Today I planned on hitting Walmart and getting some Halloween decorations for 50% off (or more). I also needed ink and paper so I can print off a draft of my book and mail it to my editor. While I was at it, I figured I'd get groceries.
I had a blast in the clearance section. Got cute little ghosts and glittery skeletons, window decor, fun things for next year. The ink and paper section, not quite so exciting, but very necessary.
Then the food. :::Sigh::: If you ever go grocery shopping with children, you know why I'm sighing. We manage to make it through the whole ordeal without repeating any aisles, which is a BIG DEAL.
Of course, Little Tiny goes nuts around the time we get to the check out line. I smile at everyone around us, ignore my screaming child, and start putting groceries on the belt. My children start taking their shoes off and hitting each other. I discretely threaten them.
The cashier points out to me that I grabbed the wrong size milk for my WIC coupon. Big surprise. Grrr! No matter how hard I try, I always get the milk wrong. Either the wrong brand, the wrong size, or the wrong percentage! I smiled politely and asked the bagger to go and exchange the milk for me. He walks around my screaming children, who are lunging at the candy aisle.
While she's ringing that up, I start digging through my purse for my debit card. After all, I had other things to buy.
Can't find my debit card.
I don't carry any other form of money on me. No check book, no cash.
I can feel the beads of sweat collecting on my forehead. My hands shake and my frustration mounts. I remove everything from my purse and start shifting through the business and membership cards. Where is that debit card??? I remember the last time I used it, and I know I put it back.
Which leaves only one culprit. And he was very out of reach at the moment, which was probably very good for him.
I pull out a $30 check my dad wrote me. "You cash checks here, right?"
"Right," she says.
I sign my check and hand it over, wiping my forehead.
"Oh. It has to be a paycheck or government issued. No personal checks."
Well, I wish she would've told me that in the first place!
Seriously, I would've just put it all back, except I really needed the paper and ink. And bagger dude hadn't come back with my milk yet, anyway.
Luckily I had a paycheck in my purse. Cost me $6 to cash it at Walmart, but I bought what I needed. And a bag of M&Ms to hush my shrieking children. I know, horrible mom! The day after Halloween and I'm bribing them with MORE CANDY!
I could care less. The line behind me was enormous. I took my hard-earned cash, my quart of milk, my Halloween decorations and paper and ink, and I high-tailed it out of there.
Hobby Lobby will have to wait until tomorrow. Now that I have my debit card back.
15 comments:
Children and shopping--two things that don't mesh well. I love debit cards. They are the only way to shop with children. Corraling the toddler with my knees while I write a check is a thing of the past now.
Man, I know how that feels! One time I too forgot my debit card. I did not have any money at all. I had to leave everything there and drive home. Hubby had taken it and forgot to put it back in my wallet. I wanted to kill him as soon as I got home, as I found him there on the couch watching football, and he asks: "Where are my almonds?" He likes to snack on almonds while watching the game. I went to the refrigerator, grabbed a carrot and threw it at him.
ah ha ha ha! Kate, so very glad that I don't have to whip out a check anymore!
LMJ--when I called DH he was busy driving around, and all I got out was, "I can't find my debit card." And he said, "OH, I have it. Gotta go. Call you later." I didn't even get to vent at him. Sigh.
You handled that like a champ! Never let um see you sweat.
Happy writing!
Oh man. That would've gotten me all worked up. You thought quickly under pressure though. And what a coincidence that you happened to have your paycheck on you. Seriously, can you imagine having gone through all that to have come home empty-handed. The debit card thief would've been in even bigger trouble.
Kasie--Seriously, how lucky I had my paycheck on me!!! I think from now on I'll need to put one check in my purse. Just in case I need it.
Oh, Tamara, that just sounded torcherous to me! Kids in WalMart, candy/decoration sale, having Hobby Lobby next on the list. You're a trooper! I definitely would be tracking down the debit card thief! I'm glad you didn't leave empty-handed.
Oh boy! WalMart is difficult any day of the week but with children and a missing debit card? That's a major stress day in my book. I laughed when you said "discretely threaten" your children. Been there before!
your shopping experience sounds like something out of my nightmares. I get so stressed if I'm shopping and Gwen get's fussy. I think I would start crying if I couldn't find my debit card on top of the boys fighting and trying to make a break for the candy and the wrong milk... oh man, you probably needed icecream after that experience. Or a nap.
Oh Tamara!! lol I bet that culprit got a bit of your mind later? I'm so not ready for those days when the li'le ones act up in the grocery store and there's nothing you can do about it...except smile at the other people around you! I congratulate you! At least you didn't have to put it all back...
You are my hero Tamara. I love reading your blog. I wish that we lived near each other.
Me again. I just checked google maps and we are only 16.5 hours away from each other. That could be managed in one weekend, right? What's 1000 miles?
Dianna: girl, you mean you actually read my blog?? I'm honored!
I would love to see you. I plan on doing some serious travelling someday. I know Kelly would love to see you too. She always asks about you.
My blog reading has gone way down with the new baby. Posting comments is even more rare. Three in one post... well...
Wow! I'll consider myself lucky!
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