Though there have been few posts as of late, I have been spending some time updating this blog. There are new pictures on the banner, a new photo gallery (click on “Photos” in the bar above), and some new edits on some of the pages on this site. There is still more I would like to do, but like ironing my husband’s dress shirts, these things take time.
So, I have come up with a question to keep you all writing for me in the next day or so, while I catch up! Seriously, though, here is something I still can’t figure out, and I’d appreciate your advice!
When you come home with a car load of groceries and a toddler (or toddlers) in the car seat, which do you unload first? Do you leave your kid strapped in the car (and do you leave it running or turn it off?) while you take the groceries in, or do you take your kid in first and occupy them safely and then unload? Right now I leave Kenny in the running car and take the groceries in, then get him and occupy him with something while I put them away. This is a tricky one, though, because here in Arizona, we have an attached garage, and in Maryland, our garage is detached and up the hill from the house – you can’t see into one from the other. I never quite know what to do, short of carrying Kenny with me back and forth as I carry bags with the other hand. A good workout, yes, but a really tedious task.
So there it is, Mommies. Help!
Comments
9 responses to “Good Housekeeping”
What a precious picture! I miss my Kenny-boo so much!!! Only a few more weeks! About the groceries… I was always nervous about someone stealing my car with my kids in it, so I always brought/bring them in first. You could put him in his room with toys and the door closed for alone time. Even if he screams and bangs down the door, he is learning about alone time, which they definitely need once they stop napping. It is always a tricky one… I’m sure you will get some great advice!
i always bring my son in with me first for the same reason as kimmie. my son is only 8 months old though, so, i just put him in his exersaucer or high chair, where i know he’s safe, even if he’s not happy. i guess you can’t do that when they’re older… the alone time idea sounds good though, i think i’ll have to take up that advice when it comes time.
When Ben was little – a century ago – we had 21 steps. I held him in one arm and carried groceries, laundry, etc. in the other. Eventually I had carpal tunnel syndrome 😯 Since you have two one story homes, why not get a child’s grocery cart and let Kenny carry groceries back and forth from the car with you? It may take longer, but you will know where he is and what he is doing – and he can help mom.
Our driveway is on the side of the house. I can’t see the car from inside the house so I try to minimize the time that they are in the car and I am inside. I do it in stages. First I get all the groceries out of the car onto the sidewalk with the little ones still buckled in. Then I let them out (Chloe is still in the carrier so I can set her out on the sidewalk-I’m not sure yet what I’ll do when she moves to the other carseat) and take the groceries just inside the door. Sometimes the kids stay outside and run around and sometimes they come inside and sometimes they go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth with me. Then we all go in and the real unloading begins. This works best for us.
When Claire was a baby we lived in a third floor apartment. When she was in the carrier, I would grab as many bags as I could carry and still make it up the stairs (I often left a few on the second story landing) and then I’d lock her inside the house in her carseat and run to get the rest of the stuff. Once she was out of the carrier I waited until the weekend to shop as much as possible so I could have Jeff with me or go alone.
The new pictures are so cute… I don’t know what I’ll do when Laiq is older, but for now, I bring him in first, set him down in his jumper, and then run back out to the car. Of course, if it’s only a few bags, I just hold him and carry all the stuff too. Thanks by the way, for your comment on my blog… I was so flattered that you visited. I was on cloud 9 for days! My friends refer to you as my blogging idol because I absolutely love your blog.
I like the pictures! This is real familiar! Right now, Joshua is almost 15 months old. I leave the van running with him still strapped in and I see how fast I can take my groceries in. We have a small house and a carport. So I can see really well. It’s easy to work with. When he was younger, I’d take him in and put him in the exercauser. But he walks really well and he loves to go to the door. I don’t need him that close to the door and steps (going down). (The same steps I use to bring in the groceries.)
Kenny is getting so big! What a cutie!
Since our dock is over 300 feet long, there is no way I could leave my “angels” in the SUV while I unloaded. I use 2 carts — one is “the chariot” for the kids, the other is a regular marina cart. While the kids are still strapped in, I unload everything into the marina cart, separating the cold stuff. I huff it down the dock, kids in front. I alternate the arms I drag the cart behind so not to place too much stress on the old back. Then, I get the kids in, usually grabbing a few of the freezer things (unless it’s cold outside). We wash hands and I sit the kids down for a little snack. They munch while I bring in the rest. There is only one way on/off boat, so it’s pretty safe…
Aren’t you glad you asked… 8)
Kimberly… you were born in the wrong era… you could have been a pioneer! And yes, I’m glad I asked. 🙂
i am with you on this question. i used to leave eiley in the car, however, now she realizes we are home and wants to get out, so i bring her inside and get her playing with something while i unload the rest, but when you can’t see you house from the car, that gets tricky. maybe by the time you are back up north kenny will be so big and strong and helpful the two of you will carry the load in one fell swoop….one can hope can’t we? =) – svea