Grocery shopping on it’s own is not a bad gig. But throw in a cart full of toddlers and a shopping list that is going to put a $200 dent in your bank account, and things get a bit unpleasant. Then you walk in the door and run into these 5 incredible souls.
The person spending 15 minutes to choose a gallon of milk – Not even the specialty milk, just regular old milk. If it was the specialty section of the store I’d understand. I too, am still wondering how they found a way to milk almonds, remove the lactose from milk or why any one would feel the need to drink liquid rice “milk”. However, the people I’m talking about always stand in front of the regular milk that comes straight from a cow. Staring down the options from fat free to whole milk. Come on, there are literally only 4 options. The same 4 as always. What could possibly take so long to pick and why in the name of everything that is delicious would you park your entire cart in front of the milk display making those of us who just want a gallon of whole milk have to wait while you stare into the depths of the refrigerated displays.
The dad who gave his wife the morning off and totally doesn’t understand grocery store etiquette – First off, kudos to these gents, I’m always impressed that they are wrangling the kids and getting groceries. Few things in life are more attractive. But wow. It’s clear when they aren’t accustomed to grocery store shopping because they don’t follow any of the unspoken rules of grocery store etiquette. My husband and I have discussed them at length, but he still doesn’t quite grasp all the rules that I was under the impression were common knowledge.
The facebooker – Yep, I get it, sometimes grocery shopping totally counts as a mini vacation for parents. But please don’t use up precious produce-section isle space to check your Facebook account from your phone. Those unrealistic photos of all your friends will still be there in 15 minutes when you are standing in line to pay for your food.
The traffic jam – Somehow, magically this person runs into another friend. Perhaps they haven’t seen each other for years, maybe they saw each other last night but either way they deem their encounter important enough to double park their carts down the bread isle and keep other patrons from shopping until they finish their rousing conversation about recent life developments. Amazingly never breaking eye contact with one another to notice every one else in the store glaring at them.
Lastly, there’s the mom with the screaming toddler – Yep, as much as I might be annoyed by the people I meet in the grocery store, I’m sure they are just as irritated by me and my children. I am totally that mom with the crying kids, or even the happy kids that just happen to be obnoxiously loud. But in my defense…if every one else didn’t spend 35 years to pick out their groceries, I could probably get in and out without a toddler meltdown (It’s what I like to tell myself anyway).
Have you met these people? How many shop at your local grocery store?
Randi says
Ha! I’m also the one with the screaming toddler, and I’m also usually the one wishing everyone else would just get it together.
This isn’t the minors, people! Grab your items, don’t block the aisle, and keep your “I’m going to pay in pennoes” out of the express lane.
The only person from the is list is the stranger who decided to be you or your child’s best friend. Ain’t no one got time for that.
Polly says
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