I tend to lurk here but just having one of those mornings.
Had to take both children shopping as didn't have any money til today. DS ASD9 and DD NT nearly 8.
I made sure we went to Waitrose as DS can cope with that and it wasn't a massive shop but I had a couple of cards for him to read the items on. They were promised a treat and could choose it at the end of the other shopping. We even managed the post office beforehand. All went well with both children being quite well behaved and involved in the shopping til we get to the checkout. Sent them off with the green coins and then it all blew up. DD hit DS (probably gently) and then DS hit DD ( definitely not gently) so had DD crying her eyes out whilst trying to pack shopping. DS comes back and I have to tell him he's lost his treat - so major strop from him with him hitting himself in the head and screaming loudly, me still trying to pack shopping and stop him hurting himself and of course the whole of waitrose goes silent and you just know they're all looking at you (I've learnt to just focus on the children!). Eventually got out but had to take him to one side and just try and talk him through it whilst holding back the tears.
I'm so cross! It was just going so well and DS who doesn't read was really trying to read the things and was being so good up to the point that dd hit him that it seems really unfair not to give him his treat but I won't as we really need to stop the hitting.
One of the other reasons for using waitrose is that they'll often help with the packing but today no one offered to help and I had to ask for carrier bags in the middle of all this.
Just occasionally I'd like to be able to do things which don't end in a strop or meltdown or an argument. I know most of you will have been there so you'll get it!
Only 6 more days til they're back at school.