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OPINION

With summer off to a great start, I’m finding it difficult to make time to hit the grocery store.

It’s just too nice outside.

Normally I really like grocery shopping. I load up my two kids (most people tell me I’m crazy for taking them) and mentally prepare myself.

Usually things run smoothly.

I write myself a list to save time, make sure I grab a cookie or muffin from the bakery section so the kids have something to keep them happy, and I walk VERY fast!

That’s not to say every trip is a picnic. I have had some pretty intense grocery shopping moments.

Stop me if you’ve shared in my public predicaments:

• You make it safely inside the grocery store doors with your children quietly settled in, only to realize you have a cart-load of groceries but your wallet is back in the car…
• Then there is the infamous ‘running of the bulls’ move where you child uses the grocery store aisles as an excuse to see how far they can get before you can catch up to them, and you find yourself darting like a madwoman through the cereal aisle.

A trip to the grocery store can be quite eventful.

But sometimes it gets to be a bit much. So the other day I thought I would try shopping online for groceries.

I love the idea of the service. You get to pick out your groceries on your smartphone or computer, choose a time slot for pick up, and then you don’t even have to take the kids out of the car.

I’d been resisting trying the service for awhile. I think I viewed giving up going to the grocery store as how I view cellphones relating to the art of conversation — it takes away from your experiences in life. It’s convenient, but at what cost?

But then I tried the service and now I get what all the hype is about.

I was able to place an order in the morning, and select a time slot from the afternoon that same day.

I found the selection process fairly simple, and as an added bonus, I didn’t hold back choosing items I may have usually avoided, knowing I only had so much room in the cart with two kiddos wedged in there. Yes, my kids don’t always want to sit in the seats up top. Sometimes they like to have a ‘picnic’ in the back of the cart.

When I went to pick up my groceries, I was nervous…What if it didn’t work out and I had to come up with a Plan B for dinner?

I called the phone number emailed to me, and despite being 15 minutes early, my order was ready to go. As an added bonus, the grocery store I visited will bag your groceries with any bags you would like, and I found a 'thank you' chocolate bar at the bottom of my purchases.

Overall I was VERY impressed with my experience and I will definitely consider the service in the future.

But I’m still not ready to give up trips to the grocery store altogether just yet. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of running into people I know, and I know my kids enjoy watching and listening to the sights and sounds.

— Becky Mann is a 30-something, red haired, mother of two, trying to navigate this life as best she can. She enjoys talking to people and discovering their stories. Still trying to balance her personal and professional life, she juggles work and play. In her spare time Becky can be found visiting with friends, spending time with her family and saving time by reading while walking, She knows there is so much more to come and is looking forward to the continued adventure.

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