I wrote this post in September 2010, when I was six months pregnant with Allie. It still makes me laugh, so I wanted to give it a rerun.
If you take a Mom to Target, she's going to want a cart to put her purse in.
If she gets a cart, she's going to want to peruse the dollar bins.
If she peruses the dollar bins, she's going to find a toy that reminds her to buy a birthday gift for a 3-year-old she knows.
If she remembers that she needs a birthday gift, she's going to want to go to the toy department.
If she heads toward the toy department, she's going to remember that she needs to buy tights for her daughter's ballet costume.
When she picks up the tights for the ballet costume, she is going to see the little girl pajamas.
If she sees the little girl pajamas, she's going to want to look at all of the little girls' clothes.
While she's looking through all of the little girls' clothes, she'll see the pharmacy sign and remember that she needed to buy iron supplements.
While she's in the vitamin aisle, she'll remember that her bottle of prenatal vitamins is almost empty. She'll have to explore the options, and she will decide that she needs a DHA supplement in addition to the vitamin.
While she's looking at the prenatal vitamins, she'll remember that she wanted to check out the selection of long-sleeve onesies in newborn sizes.
When she goes to look at the onesies, she'll think about the birthday gift again and veer back toward the toy department.
While she's looking for that birthday gift, she'll want to look for stocking stuffers for her own child.
While she looks for stocking stuffers, she'll get distracted by all of the Play-Doh play sets. She'll buy one of them to use at home.
When she chooses a Play-Doh play set, she might sneeze.
When she sneezes, she'll remember that she needs to buy Poise pads.
When she goes back to the pharmacy department to buy Poise pads, she'll remember that she had a hard time seeing through her windshield this morning. She'll need to look through the cleaning supplies to find glass wipes.
When she leaves the cleaning supplies aisle, she'll remember that she had been looking for a fall jacket.
While she's looking at the fall jackets, she'll see the hoodies and sweatshirts and decide to look at those instead.
When she finds a sweatshirt that she thinks her daughter will like, she'll see the cash registers.
When she sees the cash registers, she'll decide to break out of Target while she still can.
And that is how it came to pass that I went to Target today with a list of 5 items:
- Iron supplements
- Tights
- Birthday present for Cole
- Poise pads
- Glass wipes
And an hour later, left the store with 5 large bags of things, but no birthday present for Cole.
Does this happen to you? What gets you sidetracked at a superstore?
Photo credit
Julia says
"When she sneezes, she'll remember that she needs to buy Poise pads." this made me laugh out loud, i sooo know what you mean!
Anonymous says
I was trying to think of a nice way to say "You'll pee your pants in the Target" and that seemed to fit. 🙂 LOL!
Julie says
That was great! I do that all the time... ESPECIALLY at Target. Other stores I can zoom in/zoom out, but Target is exactly what you described. And I usually end up buying something for my house that I don't need. Or a frame. Oh wait, always a frame. 🙂
Anonymous says
Yes! It happens to me at Walmart, too, which is why I didn't go to Walmart. Alas, I got sucked in anyway.
Alicia's Homemaking says
LOL, too much! The poise pads got me laughing...
Anonymous says
Yeah - distraction is a huge enemy! Add in 2 under 2 on that trip and you're lucky to get out with just 5 bags! Thinking of that, I need to make my list and gather the littles for a Walmart trip.....
Anonymous says
Or that you spent $200! That's where it got me.
Anonymous says
LOL! I love that term, retailer-specific ADD. 😉
amykiane says
I love this!
marty l says
I went to RETURN something today and left $150 poorer.
Convertible Girl says
Brilliant -- this is totally me. And exactly the reason I had to start ordering diapers online -- because every time I went to Target to buy diapers, I spent $50 on non-diaper items.
Susan @WhyMommy says
Exactly! Well said.
Jayme says
My husband calls Target the Hundred Dollar Store because we can never get out of there without dropping about $100
vanderbiltwife says
LOL. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a sneezing issue this time around (for me, it's coughing). Were we this way with our first pregnancies? I don't think I was.
I love to look at Target, but I've gotten pretty skilled at not spending money I don't have. Those orange stickers are always tempting, though!! Went to get a card the other night and I ended up with a baby gift and little girl tights ...
Anonymous says
I was this way with my first pregnancy, yes. 🙁 It never went away in between, but it's gotten a lot worse this time. I buy a lot of Poise pads.
Anonymous says
I was this way with my first pregnancy, yes. 🙁 It never went away in between, but it's gotten a lot worse this time. I buy a lot of Poise pads.
Candy says
SO.MY.LIFE. Oh my goodness. It's like you are following me through Target every time I shop! This is awesome LOL!
Hamka2608 says
I love this post. I am a Target Fan-atic. Love it. and yes that happens to me all the time. Most of the time I will come home with tons of stuff, and have forgotten the one thing I needed.
Carrie Thompson says
THIS IS HILARIOUS... I just had this happen to me the other day! Well no poise pads but I went in got totally distracted bought tons and DIDNT GET WHAT I WENT in for! thanks for the laugh!
The Activity Mom says
ha ha cute post! and SO true for me too! Even with a list I still get sidetracked. It's sad to say but I now have a routine/path at Target that we go through. Once my husband came with us and I said "Ummm we don't go over there first. We always do a loop." =) Haha he looked at me like I was a big freak! =)
Kelly says
WOW! I can totally relate! Who really wants to run in to a store for only five things when it just took us a hour to get there! Ya know the drill loading everyone in the car remembering that everyone should go potty before you go, snacks, drinks, coloring books, stuffed animals. For a 15 min. drive! 😉
Kelly K