Here are my tips for a smooth day at the grocery store experience.
Grocery shop first thing in the morning or when your child wakes up from a nap. Feed your child before going out and take along snacks that are easily available for your children. Make sure that your children have their favorite toy or blanket. Talk to your children about the food you are buying and tell your children how proud you are of their behaviour. Don't ever reward your children with un-paid for food in the grocery store, or they will expect it every time you shop.
Although there is no controlling when and where your child will have their outburst, I feel it's still not polite to let children continuously scream or have a full melt downs in a public place and the last thing I want to see is a parent ignoring their child or making excuses for their behaviour. Oh, don't get me wrong.., I let my children have plenty of melt downs - just not in the middle of a public place.
I would give my screaming child an opportunity to tell me what's wrong and then (one extra warning), if it continued then I would stop all activity, pick up the child having the melt down and speak calmly to my other children saying,"it's time to go." Yes, I may walk out with all 4 of my kids crying, but it only took 3 times before all of my children understood the consequence, "Mommy means business." I never had to be angry or yell. I would continue lots conversations during the walk home or the drive home and within 5 minutes all kids and I were smiling again. Unfortunately for me, we would start all over the next day - BUT IT WORKED! This is just my opinion. How do you handle your children during a tantrum? What works for you?
People, it's important to remember that we're all guilty of grocery store misconduct at one time or another. Grocery shopping can be stressful. especially if we're pressed for time or are dealing with money issues or just having a bad day. Try to remember this may the first time that this parent is encountering the screaming toddler, so smile or don't smile, but walk away.
Wow I can totally relate to this. My husband works night shift/ sleeps during the day so I usually do the grocery shopping. I have a 2 and a half year old and a 6 month old, and struggle with it every time. A few weeks ago I was just finished paying for my groceries and my daughter started acting up. I was carrying my 6 month old juggling groceries on arms and tryin to grab a 2 year olds hand. Yes I probably should have gotten a shopping cart, i know better for next time. It was my most stressful outing yet. People could clearly see that I was stuggling to get out to my car, and yet they just stared. If I EVER see another parent struggling the way I did I'm not just going to watch ill make sure I lend a helping hand. Please, you have no idea how hard it is to shop with toddlers until you experience it
ReplyDeleteAwe, Anonymous that is so sad that no one came to your aid (I would have) Shopping with toddlers can be a huge struggle, but sometime people just don't know if they should step in to help or not "?" Seriously people.., help.., even if we may look like we will rip a strip off you, "we will smile in the end". Right anonymous?
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