy to come home and then he'll head out for some air... luckily where i live we have beautiful gardens and a pool so I do have places to go when I just don't feel like going too far.

Thanks, again!