Chocolate Peanut Butter and the Neighbors

We were bored and the 5 year old was hyper. The store sounded like a logical choice. The 2 year old was sound asleep with daddy so I put the baby in the carrier instructed the 5 year old to stay with me and off we went. 2 out of 3 kids I can handle. But what to do once we get to the store?

I'm we're already walking out the door and I'm quickly thinking what do we need? I don't want to buy junk. I just went to the store yesterday; what do we NEED? A plan. I have to have a plan. I cannot wander around the store with no plan. The children will know. The will sense my fear and take advantage of it with cries for candy, frozen treats, and toys. The store is not that far and we're almost there. Help!

Too late, we're walking inside now. That walk is too short. I should have picked a different route. I have no plan and the 5 year old expects something. My brain hits autopilot. I'm wandering up and down aisles. The ones we usually visit. Gluten free food passes on my right. Dairy free milk to the left. Now we're in the peanut butter aisle. Peanut Butter! We can always use more of that! I search the shelves for our usual brand. No luck. It's do or die time now; the 5 year suspects something and is getting antsy.

Wait. Is that chocolate peanut butter?

Oh my word, chocolate peanut butter. I quickly check ingredients and proudly hand over the discovery to the 5 year old. She is thrilled. and disaster is averted. Now to the cookie aisle for some allergen free graham cookies. I would be a horrid parent if I let my kids eat directly from the jar. (They sneak spoons into the jar all the time but that's another story.) The baby is getting drowsy and the 5 year old is pumped with the prospect of perfectly delivered choco-butter in cookie format. Life is livable once more.

Once home I put the now sleeping baby into the crib and pull the too loud child outside with the idea of letting her run fueled by cookies and choco-butter. After about 10 minutes she wants to go in. Are you kidding me? Cue the neighbors. Thank goodness they came home. Looks like the dad is as exhausted for activity ideas as I am. We let the kids play while we have a lackluster conversation about nothing. How's your spouse? How's life? How's the summer been so far?

*silence*
Me: Want some cookies and chocolate peanut butter?
Neighbor: Does anyone ever say no to that?

Thank you chocolate peanut butter for filling the silence with your yummy goodness.

Stay yummy,
Yasha