Toddler Insurance... if it only existed!

I feel as though every time I walk in somewhere with my toddlers I should just hand my credit card over to the cashier as collateral. I can't stay long without it costing me a bundle.

For instance, today I went to Starbucks with some mommy friends after our Stroller Strides workout. It wasn't long before my two boys had finished their popcorn snack and drank their chocolate milk and were beginning to wander the store amusing themselves with anything at their peculiarly inconvenient toddler eye level... Water bottles, popcorn snack bags, anything in the snack and drink cooler! Those are considered the "safe" stuff; I got really concerned when they started perusing the cup aisle and wanting to get their little mitts on the coffee cup collection! Immediately, I thought... "I better get out of here before this simple coffee date ends up costing me a lot more than a cup of joe."

If only we could purchase toddler insurance for wherever we went; then we could actually sit down and enjoy that $5 coffee because we know were "covered" for anything our little one's hands seem to mishandle. Or if we could just have a slew of toddler proofed places for us to go and enjoy some mommy chat.

Another time I had gone into a Sub shop to get some sammies and... Oh my lord was that a hoot! The chip aisle right smack at toddler eye level was like a sensory bin that little hands could not resist. They loved grabbing those bite size bags off the shelves one by one and tossing them around. What a glorious crinkly sound they made... music to their ears! They ran around the store laughing and hollering pulling those bags off the shelves as I scurried after them putting them back on the shelf saying, "stop that, don't touch that etc. etc." I finally told the sandwich maker to just put whatever on the sandwiches as I played ground control. I couldn't help but bust when the clerk said, "Will that be here or to-go?" Me: "What do you think!"

Poor customers who got their chips after we left because I'm sure they were a little more crumbly than desired. You can't help but laugh in these situations. I think I was the one most embarrassed. Everyone in the stores always thinks the kids are so cute. Today a lady told me as I left the Starbucks, that I was doing a great job! It's people like that and comments like that that make each day easier when sometimes it feels like you are in toddler hell and can't enjoy one second to yourself.

Lesson of today: Laugh and remember these times because you'll laugh even harder when you're looking back at it!