Super shopping powers emerge

I am proud to report that I took four children under the age of four on a shopping trip to Ikea( which is two hours away) and I lived to tell about it. What is the trick? I wish I knew. I had to get the shopping trip finished, I had to go alone. I think that there was a lot of mind over matter. Mainly my mind over their matter.

I have found that when children are challenged, they will rise to the occasion. They like to feel important. They like to know that you are proud. If you set out those guidelines for them they will follow.

Ikea was a true test of my will and their patience. We drove two hours each way. We made our way through the maze of Ikea furniture. We ate the Ikea lunch. We then checked out only to discover that someone mis stocked the the shelf and one of the things we got was the wrong size.

Thankfully we noticed before we drove two hours home. So we waited at customer service only to discover that what would have taken an employee five minutes to do, would take me 45 with four children in toe and more line waiting. And lets not forget the two hour drive home.

All in all they were good. And my child controlling powers emerged a little stronger that day!

Perhaps next week we can tackle the Mall of America!