Mom Bloggers: It’s Target’s Fault That My Kids Won’t Behave

Parenting is officially dead.

This weekend, Target announced that they were bringing their short-lived “tiny carts” experiment to an end after a barrage of complaints from irritated parents. The carts were introduced at 72 Target stores this month. Intended for children, the small-sized carts became the subject of intense social media hatred almost immediately.

From a CBS station in Minnesota:

Most notably, one mom and blogger penned a tirade against the carts online, which was shared hundreds of times by frustrated moms and dads who shop at Target.

“This tiny, red thing, with wheels and a really cute flag that makes it look innocent but it’s actually there (admit it) to warn everyone close that whatever is at the bottom of that flag is bringing DANGER AND PAIN AND STRIFE and that they should run in the opposite direction,” wrote Laura Rinas, creator of the blog laughing without limits and a self-described “full-time mama, wife, business owner, woman of God.”

Another mom blogger – This Grateful Mama – said: “Tiny carts for tiny people. So cute, yet SO terrible. My ankles do not thank you. Nor do my wallet and sanity. #makethemgoaway.”

Another woman on Twitter complained: “Cause shopping with kids wasn’t bad enough lets just give the kids little carts! Thanks a lot!”

Mayhem

No one accused the national retailer of forcing their children to use the carts, which is odd, because we can only assume that’s what Target did. What other explanation could make sense? Judging by these remarks, moms all over the country were utterly unable to prevent their children from:

Buying things the moms didn’t want to buy

Running into them (repeatedly) with the carts

Making the trip take much longer

Using the carts in the first place

Granted, some of the blog posts were probably not intended to be entirely serious, but the backlash did indeed force Target to get rid of the carts.

These women will doubtlessly celebrate their triumph, but maybe instead of writing a post bragging about their influence, they should use the warm glow of victory to reflect on their own parenting skills. In other words, stop calling yourself a “mama” online and start actually being one. If a small red cart is all it takes to unravel your parental authority, you don’t have time for blogging.