On Wednesday morning I felt good.
I had gotten up early to finally do a big walk with my neighbor. She had mentioned a couple of months ago that there is a running group in my suburb that meets three times a week. I was keen to get involved cause Christmas is coming and I don’t want to take my spring rolls with me.
Except I had no active wear. My old Nike runners were two sizes too small thanks to pregnancy and I now have feet as big as Ian Thorpe. (not really – but I am between a size 10 and 11 now)
While on holidays, I headed to Rebel Sport and bought tights to suck my belly in, a pink work out top to match my new pink running shoes. I was set.
The walk felt good, as did talking to my neighbour, who ironically was wearing an identical outfit to me. #twinning
She told me about a sale on a SEED Heritage for white canvas shoes which I had been meaning to purchase as another flat shoe to walk to school in.
I decided to head to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre to try on the shoes.
Well what a trip.
It mirrored my last trip to Indooroopilly when my girls fought and I left the shopping centre in tears because I couldn’t find a cocktail dress to wear to the Migas awards night.
This shopping trip faired in a similar fashion, except I was able to get the shoes – but not without some attention.
The first tantrum was from Miss Phoebe who put on a show because she didn’t get to press the button to the lift. The two women in the lift were literally shocked by her reaction. So was I. To diffuse the situation, I told Phoebe she could press the lit button, but instead she pressed the phone/call for help one.
I don’t take my Lord’s name in vain but I did mutter So Help Me God at that moment.
We headed straight to SEED Heritage and I couldn’t find the shoes. The girls got out of the pram and started opening all the umbrellas. I was looking for size 41 shoes and chasing my girls, who were chasing each other with open umbrellas. With bare feet, I was grabbing the umbrellas and placing them back into the holders.
I think the staff at SEED Heritage felt sorry for me.
But they were so good and didn’t show their annoyance.
We had only been in the store for ten minutes while I was trying on the shoes and diffusing the umbrella fiasco when Maggie announced loudly, (and holding her crotch as if she was about to explode) that she needed to go to the toilet RIGHT NOW.
This photo was not taken on the day, but this is what Phoebe looked like while we shopped on Wednesday morning.
So a staff member took the shoes from me and put them behind the counter, and I swiftly chucked both kids in the pram and ran to the toilet, hoping to avoid an accident. All was sweet. We made it in time.
We all headed back to the store so I could try on a top and buy the shoes.
The staff offered to watch my girls and the pram while I went to the change room. The store had a bucket of toys for kids to play with which, can I say, every store should have to help distract kids so mums can shop.
I don’t think they expected the screaming match that ensued over a wooden lipstick toy though. I cringed as I whipped my top off in the change room. I could hear Phoebe’s screams from the other side of the shop.
I came out and there were tears. Phoebe was not happy and Maggie had turned into mother authoritarian. #threenager
I bought the shoes and the top and was going to call it a day.
But I remembered I hadn’t had breakfast. We had a quick bite to eat and I then decided to head to Review to look at a fascinator. My girls were handed stickers and there were more cries from Phoebe because Maggie decided to put stickers on her and the pram.
Trying on a fascinator in Review
While in Peter Alexander, Maggie decided the window display needed rearranging by pulling the mannequin’s boxers down and playing with the puffed balls of cotton that were meant to possibly be clouds.
When I finally got into the car and I vowed I would not go to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre again until my kids are teenagers.
At least I got the shoes. And a top. And part of one person’s Christmas present.
The trip wasn’t a huge failure.
But I was definitely in need of prayer and a good drink to calm me down.
Do your kids fight in Shopping Centres? Got any tips on how to handle a two year old and three year old? Does anyone want a two year and three year old for Christmas? (Kidding, of course)