A Long Time Ago in a Supermarket Not So Far, Far Away…

Everything has a beginning—even a simple story about a family of shopping carts.

And no, this story didn’t originate in a faraway galaxy.

And no, there weren’t any rebel forces to battle or a hidden starbase to destroy.

This simple story began as all stories begin—from the act of finding joy in an ordinary action that, in turn, brings joy back to you when you acknowledge that action.

The joy—

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child sitting in a shopping cart—knowing that the reaching and dreaming and hoping for what was just out of its grasp was the beginning steps of a growing and curious mind.

The action—

Recognizing that the reaching and dreaming and hoping for what was just out of grasp is a life-long journey of discovery to be nurtured and encouraged and supported in any way I can.

From that, three decades ago, The Cartlin Carts story was born—inspired by my own “carts” and the experiences that sprang from our trips to the supermarket.

Grocery Shopping with a Toddler

My oldest cart, barely a toddler at the time, was my exuberant shopping buddy.

She loved sitting in the cart’s front seat, holding our shopping list tightly in her tiny hands while swinging her legs and feet to her own crazy rhythm.

As I filled the basket with our groceries, one particular item on the list kept my little cart occupied for three whole aisles worth of concentrated shopping time!

She would clutch that yellow box tightly to her chest and trace her tiny finger over the hundreds of O’s pictured on the front—allowing me a few minutes of uninterrupted peace to finish my shopping.

Happiness Comes in Many Different Shapes

But true joy came when we turned the corner into the BAKERY department!

I would pick out the freshest French bread loaf I could find and watch as my little cart’s beloved yellow box was quickly tossed aside (usually onto the floor), waiting to be replaced by a handful of the soft, warm bread.

I would tear off the end of the loaf while her tiny fingers strained to grab the piece from me.

She would gnaw and gum and work her baby teeth over every part of the bread until the entire piece was wet with slobber—all the while her crazy cart dance growing more and more lively from her seat.

The joy on her face danced up to her eyes as she looked at me—wet French bread hanging out of her mouth, and her shirt covered in drool and crumbs.

An Idea was Born

I was blessed to have many more moments like that with my baby girl cart.

Five years later, we made even more memories when my baby boy cart was born.

Thousands of shopping trips later, an idea was born—inspired by the antics of their childhood whimsy and play.

Take a Moment.

Think back and remember…

When you were a child, didn’t you desperately want all those magical items high on the shelf and out of reach to find their way into your basket?

I sure did!

Or maybe you were a runner, zipping around the corners as your dad tried to corral your energy and buckle you into the cart seat?

Did you spend long moments scanning every magazine on the shelf, searching for a coloring book?

Or maybe you were a tween, looking for the new MAD Magazine?

(I am guilty of many MAD Magazine moments.)

The Cartlin Carts

The memories of my carts’ antics were the inspiration for The Cartlin Carts. My own frantic and hilarious shopping experiences have inspired me to create Jack and his cart family. To have Jack live out those experiences once again for the child in you and me.

But most importantly, Jack and the Cartlin Carts are for every child who ever sat in a shopping cart seat and wondered what it would be like if their shopping cart could talk.

Come along with us and find out!

Resources

13 Ways to Encourage Curiosity in Children That Most Parents Ignore

Why Curiosity is the Most Important Skill to Teach Your Child