kids and shopping carts don't mix!

Not to be judgmental, but I think lazy moms allow their children to do whatever they want to in public, as long as the parent is not bothered. I was shopping when a small child pushing her younger sibling around in a stroller, nearly nailed my shins. NO mom in sight, of course. "Where's your mother?" I protested, loudly enough to be heard. A harried mom appeared, but hustled her children away without an apology. I bet her kids will raise their kids the same way.

As a tired mother of one boisterous three year old boy it's easy for me to relate to mothers that cannot be bothered to keep a check on their children and let them run riot. However, I cannot afford to let this happen in my case not only for the safey of other shoppers but also that of my own child. As parents we have a duty to watch our kids at all times and I find it esier for all concerned to stick my sprog seated in the shopping cart even if this means showering him with all manor of goodies to keep him occupied during a tedious, (for all) shopping trip. This way I know where he is at all times and aside from the odd loud toddler noise eminating from my child's mouth - he is not bothersome to fellow shoppers.

My son always wants to push the cart when we go to the grocery store, but I won't let him because he isn't tall enough yet. Now, my daughter on the other hand, is now seven years old and I will let her push the cart because she is big enough to see over it and she doesn't push it around like a crazy woman. I think that ultimately children learn from their parent's examples and because of the fact that she's seen me be a courteous person at the store, then she is the same way as well.

All children love to copy mummy and my daughter is no different though I never let her push the trolley or pushchair in busy places such as supermarkets as she is only two and taking your eyes of them for a second at that age could mean another person getting hurt and I dont feel that is right. I know accidents do happen and a lot of people are very understanding after an appoligy though Id rather avoid these situations altogether and only let my daughter push the buggy in a wide space with less people around and ALWAYS keep my eye on her. I hate it when children are completely left to their own devices and the parent vanishes - do they not realise that it isnt just the safety of other people that is involved but the safety of their own children too! And not even offering an appoligy is awful! I was in a situation a few weeks back where a little boy started hurting my daughter and the mum was no where in sight until she came over 5 minutes later and yelled at me for saying it wasnt very nice to hit my daughter - and then stormed off again without even an appoiligy to my daughter. Unfortunately parents like this pass on their bad habits to their children so our legs in supermarkets will never be safe :(