Mom’s Disneyworld: Target

Kids get giddy at Disneyworld; moms get giddy at Target!

Target (or ”Tar-zjay” as I refer to it) is in every mom’s daily vocabulary. I have yet to meet a mom who doesn’t frequent the store at least once a week (unless they are hanging out at Target’s well-known cousin, Walmart). So why do moms love Target so much? I’m about to tell you…..

The Early Morning Entrance
What other store is open at 8am? For those of us with early risers, 10am is the middle of the day and that’s when many stores are just opening their doors. If your kids wake up at 6am and by 8am you’re thinking, “I have to get out of this house. But where could I go this early? The mall isn’t even open yet,” then Target is your saviour. (Of course, this is probably just a marketing tactic. Sure, hit us when we are weak and desperate for something to do. They know we won’t be able to leave without at least 1 bag).

The Mini Dollar Store
The dollar section when you first walk in is like kryptonite. You want to walk right by it without even a glance, but you can’t. Inevitably, you’ll see something out of the corner of your eye, and even though  it wasn’t on your list 2 seconds earlier when you walked into the store, you suddenly realize you NEED it. Like the mini desk calendar. And the mini slinky. Ok, 2 mini slinkies. Oh, and the magnetic fridge pads to write down the things you need the next time you go to Target. (Now, the downside to the dollar section is that kids can’t ignore it either. Their little hands always seem to dive right into the bucket with the crappiest plastic toy in the aisle. And if you’re feeling particularly weak at that moment, they’ll be walking away with their new prize).

The Coffee Shop
I don’t remember when big chain stores started to house food courts and coffee shops, but that was one hell of a smart idea! My Target has a Starbucks in it, and even though I don’t drink coffee, I often stop for a hot chocolate to fuel my shopping trip. (And the occasional sweet treat as well). This becomes especially important if you are there at 8am, still groggy and wishing you were back in bed. My Target also has a mini Pizza Hut just in case I get stranded in the store for hours and need to eat (not that I would eat there unless I was literally about to pass out - have you seen the grubby teens that they employ at those in-store eateries?!).

Mom-Friendly = No Rude Looks
Since Target is so mom-friendly, if your child acts up, it’s likely that you won’t get those dirty looks that you’d get at some other stores. You know the looks. The “shut-your-kid-up-because-if-you-can’t-then-you-are-a-bad-mom” looks. I’m sure we’ve all gotten those before (and some of us may have even GIVEN those looks to other moms….of course, in our pre-mom days).

No-Receipt Returns
Unless you are one of those super anal, super organized moms who has their receipts filed away in little envelopes that are color-coordinated and alphabetized, you probably have to dig around in your wallet for a receipt when you are making a return. I try really hard to dedicate one section of my wallet for receipts so I can find them easily should a return be necessary, but I still find myself unable to find that one receipt I need when I am standing at customer service. This is where Target is a lifesaver. As long as you have the credit card you used to purchase the item, you don’t even need the receipt. They can look up the item and return it just by scanning your credit card. In my opinion, this is a space-saver (no need to keep all those Target receipts for months and months…which adds up if you’re there as much as I am), and a time saver (saving time at customer service means that you have longer to shop before your child loses their ability to hold it together).

If It’s Good Enough For Them….

Why do you love Target?