Old habits die hard

And, apparently, they don’t have to be that old. Two years should do it.

I went shopping yesterday. Without Ashleigh. Something that hasn’t happened in a long (long long long long) time.

Luckily, it hasn’t been so long (long long long long) that I’ve forgotten how to. I now have a new skirt, a new pair of jeans, a new cardi, a new jumper, some new black flat boots, and the same lovely husband who somehow views the shopping trip as far less ‘successful’ than I do. Go figure.

I also managed to do the Christmas shopping, the weekly grocery shop, a library visit and a quick prescription fill. And eat brunch, lunch, dessert, and snacks. A girl can’t shop on an empty stomach, right?

I didn’t have Ashleigh with me. Consciously, I knew that I didn’t have Ashleigh with me. But old habits die hard. There are some things that my subconscious still insisted on doing:

• Cursing the fellas in the hotted-up ute who stole the last parent parking spot
• Singing along to ‘Hot Potato’ when it came on in one department store (luckily, I caught myself before adding the accompanying dance moves)
• Going to the parents’ room instead of the ladies’ room
• Counting the mushrooms out loud at the supermarket
• Rocking the trolley while I waited at the checkout (this despite the fact that Ashleigh is now two and well past needing this)

If only there were a mum-switch I could flick off before solo shopping expeditions. And rare nights out. And sleeping.

Do you have a mum-switch? Can you turn it off when you don’t need it?