My little lady and I....

So yesterday I had my first experience shopping alone with my 10 month old daughter.

After a few hours in Cavendish Square I was seriously exhausted!

Because I work full-time nearly all of shopping trips are done by myself in Canal Walk during my lunch hour. I seldom push a pram or go out alone with my daughter. I have to be honest, after the pram was set-up and we were ready to go and we started walking towards the mall it really felt awkward. I was even wondering whether people noticed that I felt awkward. I couldn't understand it, I've been a mother for almost a year already and prior to this I had sufficient time to prepare for motherhood. Perhaps it's something only a working mom can experience. We don't do midweek trips to the grocery store, don't go bargain hunting, don't go gallivanting anywhere alone (just mother and child) other than over the weekends but then the father/husband is always around to assist. So my first solo mother-daughter, shopping experience while my husband was at a meeting nearby was uhm uhm...different and slightly not fun :(

Let me give you some keywords/phrases to describe it:

• I couldn't stop for longer than a few minutes to look at anything, I always had to keep moving with her in the pram
• She kept taking her shoes AND then her socks off
• I picked out an outfit that I REALLY REALLY wanted to try on but after less than 60 seconds in the fitting room queue I had to reverse and put the outfit back on the rail as "someone" didn't want to wait in the queue with me. Mind you, I think perhaps she saved me a lot of energy as I was wondering how I was going to pull off trying on clothes in the tiny fitting room with her and a pram.... hehehehe
  
• As we were walking she was strengthening her vocal cords (shouting) and waving her arms and kicking her feet like a lunatic. It amused passers-by but it was still embarrassing (but kinda cute also)
• After nearly an hour (it felt more like 10) I sensed a bit of unhappiness so I "pulled to the side" and parked by a bench in front of Edgars so that I could feed the little munchkin.
• In between all of the above and more we had to take several lifts as that is the only way to get from floor to floor with a pram. And with lifts being out of order, queues for the lift, small claustrophobic lifts, smelly people in the lift etc etc Farah also now decided she hates lifts and that she is going to cry every time she gets in one.

So that was my experience shopping with my little lady all by myself, thankfully after an eternity (and hour and a half) her Dad came to the rescue and relieved me of my turmoil.

So here are my top tips for going shopping with children.... DON'T!

Just kidding, I did some research and here are some real tips:

• Shopping with an infant will be far easier if the trip is made after they are rested and have been fed. Babies and small children can become dehydrated in the dry air of shopping malls, so be sure to take frequent nursing or juice breaks.
• Babies are almost always happier when carried. A sling or carrier worn by the parent provides far more comfort and emotional security than a stroller or grocery cart. A small child-proof toy can help a baby to cope with the inevitably lessened attention from the parent, but remember to stop as often as possible and take a moment for gentle words, eye contact, and hugs.
• Shopping just before dinner, when stores are crowded, and parents and children are tired and hungry, can be very stressful. Try shopping in the morning or early afternoon on weekdays, or move dinner up and shop during the quiet early-evening time between 6 and 7 PM. When we can avoid the stress of crowded stores and long check-out lines, we can have more energy and creativity for responding to our child's needs.
• If you reach the limit of your patience and energy, try to show by example positive ways of handling anger and fatigue. You might try saying, "I'm starting to lose my patience. I think I need a break from shopping for a bit. Let's go outside for a few minutes so we can both get refreshed." Even a few moments of fresh air away from the crowds can make a big difference for both parent and child.
• If, after trying some of the above suggestions, your children have simply reached the end of their ability to handle any more errands, please respect that. Shopping can wait; an exhausted, hungry, or overly-excited child cannot

You can learn many things from children.

How much patience you have, for instance.
~ Franklin P. Jones