The towels in that Wayfair link fit my “form over function” pet peeve. Just why? (rhetorical question) There are plenty of nice towels that look nice and are actually serviceable and washable.
As far as leaving the kids in the car while returning the cart, I am not sure what I would do now. I know it is not typical, but I have know two people who had their cars carjacked with the kids in the car seats. Of course these were at gas stations, and the keys were in the ignition while the mom was pumping gas, so not the same thing; I just don’t know if I would be comfortable leaving a child in the car alone, even within eye sight. I guess if I could not handle the kids from the cart return to the car, I would not be shopping with them. My oldest was so hyperactive, that my errand running was in the evening once dad was home to stay with him!
@intparent …I’m not sure why my comments are causing the little offensive comments from you. Now I’m being called pretentious. Really? Why does my hanging something I think matches my wallpaper on an empty towel pole make me any more pretentious than any other decorative items? I just don’t understand the insults.
@doschicos …I do understand guests not wanting to use damp towels others have used. I’ve had towels I’ve laid on the sink for use dirty, probably from kids. That’s why I started using the Kleenex hand towels as another option.
Push kid in cart with groceries to the car. Chat with kid sitting in cart while loading groceries in trunk. Lock car if necessary. Push kid and cart to cart corral. Pick up kid and carry back to car and buckle in car seat. Maybe that wouldn’t work with two who couldn’t walk but I never had that situation. Neither did either kid try to climb out of the cart.
Wellspring, yes, except when it is pouring down rain.
I would not lock my kid in the car while I returned the cart either.
I am of the “what if” school of knowledge.
How long would it normally take someone to return a cart? 1-2 min? So if there was good samaritan who would call 911 or try to do something, I would be back before anyone could say “boo.” If babies/toddlers are strapped in car seats, what could they possibly do to harm themselves in 1-2 min? People are over thinking it.
What I used to find it hard was after I got home and if there was no other adult at home, it was hard for me to unload my grocery. That was when the kids would cry and scream in the car while I was unloading. That was why I moved back to NYC when D2 was 2 months old, so I could have the grocery delivered or had porter to bring up bags for me.
I had three kids under 3 1/2. In Chicago winters. You bet at times I didn’t put my cart away. But I do now.
I must have had strangely cooperative kids. They didn’t mind the rain or sitting in the cart. To be clear, I never said I locked the kid in the car, just the groceries. Although I rarely did that while the kid and I returned the cart.
I worried that something would happen to me–perhaps mugged or hit by a car.
No one would realize the kids were in the car. See how I think 
I think the same way. Now, with no kids, I first put my handbag in the car, then unload he groceries. Before I take my cart back to its holding pen, I lock the car, so no one can steal my handbag.
Can’t someone potentially steal you handbag while you are unloading groceries and before you lock the car? That would scare me.
@conmama, this thread is about what bugs people. Decorative items masquerading as useful items bug me. As my kid just said, “If you want art, get a sculpture or a wall hanging. Stop posing it as a towel or soap, and then getting annoyed when people use it.”
Technically yes, but I’m standing right there. It’s when I walk 10 or 20 yards away to get rid of the cart that I’m concerned.
Parents with young children should never leave them alone in a car. Period. So, they definitely get a pass about returning the shopping cart. Nothing wrong with them leaving it at a divider or tipping it up onto grass near the car.
If you are sure you have the keys in your hand and the kid is strapped into the car seat, why wouldn’t you lock the car while trotting the cart to the cart location?
Now… a pet peeve of mine is when a store doesn’t have a cart drop locations out in the parking lot. If you have to go all the way back up to the door, then I’m with those who find an out of the way place to park it.
Leaving aside, for the moment, kids and shopping carts, I have a favorite locker at the pool. I get inordinately irritated when I get there and someone else is using it. Don’t they know it’s mine? (There are no reserved lockers.)
Ok, now I am curious…what’s so dangerous about leaving your kids (strapped in car seats)for few minutes?
Park next to the cart corral.
It’s probably not always possible.