Those of you who have kids or work with young children are probably familiar with Laura Numeroff’s popular If You Give a Mouse a Cookie picture book series. “If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give him the milk, he’ll probably ask you for a straw. . .” The book continues on to describe the needs of this high-maintenance little mouse.
Yesterday, I planned to spend part of the afternoon going to the grocery store and then running in to IKEA to get a curtain rod for the curtains I bought for Big Brother’s room earlier in the week. I invited BB to go with me, because he loves IKEA and usually likes grocery shopping as well. He agreed to go. He also had some Easter/birthday/tooth fairy money burning a hole in his pocket. So here is what I learned yesterday:
If you give a kid some money, he’s going to want to go to the store with you.
If you take him to the store with you, he’ll want to look at the toys.
If he looks at the toys, he’ll want to buy one.
If he has to buy the toy with his own money, he’ll spend forever deciding which to purchase.
If he spends a long time looking at the toys, he’ll ask you for a donut because he’s hungry.
If you buy him a donut, he’ll need a drink.
If you get him a drink, he’ll have to rush to the bathroom later.
If you take him to his favorite store, he’ll want to go to the children’s “drop-off” play area.
If you take him to the drop-off play area, he’ll ask you to stay away until the very minute you’re required to retrieve him. (60 minute limit)
If you stay away until the very minute you’re required to retrieve him, he’ll be hungry for dinner.
If you eat at the favorite store’s cafe, he’ll want to play in the play area there, too.
And on and on. This is why two errands that, had I gone alone, would have taken 3 hours max (including travel time) took 5.5 hours! I didn’t mind – I knew we’d be a while, and I really enjoy taking him with me – but I was a little surprised when we left at 2:45 and returned at 8:15! I think hubby was surprised too.
Book Mama 
Why is BB wearing a long sleeve shirt and long pants? Oh, that’s right – it’s Michigan – duh, silly me. Got up to 85 degrees today – no need for us to wear long sleeves and/or long pants. Hope to be home by Mother’s Day.
That’s pretty funny. Did he ever find a toy? LOL Looks like he had a great day running errands!
Truly clever Book Mama. Fun post. Sounds like you had a great time with BB.
I wish I could say the same thing about my trip to Lowes & Walmart with Dan and the girls. It was horrendous. Just pure torture. I won’t go into details, but they were so bad that even strangers came up to me to offer sympathy, no kidding.
I need the Super Nanny to come to my house. I even resorted to asking this hulking stock clerk to tell them to stop standing in the cart. What did he do? He sweetly said “Girls, you need to sit down please” in a sugary tone. I wanted him to scare them, didn’t work out 🙂
No more family retail outings, that’s for sure. I think I even have more gray hairs because of it.
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in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Fantastic read!
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