The Trouble with Double.
I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard the phrase ‘double trouble’ while out shopping with the Twinadoes. Then I’d be able to afford to buy the girls new shoes every month, that is if I could find two pairs in the same damn size! It is not my girls that are the trouble, it is finding anything in double that drives me nuts!
Yesterday the kids and I hiked into the suburbs for a bit of retail therapy. There were a few things that I needed to buy before we go on holidays in a few weeks time. Things that should have been pretty easy to find, but that is never the case for me.
Our first stop was a big baby store where we bought the girls new booster seats. It all seemed to go so well, a little too well perhaps? We walked in, we looked at a couple, chose one that fitted and wasn’t too expensive and paid for them. It wasn’t until I was fiddling around with them installing them in the Big White Van that I noticed that one of the seats (which had been the floor stock one) had a crack in the head rest foam. So back in we go to explain the problem.
“No problem” the sales lady says “I’ll just go and get you another one”.
She disappears out the back and seems to be gone a very long time. When she returns she is empty handed.
“I’m sorry” she says “We don’t have any more in stock…. do you really need two???”
Umm hello? Take a look lady – Do you see these here, these dragging on my arms whining for sushi… do you see these TWO small children…
“Yes I need two” I say “will you be getting any more in in the next few weeks?”
Off she goes and organises another to be delivered sometime next week and off we go with one devastated child who can’t understand why she doesn’t get a new seat as well.
We eat sushi and drink milkshakes and feel somewhat better about the car seat fiasco. We head off to Target to look for some shoes. The girls spy a pair of shoes with rainbow hearts on them. Amazingly they are shoes I would actually agree to buy them. In fact they are perfect in so many ways. They are Dunlop Volleys, slip on runners so they are practical and should last. They are not pink (a HUGE bonus to get Izzy to agree to anything un-pink) and don’t have some atrocious pattern or sparkles on them, they simple have a pattern of repeating rainbow hearts. They are even the right size, plus, they are on sale, 20% off.
“Yes! For sure you can have these shoes!” I say, excited that for a change the three of us all agree whole heartedly on a potential purchase. Then I look around, searching for the rows of heart shoes to find a second pair in size 9. Nope… not another heart shoe in the place. You have to be kidding me!
I accost an unsuspecting sales girl who happens to be unpacking a box of shoes that say ‘Dunlop’ on the side of them and ask her if there are any more.
“We only have what you see” she says.
“Are you sure?” I ask in desperation seeing more of the same shoes but in boyish prints, thinking perhaps the girly prints were hidden somewhere else.
“We only have these here” pointing to the boy prints “there are lots there”
“Yes” I say ” but I need another pair like this, exactly the same, in size 9″
“Why do you need two pairs the same?” She asks, looking at me like I am some kind of maniac.
Hello! People! Do you not see the two very similar looking children at my side who are currently fighting over who is going to get the coveted pair of heart shoes?????????
We tried several other shops for shoes, the only other pair we all agreed one, once again didn’t have two pairs in the right size. The very helpful sales lady suggested that I could buy one pair in the bigger size. What and just choose who wears the too big pair of shoes? Or maybe they should both wear one shoe that fits and one that is too big??? I know she was just trying to be helpful, and at least this time she figured out for herself why I was after two pairs of the same shoes, but by that stage I was already in a ‘double trouble funk’ and the next person who made some stupid twin comment was going to cop and ear-full no matter if she was a nice old lady!
Why? WHY? Why?
Why is it that we can walk through the shopping centre minding our own business and have a hundred total strangers stop us to ask “Are they twins?” or say “oooh Double Trouble!” but when I make a very reasonable request for two of the same items no one seems to notice that I might need two of the same thing because I have twins.. they all just think I am nuts!
Why? WHY? Why can we never find two of the same item in the same size? Why is there never two pairs of jeans in size 4? There is fifteen pairs in size 3 and eight pairs in size 5 but only on one pair in the size we need? Why are we doomed to find something we all agree on buying only to find that there isn’t a second one in the known universe???? WHY?
If anyone in Melbourne happens to go to a Target store that has two pairs of Dunlop Volleys in size 9 with rainbow heart prints, can you please let me know.
Oh yes, don’t you just love the twin comments? I still can’t get over people asking “Are they twins?”. Honestly! As if the answer isn’t obvious. Then they have the nerve to get offended when I say “No, they’re cousins.” Stupid question, stupid answer, I think.
Luckily I haven’t had many problems with finding double items and the girls don’t dress the same either, which helps.
Good luck on your shoe hunt! Maybe try an online store?
Aw, Kate! ((HUGS)) I can check Frankston for you. Did you already check Southland? How long is the sale on for though?
Oh I can only imagine – I am really sorry that (a) your stores were staffed by stupids today, and (b) that they couldn’t see ALL of you coming and get in the required stock.
So, are they really twins, or do you just really love tormenting the crowds? You could always look at them, jump back and say “OMG!!!! You’ve duplicated! I TOLD you to stay away from Mummy’s photocopier.”
I think its hilarious given how similar your girls are that people still ask “Are the twins?”. I’m sure its pretty annoying for you though.
What a bummer about the clothes and shoes and idiotic sales staff. Hope you find something good soon. I agree with Alison – online might be a good idea?
up until i was in my early teens, people always used to look at me and my sister (18m younger and looked nothing like me) and say “are you twins?” no, we’re not. “oh, just best friends?” Uh, no, we’re sisters. People regularly couldn’t tell us apart! Um, one has brown curly hair, one has straight blond hair…among other things…is it THAT hard? Oh, wait, I forgot: people don’t look.
I’m sorry it was such a rough day! I confess I do the VAST majority of my shopping online too. :)
Oh I understand all of that SO well. Twice over in fact.
I’m going to Target tomorrow. I’ll have a look for you.
This is so funny Kate, coz I was actually thinking about this the other day!!! I often think of you now while hanging washing :P and I wondered if you had to hang lots of the same clothes, and whether you bother with who it actually belongs to, or if it’s just a shared cupboard of clothes.
And since I’m on the topic… thanks for the laundry tips. Some that I have used (maybe from the links you provided as well) are to hang the sheets in a U shape across 2 lines, and to hang my ironing clothes in a separate section of the closet until ironing day.
And while I’m thinking of it, I think this might be an idea for you… you mentioned leaving pegs on the line for the little things… I recommend one of those hanging things that have about 12 pegs attached. They cost $2 at the Reject shop. I use these to hang socks and jocks. I have three of them, and they save so much room on the line, and if it rains (big if there!!!) you can just grab the hanger easily and take it inside to hang somewhere.
Sorry for rambling!
sorry you had a crappy day.
People are stupid. The end.
I have nothing else to add.
hugs
How oh how did you find my new blog? I barely finished setting it up!
Anyway it was lovely to catch up with you in blog land once again, and I’m sorry for laughing at your miserable day, but you do have such a wonderful way with words….
I am sending my best “Find Size 9 Dunlop Volley Rainbow Heart Shoe x 2” vibes….
Hugs :-)
I will be heading out to a large shopping centre that contains a Target tomorrow, and will swing by and see what they have!
Firstly, I love Jeanie’s comment:
So, are they really twins, or do you just really love tormenting the crowds? You could always look at them, jump back and say “OMG!!!! You’ve duplicated! I TOLD you to stay away from Mummy’s photocopier.”
I have seen those shoes (am planning to get some for my little Miss) – I could mail some to you (I’m in NSW and they always have loads of size 9’s, but never any of the particular size little Miss needs!) Let me know :)
Oh man…people really don’t pay attention at all, do they? What a ridiculous thing to ask about the car seats! Of COURSE you need two! People are just so self involved, I would say.
Sorry about your trouble shopping. Sounds just awful.
Good luck with the shoes! Perhaps one of your lovely readers will stumble upon them for you!
That sounds incredibly frustrating. I have a similar problem with my DD and I’m only looking for 1 pair. She’ll get her heart SET on a pair but do you think they have any left in her size??? *sigh*
Oh Kate! What a shocker!
Kate you write about twin life so well and accurately! I have been there – standing in Target with two screaming children fighting over something becasuse there is only one. And why do people who say ‘double trouble’ think they are so original and funny? I hope your day today was better.
Kate – I sympathise with you too – so many times I find things I like but they only one in that size. Not that they care yet but I do – not even if they are the same but similar style – no!.
The care seat women – what a nut .
Do you know the downside … when you try to squish two left (or right) feet shoes on your child (DH did this lol) or the kids do as I heard one twin club mum say. She wondered why her 4yr old son was walking funny while out shopping -then it dawned he had his own and his brother’s left shoe on – the brother was wearing different shoes of course.