bored kids

Caitlin whines in stores. That's just what she does. It drives me insane, and I am really hoping that I will get use to it someday. However, since I've never gotten use to Brandon's whining I'm not holding my breath on Caitlin's. So today we are at Trader Joe's doing our "scaled down because we are moving in 3 weeks" shopping (it involves getting enough wine, cheese, and a few other not-so-important items to last a week or so). Caitlin is whining. I am asking her to shush. Some lady has the audacity to tell me that my daughter is bored. Bored, and, oh, "under stimulated" in the shopping cart. Exactly what am I suppose to do to "stimulate" a 15 month-old in a shopping cart when all she really wants to do is get down and run around? Invest more money in a gimicky cart cover that she'll never take to? Seriously, if one more person tells me that my kids are bored I'm going to hit her. Neither one of my kids likes grocery shopping. Since I don't own a gun or have the desire to go kill my own food, I guess we are just going to have to be bored and do our hunting and gathering in the frozen foods section. Why do random women feel the need to constantly give me advice in the store? Do I really come off as that bad of a mother? I'd like to string them up by their toenails, but the authorities are unforgiving about stuff like that. My kids are smart - a little too smart. No, I can't keep up with them. Get over it! It's a grocery store! My husband tells me to give the quick, squinty-eyed sarcastic smile. Since it's a lot nicer than what I want to do, I'll have to start.