Both Toby and Meg have their birthdays in the next fortnight. Of course they are both very excited about the prospect. We have had numerous discussions about birthday cake designs and lots of earnest studying of the Woman’s Weekly Birthday Cake books (I have several) for inspiration. Toby is adamant that he wants a front end loader cake – he has even mentioned it in his evening prayers several time: “Dear God, Thankyou that I can have a front end loader cake…”. Meg has decided on a red dinosaur cake.
The problem with having their birthdays four days apart is that there is a lot of cake to be eaten, and a lot of butter, sugar and lollies. I did my monthly grocery shopping yesterday, and couldn’t believe how many different types of lollies we ‘needed’. Meg came shopping with me to check that I didn’t skimp on the lolly front, and we probably bought more lollies than we buy in the rest of the year. I felt embarrassed buying that much junk.
Going through the check out I put the birthday candles on the top of the pile of lollies, colourings, and butter, in a vain, non verbal attempt to signify to everyone that this was a special occasion, and not my every day (month) shop. I don’t really think that anybody really notices or care what I buy, but I still felt the need to justify the outrageous amount of sugar I was purchasing.
It was strange because I don’t usually care what people think of me, but here I was, trying to give the impression of ‘Super mum, trying to make her kids day special with some treats and an amazing home made cake’, rather than ‘stupid mother stuffing her kids full of crap all the time’. As if people are judging my parenting ability based on my shopping cart contents. And as if one cart of food says that much about my parenting anyway!
Crazy what we think about isn’t it!
Tell me, do you look at other people’s shopping and make judgements about what kind of parent they are? Do you look at your shopping and wonder what it says about you? Are you blown away by how many lollies it takes to make two birthday cakes? Got any tips on how to make an awesome front end loader or dinosaur cake?
Linking up with With Some Grace for FYBF
I love looking at people's shopping baskets and it always amazes me how different everyone's combinations of food actually are. I would never judge the contents, but it made me smile that you were showcasing the candles so hard. x
I do tend to judge some people with loads of tinned soups, jars of sauces and packet mixes. I just feel like saying, "grab this, this and this and you'll have a much nicer tasting meal" but you never know what the story is. Same as you. Some health nut might've seen your trolley and tsked, tsked, tsked but they wouldn't have known it was for your children's birthday cakes and parties. Who cares what people think Jo? all that matters is what the kids think and they'll remember that Mum made the that front end loader cake or red dinosaur cake for the rest of their lives. xx
I know what you mean with all the packet mixes Anne. To you and I it seems silly to buy them, but it is amazing how many people have never learnt to cook.
I must be honest, most times I am running through Coles so fast I don't have a chance to even see other people (I just hope I see them in time before I run them over) never mind look in other people's trolleys !! I wonder if anyone has looked in mine and wondered what on earth I do with what I buy because sometimes the combination looks a little odd !!!
Sorry – I have no tips on front loader or dinosaur cakes – hopefully someone else will be able to help !
Have a great weekend !
Me
I'm usually too busy thinking about my shopping list to check out other people, although I occasionally look at my own trolley and think, jeez, better stick a bit of vegetation in there, just to balance out the junk!
No to judging other people, but yes to assuming I'm being judged way harshly because of what's in MY trolley.
Oh, actually there was this one time when I noticed a quite elderly couple buying lube, and I thought "You GO girl!" but that's it.