Wal-Mart After Dark

During my week al a Potty Training, I tried not to leave the house. This would keep OBB close to a potty at all times and allow me to shuttle him there every 20-30 minutes via the “Potty Train” – “choo! choo! here comes the potty train!” – you get the idea.

So when it came to grocery shopping, it didn’t happen and I had to opt for an alternate plan of attack. I decided to go to Wal-Mart after the kids were asleep one night to conduct my grocery run in relative peace. I had no idea what I was in for.

If you go to Wal-Mart around 9:15 p.m. on a weeknight, it’s a completely different experience than during the day. There are fewer people, most people know what they are there for and there’s a certain quiet that takes over the place. Sure, there are some people who are out with their kids (which completely bewildered me) and there are some people just getting out of the office in their suits, but by and large, it was mostly women getting their shopping done without the interruptions of daytime (kids, cell phones).

I, for one, felt like I was on vacation. I didn’t have to tell anyone to sit down in the cart. I didn’t have to make funny faces to keep the baby amused. I only had to get to the aisles containing the items I needed and put them in the cart. I even had the presence of mind to notice items that were on sale that I should stock up on for future meals, and I took the time to track down those difficult to find ingredients for certain meals that I’m always hunting down at the last minute. The wobbly wheel on the cart didn’t bother me in the least.

Not only was I a more lucid, intellectually–sound person while by myself in Wal-Mart, but I also re-discovered my sense of courtesy. When I was standing in line at the check-out and I noticed the lady behind me only had two items, I offered for her to go ahead of me. Would I normally do this if I had a grabby 3-year-old and a fussy 6-month-old with me? Probably not.

Overall, it was a much more relaxed, easy going experience. And I found that I was a much more relaxed, easy going customer as a result. So I guess if I take away all the outside influences that make me just a little bit crazy, I can actually act like a normal person. Glad to know the "normal" me is still there somewhere.