Grocery Shopping From a Dad’s Perspective
![Pigly Wigly](http://momitforward.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Pigly-Wigly.jpg)
Before reading this post, there’s something you need to know: I am a man, and the thoughts that follow are written from a man’s perspective. I say this to establish my credibility. As with most subjects there may be many points of view but at my house, when it comes to shopping for groceries there’s a right way (my way), and a wrong way (I won’t mention names—Jyl).
X
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I particularly enjoy shopping for groceries, it's just that when someone else does it (again, I won’t mention your name, honey), we have unique “challenges” in the areas of time, quantity, and price.
Time
![husband shopping](http://momitforward.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/husband-shopping1.jpg)
Variety
My wife and I went to school in different states, so it’s no surprise that we don’t see eye to eye on some things. Those things are called ‘opinions.’ My first grade teacher (shout out to Ms. Baron, yo!) taught that the opposite of opinion is something called ‘fact.’ At Grandview Elementary, one of the facts we were taught was the four basic food groups—Meat, Dairy, Grain, and Fruits and Vegetables. This was a fact; ergo it was the same throughout the entire world. Well Ms. Baron was wrong. I’m not sure we can blame it on Helen Keller Elementary or if my wife picked it up somewhere else along the line, but the food groups my wife subscribes to consists of Gourmet, Expensive, Vegetables, and Things We Will Never Eat.
To illustrate, let’s imagine a planet called Earth. This planet contains literally thousands of types of vegetables, therefore making it impossible for one produce department to stock every single variety. Business-savvy produce managers have discovered however, that if one displays just a handful of these rarities a shop appears more distinctive and appealing. The produce manager goes to great lengths to obtain these uncommon items. They are not for sale. They are decorations only. They usually don’t even have price tags. These are the fruits and vegetables my strikingly beautiful wife picks up first. Produce managers in our area turn pale when she enters their store, knowing the expensive and arduous process of replacing them will have to be undertaken once again. They turn pale. White as ghosts. Seriously.
Price
![Receipt](http://momitforward.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Receipt.jpg)
X
A recent example occurred just the other day. We were shopping together (mistake number one) and we came to the canned tuna, one of the items on our list. Brand #1 was generic. Brand #2 was a popular national brand guaranteed to not contain dolphin parts. It was on sale at a ridiculously low price—even lower than the generic brand. Brand #3 was endorsed by Rachel Ray, Julia Child, and Glenn Beck (my wife isn't even a fan!). This brand is so flavorful that it has changed lives. People cry tears of joy when the can is opened. This is my wife’s favorite brand. By a stroke of luck involving an in-store special and an amazing coupon I had tucked away in my pocket we would not only get Brand #3 for free, but they would actually GIVE US MONEY at the check stand. So which brand does she choose? None of them. She marches us back to the seafood deli where she recalled seeing some hand-fed vitamin-enhanced all-natural tuna raised on a farm in which each individual fish is given a name, birthday parties and its own Japanese Geisha who gives it seven years of tender care before it is harvested. A two ounce container of this tuna costs as much as a small car payment. She ordered a dozen.
What Have We Learned?
The moral of this story is simple—my wife is amazing, in fact brilliant. Compared to her, the sun is a 40-watt bulb. Where millions have failed, she will succeed. If given the choice between her and a 54" 1080p Plasma television/Maytag Neptune washer and dryer combination I would choose her. No contest. She’s the best. Just let me do the shopping.
Troy Pattee is a writer, marketer, dad, husband, and comedian (at least he THINKS he’s funny). His career in marketing and advertising started at a large agency in New York, followed by several positions in the Salt Lake City area. He has an MBA, and for six years was president and owner of the number one carpet cleaning company in Utah. His hobbies include racquetball, skiing, mowing the lawn, and shoveling snow. His favorite color is red, and he is a Pisces. His favorite car was his precious Toyota FJ.
The following two tabs change content below.
An active part of the Mom It Forward team, Jyl primarily writes about parenting, social good, and all things travel related.
In a past life, Jyl was an award-winning copywriter and designer of corporate training programs for Fortune 100 companies.
Offline, Jyl is married to @TroyPattee; a mom to two teen boys and a beagle named #Hashtag; loves large amounts of cheese, dancing, and traveling; and lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
Topping her bucket list is the goal to visit 50 countries by the time she's 50.
Latest posts by Jyl Johnson Pattee (see all)
- Ireland Travel: Planning Your Irish Vacation - August 20, 2024
- Travel to the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne Florida: Perfect for Pampering and Family - May 10, 2024
- Time Management: How to Say Yes to Your Highest Priorities - April 8, 2024