Sinfest

[Thy Brilliance]

I was more of a "setting stuff on fire" kid than a "tantrum" kid.

[CTrees]

[mouse]

[CTrees]

[eureka00]

Oh hey, I kinda forgot about this thread. Well, not only am I teacher but I was also a parent educator for several years. You have no idea how many parents would call telling me they couldn't get through a store trip with their child.

I agree that they aren't getting what they want, Mouse. However, the child does win some control over you. They were able to determine when you were leaving the store, and you probably didn't get everything you wanted. They would probably throw a tantrum again on the next trip to the store, and you would eventually have to give in or never get all your shopping done. As horrible as it sounds, to really "win" here you would have to continue shopping in the store normally whilst dragging the screaming child. /ignore. Please never start the "you get a reward for behaving in the store". Please god! Some children would respond very well to being removed from the store, Mouse, and I in fact would probably try this first before attempting the drag through the store and /ignore. Some kids are just more manipulative than others.

Going out with your child is about setting them up for success. Have they had a nap? Been fed? Changed? Did you bring a drink along? I have to do grocery shopping and other errands with my daughter all the time because I stay at home with her. My husband works crazy hours and weekends too so I'm pretty sure we'd be starved if I had to wait for him to get home to get groceries. The idea is simply ludicrous that I wait or that I expect someone else to watch her so I can run to the store. Children do need to get out and experience the world or they will never know how to behave in it. As much as we'd like to keep them at home forever and never let them out because of all the crazies out there.
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Eureka00: "Reminding you of your addictions" since 1982.