Tantrum in public

[CMc94]

I feel bad. DS wasn't cooperative today at shopping and I had to put him in his buggy even though he fought it. It was loud and lots of tears. I felt bad afterwards. Anyone been there in a situation like that?

They also have a habit of needing an urgent wee just as you've worked your way to the front of the checkout queue & have all your shopping on the conveyor belt. 😡

Wait, what?! Is every day not like that with a toddler? Is mine broken 🤣

No never heard of such a thing happening before. Ever.

Yeah. Does seem an odd question to be asking.

Asking if any of us that are parents had never had to deal with a tantrumming child might be quicker.

Weird question are we writing an essay?

I saw a toddler drop a receipt recently she had been holding on to in her buggy. There was epic big feelings going on and a perplexed dad.

Felt like king of the toddlers when I gave her it back and she stopped.

They're a law unto themselves those little humans

Could be an AI learning experience.

In case it's not, OP, I had five kids. Come back to me when you've got three all tantrumming at once (over different things). THAT was a challenging day.

Honestly, this is likely to be the first of many!

Any parent who says it never happened to them is just damn lucky.

DC1 only had a single tantrum as a toddler - it was very memorable. I wasn't an amazing parent, he was just a placid toddler. DC2 on the other hand would have them almost hourly 😂

Ha! As a supermarket worker I can tell you we have a loads of them. But every time that happens I always think, it is better they do it outside than home. Who cares? Kids will be kids but I do judge a bit when parents says no and then caves and give in, mixt signals people!

Buy the picture book ‘Meltdown!’ by Jill Murphy. It’s great and will be cathartic for you both.

Children are all different as we all know.

I remember taking DS to a friend's house for a Christmas party with other mums from our antenatal group when all the children were about 2 years old. There were 4 of us - 3 had <very active boys> the host had a little girl.

As we entered the house a friend commented on our host's madness at having cream carpets, walls etc.

Within 30 minutes one child had dragged the vacuum cleaner out of a cupboard & was looking for somewhere to plug it in, my son had re-programmed the video recorder (we're talking about 16 years ago) & another child had managed to bring the Christmas tree down. The host was distraught. We said - 'don't you have locks on your cupboards & why don't you have the tree on an unreachable table?' She answered that her daughter was a 'good girl' & that she didn't need them.

Funnily enough about 6 months later she had her second child &, when we visited 2 Christmases later there were cupboard locks, a small Christmas tree out of children's reach.

She admitted that she thought we were bad parents who were unable to control our children & hadn't realised that not all children are as biddable as her first child. 😂

Dear god yes. My son's toddler trantrums were epic. Sometimes he'd lie on his stomach screeching his lungs out and I couldn't lift him up. It was as if he'd been superglued to the floor. More than once I sustained a black eye from him where he'd be so out of control. I once actually walked out of a small local supermarket and left him in the isle screaming the place down and pulling things off the shelves. I took five seconds fresh air and then went back. He was frequently like a thing possessed.

Oh had to do the same. He was like a drunk, completely not responsible for his own behaviour. Had to be removed from the premises! 😆

Oh yes. The burning embarrassment as they scream and writhe like you're killing them. Your brain telling you that every body is looking at you and judging you (they're not - most will either be glad it's not them or are sympathetic).

This too will pass. (Onto the next parenting challenge)

Every parent ever

Yea lots of times. It can't be helped and most people have experienced similar. I'm sure most people are sympathising with you and not thinking badly.

My son once lay on the floor and screamed his head off in a garden centre because he wanted a ride on lawnmower. I had to carry him out under my arm while he roared and screamed , it's just a phase they all go through

Haha, it difficult. One of my dc used to plank, it was near impossible, had to tickle and clip in at bloody lightening speed.

Every parent has been in this situation, everyone!!

We were once at a busy theme park on holiday. There was a ride that was very popular, big queues etc. Each unit took two children each. All other children were sharing with siblings, friends etc. DC1 flat out refused to share with DC2, wanted one all to herself. Ain't happening, missie, DH had to lift her up and away kicking and howling. Ain't parenting fun. 😅

No that’s an example of permissive parenting. Not gentle parenting.

I had an appointment at the bank the other day and no childcare options, so I had my 2YO and 8 week old baby in a double buggy. The lovely lady told my 2YO he was allowed to get out and sit in the big boy chair, absolutely fine, until I had to try and get him back in the chair. Mortifying. I just kept calm whilst basically wrestling an alligator into the buckle. All you can do is stay calm in that situation and know that no one is judging you. I walked out the bank with him still screaming and I said loudly to the manager dealing with me as I left, "apologies for the noise, you know what toddlers are like". And she said "absolutely don't even worry about it, you're doing a great job" 🥰

I opened this not knowing if it was going to be about a small child or a partner. It's about a small child - you're all good.

Lost count how many times

Don't worry about it

We've all been there. Many times I bundled my raging child into the buggy and fastened them in still shrieking.

I always found it best to just secure them into the buggy and then ignore the tantrum after that. It might have felt l like it was going on forever, but nearly always they did blow themselves out after just a few minutes.

Ignore other people. Most are probably just relieved that it either isn't their child, or that their child has now outgrown that stage.

It will pass.

Yes, the one that sticks in my mind most is carrying DD kicking and screaming through the car park at the seaside and having to man handle her into her car seat. Thankfully she's only ever done that once or twice. DS has had several.