Making friends with a 1-year-old in the grocery line.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205216)
Walnut Creek, California
June 12, 2022 11:51am CST
Standing in line at the grocery store can be a bit boring. Sometimes I look at the tablods and shake my head. Other times I observe the people around me and try to figure out what their lives are like.
Yesterday, there was a 1-year-old in his mother's arms. We made eye-contact. I did a sucking thing with my mouth (Freud's oral stage and all that). He started laughing. His mother turned around and looked at me. She had been talking to her child, like a good mom would.
She smiled and went back to what she was doing. The baby and I continued to "converse." I held up my egg rolls and said "Square. Egg rolls." The baby laughed. I held up my cranberry juice and said "Juice. Yum yum yum." The baby laughed again.
I have never been a mom. It must be exhausting. I think the baby's mom appreciated me engaging her child while she finished checking out.
In the end, I said "bye" to the mom and the baby. Mom said "bye" and the baby said "bye" with his eyes. The interaction saved me from having to shake my head at the tabloids.
How do you amuse yourself when you are in the check out line?
16 people like this
16 responses
@arunima25 (85265)
• Bangalore, India
12 Jun 22
I would have done the same thing. Whenever I am around children ( any age group), I just try to make friends with them and start a friendly age appropriate conversation.
And I could actually picturise and hear the one year old laugh in your post
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85265)
• Bangalore, India
13 Jun 22
@TheHorse It sure does. And I am of your kind. I love to observe people around me. Most people these days are on their smartphones in all the waiting lines.
@TheHorse (205216)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Jun 22
@m_audrey6788 Never heard of it.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40825)
• Wapello, Iowa
12 Jun 22
That's all well and good but how are you going to know about the latest Johnny/Amber news if you don't read the tabloids?
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40825)
• Wapello, Iowa
12 Jun 22
@TheHorse They're famous people who sometimes make movies.
@aninditasen (15719)
• Raurkela, India
13 Jun 22
I have never found such a cute companion. I therefore rarely go to stores. I order my groceries online.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15719)
• Raurkela, India
14 Jun 22
@TheHorse I have a cute baby as my neighbour who keeps throwing tantrums because of the heat.
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
13 Jun 22
Yesterday I watched an entitled customer in line in front of me.I came to admire the cashier and the girl who was bagging items. I particularly remember one time Bob and I were in line in an Aldi store. A 2-3 year old was having a melt down. We distracted her. Mom and dad thanked us as it was a long out of routine day. They drove over three hours to shop there and had done a "stock up". Of course meals and naps were all messed up. Bob loves animals and children.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81539)
• Onaway, Michigan
12 Jun 22
When I am in the checkout line I look at magazines.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48395)
• Mojave, California
12 Jun 22
Tell the cash register person to hurry up. 
I absolutely hate shopping so I just try to get in and out. Glad you made some new friends though.
I absolutely hate shopping so I just try to get in and out. Glad you made some new friends though.1 person likes this
@Beestring (13271)
• Hong Kong
13 Jun 22
Yes, I like making friends with kids in the line. I usually wave my hand saying hi and give them a friendly smile. Very often, the kids would smile back and wave their hands too. Very cute! If no kids around, I just wait patiently.
1 person likes this
@sickofbeingick22 (117)
• United States
12 Jun 22
I also make friends with kids at the line and read the tabloids. I also end up a lot of times searching for my wallet in my purse and trying to get my debit card/cash and store card out before its time to pay. I also like browsing around in my phone and sometimes get tempted by the chips and candy there next to the register. I also like to talk to the other people in like and the cashier.
1 person likes this
@Aiana18 (698)
• Belo Horizonte, Brazil
14 Jun 22
Children always transform our day. Pure and innocent, they are the most divine example of a human being.
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jun 22
I haven't been in a line at the grocery store in years. Before we started getting our groceries delivered my daughter had to haul it home in the grocery basket. But, when I did I did pretty much the same as you. Have you ever seen those comics that are pics of what some Walmart patrons look like? Hilarious! Now those would keep us entertained.
