Business Owners: Moms and Their Kids Need Some Wooing

IT'S AMAZING how, especially to a mom, little conveniences make such a huge difference.

It’s true. The fact is that with two little kids, I have too much to do and too much to bring any time I have to run errands. I am constantly on the lookout for ways to simplify. And as the primary shopper in our household—research shows most moms make the main purchasing decisions in their families—that often translates into decisions about where to give our business.

So business owners, listen up!

My need to frequent businesses that are parent-friendly became especially clear last year when, pregnant with daughter No. 2, I was put on modified bed rest: No exercise, limited activity, feet up when possible and absolutely no lifting. Fantastic.

Every now and then, I did leave the house. But with a potty-training 2-year-old in tow, there was no way to avoid the public restrooms. The challenge came when we got to the sink. Let’s face it. A toddler rarely comes out of a self-potty experience with clean hands. And they certainly don’t have clean hands after scaling a public toilet (which mine had to do since I couldn’t lift her). But in most bathrooms, there is absolutely no way for a little one to reach the sink herself.

I remember the first time I encountered the problem. We were at a restaurant. My daughter was about to head back to the table to feed herself dinner and she was undoubtedly coated in public potty germs. Should I lift her just this once? Is it worth risking preterm labor and the health of her sister? No, it’s not. Can I let her skip hand washing just this once? No. Yuck.

So, I did the only thing I could think of. I got down on my knees, stuck out my leg and let her climb up me to the sink. It was a high sink so it took a foot to the shoulder to get the job done. As if the indignity of getting on the floor of a public restroom to act as a human stepladder wasn’t enough, I got to wave to horrified restroom-goers as they walked in to find a pregnant lady on the floor with a kid standing on her.

Hey, it worked. And I’ll tell you, that wasn’t the last time we employed our little circus act. You have to do what you have to do.

However, imagine my sheer joy when we happened upon a restaurant that had a stool in the restroom. Man, did they get our repeat business!

It turns out that, whether you’re on bed rest, have a baby in your arms, or are supervising a pre-teen’s shopping trip while pretending not to know her, going anywhere with kids is complicated and sometimes not much fun. Thankfully, some businesses have adapted to make a visit with kids more pleasant. And I have to believe their effort pays off.

Take dry cleaning. Carrying a huge bag of shirts (I swear my husband wears three shirts a day!) with a purse, preschooler in hand and baby on the hip is just not fun. For the first 2½  years of my life as a mom, I avoided going to the dry cleaner (OK, maybe that’s why the bag was always so full). Then I moved here and discovered that has a drive-through window. What a brilliant idea! Just roll up to their sliding glass door, roll down the window, exchange shirts and a credit card, and leave the kids right where they are. It’s a joy. I am sure there are hundreds of wonderful dry cleaners in the area. But I must say, I don’t think I will ever have the pleasure of giving them my business. Bakker’s is just too darn simple.

SAME GOES for stores. Make it easier for me to shop with my kids, and I will most likely choose you over your competition. Whether by having shopping carts with functional child seats, offering a play area (I hear the new playroom at the Kirkland opens in the next week!) where my kids can play safely while I shop, making aisles where stroller-pushing parents can maneuver without incident, or otherwise creating an atmosphere where parents can come with kids and have a semi-pleasant experience, you may just get some extra business. I must admit that when I can, I shop online (hello, Amazon Fresh!). There’s no toting, carrying or mayhem involved, and I save time and gas.

Coffee shops and lunch places are another one. It is such a pleasure to go out for a little treat and not have to worry about keeping the kids contained the whole time. That’s why even though we’re not big fast-food eaters, I’m a big fan of the on 100th Avenue Northeast in Kirkland. They have a nice, clean indoor play area for kids of all ages. The kids have a blast while I can sit and watch them get some exercise as a I sip a latte. We may even spring for some ice cream, or salad for me and nuggets, apples and milk for the kids. Not bad for a special treat! The Tot Spot Café in Woodinville is another one. How nice to go to a coffee shop where there’s a contained play area for the kids!

The list goes on. There are the places that provide entertainment while kids wait (thank you on Rose Hill for the coloring book) or the places with child care. I would love to do more yoga, for example, but I’ll stick to the yoga classes at my gym () because they have a place to bring the kids.

Now sure, not all businesses want to attract the child-toting crowd. I get that. Sometimes customers (including us parents when we don’t actually have our kids with us) prefer not to go somewhere with wee ones underfoot.

However, most of the time, I have my kids while I’m running errands and so do a lot of the parent purchasers out there. It sure would be nice if more places tried to woo us. Because I admit it. I can be wooed!

As I continue to seek out a parent-friendly portfolio of preferred vendors, I will do the best I can when I’m out and about, juggling kids, strollers, bags and assorted other things. Thankfully, you probably won’t find me sitting on a restroom floor anymore. But I can guarantee little else.

A mom has to do what a mom has to do.