Have you ever found yourself in Target or any other store leisurely strolling down the aisles, only to be surprised with an ear piercing shriek? Target is not the only place this happens, but I have personally experienced this many times in that store from both sides. One being the mother of the screaming child and two, listening and seeing another mother deal with her screaming child. Target has it all, toys, food and clothing which can make it the perfect storm for toddler tantrums.
Most of the time the children are crying for ludicrous reasons like:
Not buying birthday balloon, just because.
Preventing the child from licking the cart.
Not buying the matchbox car the child wanted on the shelf.
Putting white socks in the cart instead of pink.
Refusing to spend double the money on character panties and buying the more basic panties with hearts, flowers and ice cream cones.
The person next to us in the checkout line didn’t say hi back.
I pulled the candy out of my child’s mouth that she found on the floor.
I would not let him wear his swim goggles in the store.
I made my child put on shoes.
I gave my child a peach sucker instead of a strawberry one.
Children do not understand why they are told no to a behavior that they feel is acceptable. The result is a melt down in the middle of wherever they are because they feel they are being treated unfairly. As adults we do not often need permission to do as we please, we move through our day making our own choices. Could you imagine your anger if someone tried to pull a taco from you hand just before you put it in your mouth? Could you then imagine them speaking to you in words you only half understood, because remember, small children are just learning language.
If all my decisions were always made for me, I would be frustrated too. It is hard being a child in a grown up world where we are the ones often choosing everything for our children. I know as an adult if I am told no, I do not like it, but I do know that I cannot just scream about like a toddler. Although, there are days that I wish I could just scream at the top of my lungs and throw myself on the floor.
I applaud you mama, for staying strong for not giving in to your screaming child. I have been there more times than I can count. It can be so hard to stand your ground and not give in when people are staring at you as you push your cart with your screaming child inside, or maybe your child has splayed themselves out on the floor in the toy aisle. I have been there too mama, let them stare, hold your head up high and know that you are helping your child not hindering them.
If you always said yes, then your child would grow up to be a very unhappy adult who will be disappointed when the world continues tell them no! Let’s face it, as adults we hear the word “NO” more often than yes.
This doesn’t just happen in a stores this happens everyday in our houses as well. I recently watched an Instagram story where a child was screaming on the kitchen floor. The mother’s voice chimes in to say, “Want to know why she is crying? I would not let her eat the wrapper on the cupcake!”
The child in this photo, is my own, taken this week. Yes, it is December in Ohio and rainy instead of snowy, which is why she has rain boots and a raincoat on. As I was grabbing a new hair brush off the shelf for my 11 year old I noticed she was under the cart. As an experienced mom of 5 I know letting them ride under the cart always ends up in pinched or hurt something. I told her she had to get out and walk. She then proceeded to negotiate and cry hoping I would let her stay. I stood my ground as she every so slowly inched out from under the cart at a snails pace, stopping to lay her head on the floor to cry even longer.
I am not the queen of patience, but I gritted my teeth together and waited as onlookers gawked at myself, 2 boys and my 5 year old on the floor of our local Meijers.
It’s okay mama, none of us are perfect we are just doing our best.
