Carrie at "Poor to Rich one day at a time" was writing about shopping and said that contrary to what most posts tell you that you should "Yes Bring the Kids and Spouse Grocery Shopping!" That got me thinking about growing up and going shopping with my Family. I remember my Family going shopping for groceries every second Friday when I was growing up. There were just 3 of us for years, then my Grandma came to live with us and there were 4 of us. Friday that was shopping day was anticipated all the last week long! It was tradition! We made the list, and we all had input as to what we needed. Then we went to the store in the Car! We went to our little Mall, and it had 4 stores, The Bank , where Mom got the cash from Dad’s check. Next we went to the Chinese restaurant, and had our supper (Moms one night she didn’t cook!!!!) 99% of the time I ordered chow mien! The others usually ordered the special. Usually it was soup of the day, bread and butter put on the table when you ordered, and it was enough for everyone at the table to have a slice, and if you ate all that they would refill the plate ( everyone’s bread was on the same plate!) The odd time the cook would have made buns, but that was a real extra treat and didn’t happen often. Their meal would be hot roast pork ( or beef) sandwich with mashed potatoes, and veggie (peas, corn, carrots, or a mix of the three, once in a while it was beets), and a slice of tomato on the side of the plate. Dessert came with the meal either a home made pudding or a Jell-O, these were served in a small dish. and tea or coffee was always included in the meal price. The food was always good and the waiter always was smiling and saying “ you like, you like”. I miss that still, it was just a local dive, but what wonderful food, and they were always glad to see you. Once in a long while Dad would break tradition and order Liver and Onions, it came with all the same things, just liver and onions instead of the pork/beef on the bread with gravy. Next we went to the main grocery store, and we all went up one isle and down the next and would stop to discuss which brand of an item to buy and why and price. After we finished this event , Dad would march us to the Cheese counter and decide which new Cheese we would try ( this was our treat night ,don’t you know, and later we would try a sliver of new cheese, with pickles and soda crackers for an evening snack, really late at night, maybe 10 o’clock! And we would all go in the kitchen and sit at the table and Dad would open the cheese and cut it, ( Mom would have set the table with bread and butter plates, and put out a plate of crackers on the table and a small dish of bread and butter pickles for the ladies and a jar of Banana pickles for Dad.) and we would have our treat. Once Dad opened a beer cheese. It stunk so bad we were all gagging , he turned opened the back door and threw it as far as he could throw it! LOL, we never forgot that! Mom, just got up and brought out the cheddar cheese and the feast went on. Anyway, back to shopping, after we had the groceries we went to the last store in our little mall. The Butchers. Mom would pay her 25 cents into the Christmas fund and get the little rubber stamp put in her book, then she’d order what she wanted 1 item at a time, and she actually would point out which chops she wanted or how much ground meat she wanted in each package ( according to what she planned to make). Getting the meat at the Butcher was the last stop before we headed home ( about 6 blocks away). and it would have taken us from about 4 in the afternoon, till about 7 in the evening. Then we would go home and everything would be put away. Then and only then , we could start getting ready for our cheese party! From then till the next shopping night we would get milk, butter, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, cream and such from the milk man. He came twice a week. The Bread man came twice a week too, but Mom didn’t buy much because she usually baked treats and buns ( not bread as such so much). Then Mr. Yen Soo, would come and she would get some fresh vegetables, and fruits from him, whatever was in season. Mr. Soo would have lovely veggies and would be able to tell you the best way to cook them and he also watched our gardenia and told Mom what to do if it wasn’t looking so good, he was a lovely Man. We had our own garden too, but not the variety of veggies that came in his truck! Oh, and in the early fall the fishermen came and sold salmon at the door. Mom would buy a couple and then the canner would come out and she would can salmon for Dad’s lunches. That night we always had a fish for supper, and later in the week fish soup. So Yes Bring the Kids and Spouse Grocery Shopping, and make traditions that the whole family will remember years later! Things are so different today, and 50 to 60 years from now what we do as everyday things your Kids will remember as wonderful and miss them too. Perhaps by then we will have a metal dispenser in our homes and it will dispense a perfect serving sized item for you to eat, with limited choice of what that is. .... I sure hope not.