The World Is My Playground

Recently Mackenzie has discovered that the world is her playground.  Sometimes this is a wonderful thing as she explores her surroundings and learns new things, but other times...this is not so good.

Neither Wayne nor I (not even both of us together) can take Mackenzie out if we need to get something accomplished.  Something as simple as grocery shopping turns into a 3-ring-circus.  When we get to the store we try to put her in the shopping cart, to which she thrashes, screams, kicks and bites causing a real scene until we get her down (that is if we were able to get her into the cart in the first place). 

If we do let her walk she insists on pushing the cart and we are not allowed to touch the cart.  SERIOUSLY?  Yes.  If we touch the cart then she throws herself on the floor kicking and screaming this really high pitched scream.  So why not just let her scream and get it out of her system?  Because she will continue to do so for about 30-45 minutes, no matter what we do.

OK, so just let her push the cart herself.  Sure, and run into every person and display in the vicinity and what should have been a 30 minute trip to the store is now a 2.5 hour trip to the store.  Complete with customers and employees asking if she is alright. 

The last 5 times we attempted to go anywhere, HEB grocery shopping, Walmart for a quick exchange, Kohls for a quick purchase, Target for diapers have all ended in either myself of Wayne carrying her out of the store kicking and screaming with no end in site.  Oh, and have you ever seen a 6-month pregnant woman carrying a 36 pound screaming 2-year old?  Not a pretty site.

So where we use to be able to go to the mall to walk around (another nightmare these days), or go to Hobby Lobby or Target to just get out of the house...nope, not any more.  So we are stuck inside almost all day because it is too hot for the park or a walk around the block or it is raining.  The only safe place is La Centerra in the evenings, or somewhere we have to pay for that is kid friendly.  We don't spend extra money, so the kid friendly thing is out.  What are we suppose to do all day, every day?  I sure hope this phase ends soon!