I went to the convenient store with my two toddlers (1 and 3). I live in Japan’s countryside, so there’s not much of a convenience store and during rush hours, it’s a living hell. I always try to go there before or after the busy times.
I enter the convenience store with my double stroller when my 3-year-old slipped from his seat and saw the working people (he liked a full-time worker there). The lady was busy filling up the place, and they just received their products, so boxes were all over the place.
I told my toddler to sit on the stroller after he finished his greetings.
He obviously didn’t listen and started to run away from me when I tried to put him back in the stroller. He was tripping on the boxes and messed up everything! I was so embarrassed. My movements were limited because I also had my 1-year-old with me, and he knew it.
I stopped chasing him to clean up a little bit and do my shopping. During this time, my toddler picked a bunch of sweets and chips and put them in the basket. *Face palm* After I said we eat lunch, not snacks, I put the items back, but with all this, five customers came.
I needed to hurry up before more people came.
I caught LO and tied him in the stroller, went to the cash. LO untied himself, slipped out of the stroller, and started to bring stuff to the cash. The lady scanned stuff that he brought; there were now about twenty persons in the convenience store, people were waiting to pay, and a worker started to pass the vacuum because of the previous mess.
Stress up, patience down. My toddler kept bringing stuff, and there was a bunch of items I don’t know which one the cashier scanned because my attention was on my toddler. I told the girl to stop scanning! My toddler started to run away from me again, but I needed to complete my transaction.
People behind me looked at me with impatience (they are mostly workers on their lunch break). I paid, and tried to grab my toddler, but just before leaving, he went and got a cake and threw it at his sister and smashed it.
And then I lost it. “AAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHTTTTT! SIT DOWN!!” I had to wait in line again to buy the cake, and everybody was looking at me. My toddler was sitting finally, and I left the store in a walk of shame….and $26 of useless sh*t.
I had to isolate myself at home because I have no patience left. They play in the playroom, and I’m waiting to calm down before going back. I feel already better writing all this. I’m literally shaking. I was so pissed off!
Conclusion
In a dramatic finale, a smashed cake and a public meltdown marked the end of this grocery mission. The mother, defeated and embarrassed, left the store with a hefty bill and a broken spirit, proving that sometimes, the smallest humans cause the biggest storms. You’ll have to read to find out if she ever dares to enter a convenience store again.
Here’s how people reacted:
My son is 13m and not only walks but runs, so I have to be very careful who’s house we go to. No one seems to get why we don’t visit everyone ( bc my kid will break and try to eat everything below hip level 😒)
I broke and bought a leash backpack for vacation last month.
Hang in there! Just have to “Sumimasen” your way through and not make eye contact!