The Pros n Cons of Shopping Together

This must be deja vu for most mothers who shop with their child/children in tow--- the Verdict: Can't shop with them, less efficient shoppers slowed down by their continuous demands.

My shopping list included: 1) two pairs of shoes 2) a facial cleanser and make-up remover 3) a long tee top to match with hipster belt 4) some groceries from the supermart. Instead of buying all items 1-4, I only managed to get a facial cleanser, cleansing cream and groceries (including a salmon steak for dinner, cooked teriyaki style...yummy) Why? Let me relate this familiar tale:

Girl comes back from school, eats her lunch, finishes her math worksheet, eats her beancurd, bathes and it's almost 3pm. We literally run out of the house with cardigan and wallet. Reached the mall at close to 4pm. Girl says "Mummy, I want to have a hot Milo and 2 slices of kaya butter toast". That wasted about 20 minutes (waiting for order to be served, waiting for her to finish her food). Then rushed into the toiletries & beauty products shop to buy item 2. Proceeded to Level 2 to scout for shoes. Each time I selected a pair, Girl says "Mummy, why you always buy black shoes? So boring... pick pink shoes la..." and starts to select what was nice in her opinion (meaning it must be pink or have pink details, ribbons and girlie details), shoving it to me to try. *Mummy makes a face* Mummy says "Let's go to another shop" and again the same thing repeats itself. *Mummy gives up* "Mummy, it's 5pm, time for my evening tea". "Okay, okay, let's find somewhere to eat. Why are you hungry so soon?" *Mummy exasperated* finally found a sandwich bar to have some salad n a soup, Mummy watches anxiously as clock ticks away.

Finally at 5.35pm, Mummy abandons all hope of ever having time to grab a tee top, runs off to the supermarket, gets her groceries and hits the train station ready to get home in time to cook dinner. "Mummy, I'm hungry... can I eat the yoghurt you bought from the supermart?" "Darling, you're on the train, you can't eat on the train. Besides, i have no spoon." "Why? Why cannot eat on the train? Why? Why didn't you take a spoon?" *Fellow passengers look in sympathy at dumbstruck Mummy, at this point in time ready to pull out tuffs of hair from her scalp