Stroller Trauma

Okay, so we have a double in-line stroller. It's great because the same carriers that click into the car bases also click into the stroller, alleviating the need for you to physically unstrap your babies. The only stupid thing is that the one closest to the stroller handle often gets stuck. I am still unclear as to why this happens. It happens with both carriers, but only in the back seat of the stroller...not in the front one. Generally, when it gets stuck, Aaron gets it unstuck. When I'm out with Alec and Emma alone, I've always just been able to wiggle the carrier around a bit to get it to click out. Well, obviously, the day that I would not be able to get it to click out would be cold, windy and starting to spit cold rain. I had to go to Walmart to get some baby fruit and some chicken broth for the soup I'm making for dinner. When we got back out to the car, Emma came out fine. She was in front. Alec didn't. I worked for a good five minutes trying to get him out of the stroller. Finally, I decided that I needed someone stronger than myself. I asked a cart boy, but he couldn't get it and gave up fairly quickly. Then I asked the gentleman ringing the Salvation Army bell. He stood there and worked with the stroller and the carrier for a good ten minutes. (It was cold!) A vending machine dude came up to try to help, but he was afraid that his mammoth strength would break it. Another mom also tried to help out. Finally, the Salvation Army man saw this one piece of the clicker that was sticking out. When I pushed it in it fully clicked the carrier, which in turn allowed it to un-click. If you've never worked with a baby carrier...I know you must be scratching your head right now. But I was so relieved to finally get Alec out of the stroller. If I couldn't get his carrier out of the stroller, I couldn't buckle him into the car and I couldn't fold up the stroller and I couldn't leave. Emma slept in the car while all of this took place. Of course they were both very well bundled up, and Alec didn't get too disgruntled with the slew of people shaking his stroller around, but it was still very traumatic to me...that on the worst weather day yet that we've been out in, this had to happen. But thank God for the nice bell ringer man. Needless to say, I made a large donation to his kettle today. And I encourage you to do the same, because not only does the Salvation Army minister to homeless and hungry men, women and children...they help out mothers with stroller issues too!