I love it when stuff just works and the Universe finds a way to present to you exactly what you asked it for.
In a blog post a few weeks ago, I mentioned WonderWoman and her WonderKids (turns out there’s three of them), who gave us Floyd the WonderCat. I didn’t know quite how to thank her– there didn’t seem to be anything I could do for her and her family that was quite nice enough.
And then there’s Faerie Saerie, who I’ve mentioned many times, who’s done more for me than I can even begin to list here. She comes through for me and does the hard stuff, time and time again.
And I’ve never known exactly how to say thank you to her, either.
But the universe and karma– and Big W– stepped in.
Big W offered to send myself and two of my mates off with a $200 gift card to spend in-store on their Baby and Toddler range. They also offered to shout us lunch.
I’m certainly not going to say no to that. And I knew exactly who to invite.
So that’s what myself and my Bump, WonderWoman and littlest WonderKid, and FaerieSarie and The Baby indulged in last Tuesday- guilt free shopping. With people who really deserve it. I’m not sure there is anything more awesome, in the commercial sense of things. And we had quite the shopping list…
Our ‘ladies-who-lunch’ date was fairly low key– formal dining is difficult when you have toddlers in tow. So we set up camp at a local cafe and went all unladylike on gourmet pies and sausage rolls, coffees and milkshakes, Danishes and chocolate mousse. And, of course, the requisite pink donuts and cup cakes for the Bump and The WonderKid. Who spent a lot of their time watching the “Birdies!” jumping around the cafe courtyard while WonderWoman, Sarie and I talked and talked and talked.
And then we went shopping.
Sarie, The Baby, The Bump, The WonderKid and The GumBoots.
It was a two hour long, completely gratifying experience (in a… retail sense?) where we all obtained all the things on our respective lists, and then some more things as well. Because Mittagong Big W had done that awesome thing they do, where they put all the old stock on special and you buy everything you need for next summer, in a size up from what your kids are wearing now. And the kids clothes at Big W are funky and cheap. The Mambo kids line is amazing. And, truthfully, I’m tempted to steal someone’s baby just so I can dress them in this…
BatBaby!!
The Bump loved her new gum boots so much she has flat out refused to take them off, and has been pretty much wearing them since we left the store…. for the last three days now. At least by day two she allowed me to remove the price tag.
While the Big W range is awesome– we could pretty much anything we needed for kids, right down to cloth nappies, baby food and bedding– the service wasn’t so great. Sarie had to bail a few minutes before WonderWoman and I in order to make her older kid’s school pick up time. The Bump and I walked her to the check out to see her off. As Sarie was leaving and we were saying our goodbyes; my darling, tired, spoiled rotten little Bump decided it was high time for a throw–herself–on–the–floor, pout and whinge tantrum. Not a full scale Force Ten, thankfully. But certainly dramatic.
As I attempt to placate, scoop up and speak reason with the small child (and her gumboots), while saying goodbye to Sarie and struggling with an overstuffed handbag and an overly full big blue basket on wheels; the only (slightly patronizing and unhelpful) checkout woman actually serving customers interjects with “Excuse me, could you please hurry up and move? There are other people waiting.”
Oh… ouch. There’s nothing quite so demoralizing as being treated like a small child, when you’re struggling with one yourself.
Anyway– Big W gets an honorable three from five jellybeans on the RRSAHM Ranking Stuff Scale. I ate two because I miserable after being told off.
Three outta five ain’t bad.
But my massive pile of goodies certainly made me smile again. There’s a lot to be said for shopping as therapy.
***
To spread the bliss of retail therapy even further afar, I’ve got a $200 Big W gift card up for grabs… anyone…?
To win, I wanna know- Toddler Temper Tantrums In Public. How do you deal with it, if you have kids? And if you don’t, same question- how you deal with them? Ignoring them, eye rolling, loud sighs. These are acceptable answers for both categories. 25 words or less-ish, please, and fill in the form below or online.
Entries close midnight AEST Friday February 15th, with the winner drawn soon after and contacted by email. The answer that tickles my pickle for whatever reason is the winner- no bitching, whinging or discussion entered into. Australian residents only (everyone else probably gets sick of hearing me say ‘sorry!’)
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
You can borrow Dexter for a bit – he even comes with his own Big W BatBaby suit, and a Spiderman one too
Nawww Mel you need to get him one of the fluffy Big W Tigger ones for winter, too! They even have paw prints on the feet!
Can’t say I blame The Bump, those boots are pretty funky.
She’s a fashionista….
Kicking, thrashing, red faced screaming banshee… And that’s Mummy
I need a *Like* button… :p
I’ve got a few but my SIL take the cake. My niece Ms C was two at the time and she has started to throw a tantrum at the shops and this was the first time I had seen her do it (obviously not a goes for my SIL though) and without batting an eyelid she turns to her and says “Chelsea, I think East is that way” (pointing ninth degrees to her right)
It’s not PC but it was enough to snap her out of it and I nearly wet myself at my usually straight laced SIL.
Needless to say if this entry wins it will be going to my SIL. She would never air her dirty laundry in public. Lol.
I’m so stealing that line :p