With costs going up and my kids home with me more during the summer, I’m already feeling overwhelmed… especially when I’m out shopping. I find myself laser-focused on “needs” versus “wants” as I make my way through the aisles. But let’s be honest: the “wants” taste so much better than the “needs.”

As tough as it is for me, it’s also tough for my kids. According to them, “Mommy never lets us get anything nice!!!” Not true, obviously — but in a small child’s mind, saying no for the fifth time in the grocery store to something not on the list feels like the end of the world.

Here are a few things I’m trying (some more successfully than others) to make grocery shopping with small humans a little easier:

• Feed the small humans first. And eat something myself before we go! Being full makes it easier to stay calm, stay focused, and stick to the list.
• Draw the grocery list. Depending on your child’s age, swapping a written list for pictures gives them “a job.” They get to be in charge of the list and tell me what to get.
• Promise one small treat. For us, it’s a single can of Peanut Punch. It’s a treat they look forward to, and it helps set expectations before we even step into the store.

We’ll see how it goes. With kids, having multiple strategies to rotate through when one stops working is the real trick.