We are going to Trader Joe’s and our red flyer wagon catches my eye. Hmm I wonder if that would be fun to pull the kids in? During our summer trips to SoCal, we had carted our little ones to various playgrounds, Legoland and the beach in this spectacular vehicle. It brought back so many fond memories.
Before I put action to this creative inspiration, my rational brain protests. Whoah… wait a minute! They have shopping carts at Trader Joe’s! Shopping carts are for shopping! They even designed it so geniusly that the kid can sit nicely separated from all the groceries. I mean are you going to put the kids with the groceries? You know how kids like to touch EVERYTHING.
I could hear the eye roll in this impeccable logic. And indeed my 2 year-old is notorious for poking holes in food packaging with her curious chubby fingers.
Normally I would agree with such reasoning. After all, my rational brain is just so smart. It’s done a great job at protecting me from worst case scenarios. But today I find myself putting the red flyer wagon in the car trunk.
But did you think about this?? My rational brain keeps talking. Raw meat! How are you going to put the raw meat with the children? Come on, salmonella?!?
I briefly give in to the stern caution and consider scrapping the idea. Visions of raw chicken guts and juices gushing out all over the wagon and my precious children unpleasantly fill my head. It’s a nice idea but I guess I didn’t think it through. Noticing my hesitation, Raema said, “Let’s try it, Mommy.” I laugh and reassure myself. It’s going to be ok.
On the drive over to Trader Joe’s, I problem solve the salmonella issue. Oh, I can just pick up the chicken last and carry it to the checkout myself so the kids don’t play with raw chicken. That would do it!
We arrive in the parking lot and the naysayer speaks again. Oh my gosh! What are the people going to think? Who uses a wagon to shop for groceries? They give you shopping carts for a reason! Is it even practical for the cashier? Have you thought about that?
By this time, I decided that this is a new path for me. I needed to change the way I’ve made my decisions. Will I let the voices of fear, practicality, efficiency always dictate my life or can I simply try something new today because I freakin’ feel like it? It may not be convenient but maybe just maybe it would be fun. And if it’s not, maybe just maybe I’ll be glad I tried.
Into Trader Joe’s I go with two happy kids in their red flyer wagon. A new sense of adventure follow us, a bounce in our steps. The kids are unusually well behaved, enjoying the special-ness of the occasion. We fill up the wagon and try the samples. The groceries intermingle with the kids just fine. No mishaps happen. I pick up the raw meat last.
We pull up to the friendly cashier who is clearly impressed with the red flyer wagon. I have to admit my two adorable cherub-like kids in the red wagon is a cute and unconventional spectacle. Perhaps it even brightens up his day. At least it’s a great conversation starter.
He asks if I like the wagon saying that he wants to get one for himself. I ask if he has small kids and he says that his wife can just pull him around the house in it. We laugh.
Checkout is a breeze. My little helpers hand the groceries to the cashier. Everyone is happy.
Surprisingly, the red flyer wagon excursion is a delightful success. Despite all the things that could go wrong, they don’t. I probably won’t do this every time I go to Trader Joe’s and perhaps the inspiration never strikes me again. But isn’t it nice to just do something new for a change? Break out of the routine. Choose a new path. Give new data to my brain. Forge a life full of adventure and possibilities one small step at a time.