Because kids tend to eat food and inevitably that food will run out, you’re gonna need to go back to the grocery store at some point. Sigh, here we go again.

Even though you swore you would NEVER be the mother that feeds her kids while shopping, by the time the cashier is asking you “paper or plastic,” 40% of your food has already been nibbled or sampled by the tiny humans in your cart. Just surviving the grocery store with kids in tow is hard enough, and if you’ve successfully navigated the Big Bad Grocery Store, the parking lot should be a piece of cake. But we know that’s not the case. So let me make your trip to grab some grub a little easier with…

The parking spot deemed for “new and expectant moms” seems like a gem in the jungle known as the grocery store parking lot, but that light dims out for most of us pretty quickly when we are no longer expectant or new at this gig. Oh yes, there are moms that push the limits and lay claim to this spot even when they no longer look like they should be in the delivery room or are carting the infant carrier that weights 10 times the infant inside. I’m looking at you lady with the teenagers!

While I cannot even begin to imagine the trials and tribulations you are going through with your hormonal, eye rolling, One Direction lovin’ babe on the brink of puberty, unless you are going to strap that tween into an Ergo and wear her through the store, get out of that spot.

But for those of us whose time has passed in the coveted spot near the door but still have to deal with the wide load, double car cart, come on over to my side and let me show you my “sweet spot.”

Sometimes I can hear my Dad barking at me “Don’t park next to the cart corral because some idiot is going to hit you.” Well, Dad, I’m sure those cart wielding idiots will do a lot less damage to my car than my children do weekly to my sanity while grocery shopping.

Dings and dents are aplenty on my sweet ride but it’s no skin off my back because I was able to easily load up the kids and rush to the deli section where free samples of cheese and ham will keep the kids entertained just long enough for me to sprint through the bread and milk aisle.

Grocery shopping is hard enough with kids, your parking spot shouldn’t be. So enjoy my sweet spot. Unless I’m at the store. In that case…beat it!