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Originally Posted by MaddiesMommie   My husband and I helped my SIL and had my niece a LOT when she was younger and she was DIFFICULT to say the least. I have had my fair share of embarrassments in public places with her.  I got some "looks" from ppl as if I could snap a finger and make her stop. I just smiled and went on. 
I tend to overlook screaming babies/toddlers and feel sorry for the parents. There were times when I could not leave and other times I was able to and did. It is hard. Get ready girl, you will have your times too. |
I used to get really irritated at parents who had those screaming tantrum kids in the stores.. but then I had a child of my own.. I realized, terrible 2's and HORRIBLE 3's is not easy when you are the parent.. I was a nanny and my kids behaved much better for me than my own child did during those times.. (Funny because the parents of the kids I was a nanny for used to say their kids behaved better for me than for them.. wasn't the case with my own child) What made it even harder was that my daughters tantrums in the grocery store or where ever were designed to make us leave.. She hated being in stores and she went through a couple months where every single time we'd walk into a store she'd go from a sweet cute little girl to a screaming kicking mess so we would leave.
Didn't matter what the punishment was after we left because she got what she wanted, we left.. (Trust me, I understand now how some parents could whip their kids black and blue, not that I think it is ever ok, or that I would do it.. but I understand the frustration) Eventually I had to suffer the stares, comments and embarrassment of not leaving so I could teach her a lesson.
As a single mom I couldn't just leave her home, we needed groceries to eat, and she needed to learn that throwing a tantrum did NOT get her what she wanted.. Not only did we stay in the store, I told her we would not leave until she stopped screaming or crying, and after we got home she would be spending time in the corner as well.. I tried to plan out my shopping trips for times I knew the store of my choice wasn't very busy so we disturbed the fewest number of people.. Eventually my daughter learned that being quiet in the store was the fastest way to get out of the store..
But for awhile there, I was THAT parent.. and it was awful being that parent believe me.. sometimes there is a LOT more to it than just not being able to control your kids.. tantrums happen, even to the best behaved 3 year olds.. I apologize to each and every person who ever had to listen to my daughter when she went through that phase.. Trust me, I know it is frustrating and irritating for you.. it was 100x worse for me.. I couldn't just walk away or leave the store and not have to deal with it anymore.
Now at 5 my daughter is very well behaved, and people comment on how much better behaved she is than a lot of kids her age.. There is no way to teach them how to behave in public while keeping them locked away in private.. Same with our dogs too! lol