My little secret...

As I shopped at whole foods today with 2 little ones in tow just to pick up a few things (I'm there like every other day!), I was greeted with smiles, excuse me's, and "oh, i remember those days" comments. When we go to the store we have those carts with the seats in front where the kids can drive and feel like they are having some fun while shopping. I actually love that my youngest at 16 months has finally gotten to the point that her and Grace, my oldest at 4, can interact pretty well now. And I"m pretty amazed with how well they behave throughout the whole store until we get to about the dairy section. I even had a comment from an older man "i think your load is a little wider than you think! LOL." Savannah was hanging out the side dragging her hand along the floor as I pushed the cart and I didn't even notice! So, I saw that it was now time for me to bring out the big guns...that's right, the end all, be all, the power, the ever saving, almighty........COOKIE! "Because ya'll have both been so good, who's ready for a cookie!?" ME!!!!, Grace announces.
I grab the cookie, a vegan one I might add that are really good, and proceed to checkout. As I'm checking out, I give them the final bites as the last bag is loaded into the cart. And the "grocery bagger girl" (sorry for the bad terminology) says to me "ahh i was wondering what you're secret was. they are being so good." uh huh....that's it.....the infamous all too boring...cookie! but here's the trick, I only get 1 and i split it 3 ways (uh yes, I want some cookie too, are you kidding? it's vegan. that's not bad!!) so this way I am using a little sugar to induce good behavior but not so much where I pay for it later. You parents know what I mean.
As we are walking to the car, Grace requests some more. "It's all gone, Grace. we ate it all. you, me, and Savannah. we split it 3 ways!"  Sneaking the rest of the bakedgoods bag into my purse, I load the groceries, get kids buckled in in, buckle myself in and finish off the rest of the cookie. Shhh..don't tell anyone my little secret.....and all too late to notice I walked the whole grocery store with my jacket inside out. go figure!