"Wild Time" at Wild Oats

Some moms call the time between 4:00 and 6:00 "the witching hours", I prefer "Wild Time". The kids are going to be crazy, hungry and restless so why not have fun with it. During these hours I typically blast random music and allow the kids to run up and down, in and out, and all around the house. I sometimes end up dancing with the little girls while trying to pull dinner together. It is a time to unload all our goofs.

Today during the "wild time" hours I decided to take them all to Wild Oats (which is actually now Whole Foods) as part of our Father's Day preparations. The kids were actually pretty good except for one meltdown of a child throwing himself down in the middle of an aisle. There was a quick recovery though and everyone was on their best "we're out in public" behavior as soon as I offered treats for those who cooperated. The girls picked out ginger cookies, Peter grabbed some Odwalla fruit bars, William picked out some Orange/Veggie Vruit juice boxes, and James insisted on a package of Nori seaweed.

So "Wild Time" at Wild Oats really wasn't that wild (it could have been bad though as I almost knocked over a display of green tea infused Lemonade all in glass bottles - its hard to see over all the kids). What made the trip somewhat uncomfortable was all the heads turning our way half knodding as they counted each head in our company. There were other customers and employees worthy of stares themself with their arms covered in tattoos, half shaved heads, and interesting ornaments pierced through their nose and ears. But no, I was a new breed of freak - the mom who takes 6 kids 8 and under to the grocery store. I could feel the piercing eyes of the lady in her exercise clothes behind me at the checkout and then there was a classy older couple with only two purchases that did a triple take as they headed towards the exit. Seriously, is there something wrong with taking 6 very well behaved children to the grocery store?

What made me feel better was an old bearded man who I could tell was staring at us for some time. He was eating a sandwhich close to the checkout and then from the window could see the whole 10 minute process of me loading up the car. I waited another 5 minutes before pulling out as it was time to pass out the treats and congratulate the kids on their excellent behavior. By this time the old bearded man was out of the store and unlocking his bike just in front of our car. He asked me if all the children were mine, I replied yes and then braced myself for some comment on over population. Instead he said "that is wonderful, they are all so beautiful, you are very blessed" and then took off on his bicycle before I could say thank you.

So I guess for some our presence provides entertainment if not joy, but to others we just may be annoying. Either way a family's gotta eat and I can't always get a babysitter so Costco, here we come! I will say though I am very gratefull for the kind words from the old bearded man. I will try to remember them the next time I am out during the "wild time" hours and things aren't going as smoothly as they did today.