Very true, Beth...and I'm sorry to hear about the tears; they come to all of us, trust me. When I only had 2 little ones and a newborn, I taught my older two to always hold my skirts with one hand and for my little girl to hold her own skirt with the other hand (to keep her from touching things and so I would always know where they are). I have seven children now and we have them pair up. At the moment, I wear the baby in a wrap and have the toddler in the shopping cart. My other children will pair up leaving 1 free (usually the oldest). We generally walk with Daddy in the front, children paired up walking behind him, and me with the buggy last. If I need to be up with my husband, then my oldest son takes over the shopping cart. This means though that I can see everything and gently make corrections as needed. It takes time and I believe has helped that we've consistently grocery shopped together as a family from little on with them.

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"Forgiveness is primarily for our own sake, so that we no longer carry the burden of resentment. But to forgive does not mean we will allow injustice again." --Jack Kornfield