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I used to love going grocery shopping. I remember in high school it was one chore my mom happily let me have and I’m thankful for the practice it gave me in list making, planning, and price shopping. My favorite days to shop were rainy and grey at mid-morning, dressed in comfortable jeans, a long-sleeved knit shirt, and a raincoat. Not many chances for that in sunny Florida but now and then it did occur.

Fast forward a few years and it became something I dreaded almost as badly as dental work. Well, maybe not that bad! But close. Shopping with four young children is hellacious. The stupid stores place all kinds of obstacles that the average single shopper probably doesn’t recognize as hazards to sanity, but they are there.

Take, for instance, the coupon dispensers placed up and down the aisles. To young kids with active imaginations these are “play money” that magically spit into thier hands with a flashing, beeping button. They look like child’s toys. If you ever get a cart that is full of these, crumpled in the bottom, say a prayer for the mother who used that cart last. She’s probably crying with exhaustion.

Or, consider the cardboard displays stuck at an angle, making the store’s boast of thier “wide aisles” seem laughable. Try manuevering a cart, with a reaching toddler, two olders on either side and a five year old at the helm trying to “help” steer and see how few you can manage not to hit. Don’t forget there’s an older person contemplating which brand of basil to try for several minutes. Or that the lady in the powersuit dashing in for a cart full of processed suppers in 3 mintues flat is glaring at you and ignoring your “exuse me” and wane smile. Come within inches of her and she may growl.

And that’s in the middle of August, months away from the holidays. That’s a whole ‘nother ballgame. Dont’ forget the bright lights, germy “quarter games”, and bright colors that all aggravate hyperactivity. Compounded with the need for concentration, attention to a budget and avoiding impulse buys, and it’s enough to make any woman weep.

Which brings me to…anyone wanting to consider “volunteering my time” as a new year’s resolution would be a saint to offer to a young mother babysitting for the time it takes her to do her grocery shopping.

In my world, relief has come in a different form. With this move, we now live practically across the street from a well-kept, 24 hour Kroger. I can now head to the store quite painlessly right after I’ve put the baby to bed. Or early in the morning when David is still home but the kids aren’t up yet. Or in the middle of the night when I’m still up but everyone else has been down for hours.

Grocery shopping has become my favorite chore again. And it’s different this time…much different.

I now shop with cash. I’ve resisted the whole cash thing because my undisciplined self tends to loose clumps of it in impulsive, untracked ways. I do a pretty good job of sticking to my budget with my debit card and that’s been my defense for several years. But “pretty good” doesn’t count any more. We’ve had a hard time getting the momentum going on our Dave Ramsey plan and “going cash only” is the recommendation. So last week was my first time.

It takes a HUGE amount of concentration. Nix the kids hanging off the cart and the entire above scenario. The first week, I took an extra forty dollars and was still so scared I wouldn’t have enough at the counter that my palms were sweaty and I nearly peed my pants. I was fine though…came in several dollars UNDER budget! I faithfully stuck my change in the “food” envelope for mid-week milk runs and felt myself burst with pride. Real progress!

Last night, after a long day’s work and a draining emotional upset, I headed out alone. Peace, quiet. I took David’s “grown up” car. It was dark and still; we’d had a gorgeous psuedo-spring day and it was quite warm. I had the house windows open all day and I rolled down the car window on my short drive to the store. Wind. Air. Relief.

The store was almost vacant. I had ample quietness and peace to stick to my meal plan and grocery list. Even found a few extras for tea time with the kids. Paid with cash and realized with glee that I am now sucessfully spending less on food than I did ten years ago, when it was just the two of us! And my cup runneth over…we had good produce, veggies, fish, cheese, cheese, and more cheese, and all good things.

Changing my mindset to eating seasonally has made a huge difference. Careful meal and menu planning is even more important. Maybe I’ll even don a raincoat one of these days and sing along to the piped in music….

Our little hen is in her room writing a song. I”m not sure of the name but the words go like this, “I’m getting better and better as I get older and I’ll keep on going ’till the sun goes down”.

Me too girlfriend. Me too.

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