Mullis: When Shipt happens, the pantry is full

For years, I had my grocery shopping routine down pat. Monday morning, after dropping the kids off at school, I would hit the Columbia Street Meijer, grocery list in hand.

Shopping in Meijer at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday is a dream. There is hardly anyone in the store, all the shelves are being restocked, and the cashiers are experienced. I could usually get out in 45 minutes, at budget, with a preschooler in tow.

The time slot has been shifting as my preschoolers have became high-schoolers. This year my youngest is driving, so I took on more freelance work. Monday is a heavy deadline day. It’s no longer convenient to be at Meijer at 7:30 a.m.

The eating habits of my family, however, haven’t changed. By Monday morning, we are tapped out of everything. Lately, I’ve been grocery shopping after my last deadline, which is often around 4:30 p.m.

Shopping in Meijer at 4:30 p.m. on a Monday is not so dreamy – crowded aisles, crowded checkout lanes, crowded parking lots.

I could shop on the weekends, but those days are jam-packed with family events.

Besides, weekend grocery shopping makes Meijer at 4:30 p.m. on a weekday look like a cake walk.

My friend told me about Shipt, a grocery shopping and delivery service that works with Meijer. She gave it a try over the weekend. She selected her groceries, and two hours later, they arrived at her door.

Shipt sounded lovely, but it also sounded luxurious. It was bound to cost more, and there would be limits to coupons and, frankly, I shouldn’t need it. I’m just not budgeting my time well.

The Monday of Thanksgiving week arrived. My college daughter, who hadn’t been home in two months, was coming home. I wanted to make her favorites because, well, that’s what happens when you miss your kid. I also had to make pies for Thanksgiving Day at my in-laws. And, being Monday, we were out of everything and currently sharing the last roll of toilet paper between the two bathrooms.

Because it was a short week, my deadlines were more “dread-lines.” There were only two legitimate business days and no telling who would be in what office for how long. Fitting in grocery shopping was going to be a challenge, and I only had a half-completed list.

Panicked, I downloaded the Shipt app. My guilt made me hesitate.

Hiring a shopper was ridiculous. I know how to shop my store. I know what things should cost. I know what I’d do if something were missing…Wait! Was that the garbage truck?

I raced to the window in enough time to see the garbage truck rumbling past my house with me still in my robe and my garbage cans still in the garage.

Shipt was happening.

For 25 minutes I painstakingly selected only the things I needed for the next few days, recipe books and kitchen cupboards wide open.

I ended up with 38 items – 38 items that, if they were magically in my kitchen, would preserve my mental state. I placed the order, picking a time slot that would allow me to be dressed in daytime clothes and at my computer.

While I worked, my cell phone sat on my desk. My shopper texted when something was missing. She texted when she was leaving the store. My groceries arrived right on time, beautifully packed and undamaged. I couldn’t have done better myself, especially not on this day.

Yes, it cost a little more. No, I shouldn’t do this all the time. But this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for groceries delivered to my door.

Nicole L.V. Mullis is the author of “A Teacher Named Faith.” Contact her at nlvm.columns@gmail.com.