Monday, August 25, 2008

The Moral Dilemma of the Shopping Cart

So we were at Target this evening doing some back to school shopping. (Yes, Rachel, we go to Target a lot!) When we got there we decided to grab a cart, but after shopping for a while we became separated from it. At this point we had everything we came to get and we really didn't need the cart anymore. I made the executive decision to abandon the cart and head for the checkout without it. ('Cut and run' if you will.) This threw Nick for a loop.

Nick: "DAD, WHY ARE WE LEAVING WITHOUT THE CART?"
Me: "What cart?"
Nick: "WE HAD A CART."
Me: "I don't remember having a cart."
Nick: "YES YOU DO; IT'S RIGHT OVER THERE!"
Me: "Shhh... Ixnay on the artcay."
Nick: :IS IT OKAY TO JUST LEAVE A CART?? I CAN"T BELIEVE YOU'RE JUST LEAVING THE CART!"
Me: "Well, we really don't need the cart anymore because we didn't get that much stuff."
Nick: "BUT WHY ARE WE LEAVING THE CART RIGHT OVER THERE?? IS IT OK TO JUST LEAVE YOUR CART?"

This went for a while and was showing nice signs of stopping. By the time we reached the checkout area I had a decision to make. Press on in the face of potential embarrassment or go back for the cart.

What would you do?

5 comments:

PizzaMaster said...

Me, I'd send Nick and Xman through ahead with a quarter each to choose something from the machines typically in front. They used to be called gum ball machines, not sure anymore, I don't see too many that actually have gum. Anyway, that's how I'd avoid stress at the checkout.

Holly said...

I would remind them of the time that I went to Target and picked up more stuff to buy than I had planned on and then couldn't carry it all and then my arms were getting really tired and my hands were overloaded and then I thankfully found an abandoned cart in the aisle that someone had left there and I was so thankful because then I could finally put all of my crap down and restore the circulation to my fingertips.

That's why you should leave the cart behind.

Allison said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Another good reason for me not to have had kids - I am SO not good at moral dilemmas!! But my faith in Holly's ability to think fast and Pat's ability to avoid issues in the first place has been reaffirmed! :-)

MamaD4 said...

There is nothing wrong with going to Target on a tri-weekly basis. And please keep discussing Target--I'm living vicariously through your trips.