Thanks, Mom

It is my first week living in a new house with my boyfriend and his best friend and I never would have expected it to go so well… well, besides grocery shopping. It was 4:33 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2018 when I called my mom asking for her gracious and loving advice on the thing I dreaded most. She gave me nothing. I was left alone with my thoughts on whether I should become a healthy food pyramid abiding adult or continue to embrace the inner child I still am and gravitate towards the middle isles. I came up with what I thought was a healthy balance of both. After an hour of writing a full list of delicious (and nutritious) foods, I hopped in my car and drove to the nearest pick and save.

It was in that moment, the moment where I parked my car and took a step into the doors, that I knew I was doomed. The overwhelming feeling of being a small child who wandered off from her mother in a convenience store consumed me. I contemplated turning around and going back home but then I remembered. My mother had trained me for this day since I came out of the womb. I can do this. ‘Find your inner mom. Find her. Oh my god, please for the love, find your inner mother.’ I grabbed the cart. I walked into that store with confidence just like my mom always had and I began grocery shopping for the first time.

The experience overall went pretty well I thought. I only stared at the same fruits and vegetables for about 10 minutes before placing them in my cart. The pickle isle was interesting because I couldn’t decide between dill or bread and butter. I went with dill. I skipped the rice because I didn’t remember what kind was the easiest to make. I picked up hamburger buns but forgot hamburger. I went with the squeezy mayo because, well, I live with two boys. I bought slightly green bananas so that they would not go bad as fast. And finally, I got thin and crispy tortilla chips because it’s the best kind of chip.

As I walked out from the checkout counter, I felt a sense of pride. I did it. It may have taken me two times longer than a normal human being would've taken and it may have costed me $100.00 dollars for half a cart full of food, which I'm not even sure will feed the three of us for a week, but I felt accomplished and like a true adult. So, I guess the moral of the story is that it’s okay to celebrate the small victories in life. Today, at the age of 20, I’m proud to say that I went grocery shopping by all by myself for the first time. Yay me!