I swear that every time we walk into a store -- it's like the whole world comes apart for these two boys. Like suddenly they forget every bit of sense their little bodies had and they become two of the biggest hyenas I've ever witnessed.
I feel people looking at me like I haven't taught them any better, which I can assure them... I have. I continue to tell them that people aren't going to want to be around them if they continue acting like this, but it really falls on deaf ears. Am I alone? Is it their age? Is it the fact that they are only 6 months apart?
I have no idea. We can be at home, with them acting completely civil -- go out for a quick errand, and they act like they can't hold it together. Running around the grocery cart, smacking each other, trying to squish their brother inside the carts that have the "driving car" on the front... then finally they are not even riding IN the stupid driving car that they desperately had to have. It's my favorite to be pushing those impossible to steer carts with no children inside.
It's a problem, and I'm not sure what to do about it. Should I ignore them, and have confidence that it'll stop? It's the same thing at restaurants... so I feel like I've got to train them somehow, but then there is the deaf ear problem. Oiy! Boys!
Help a momma out... why are my children crazy in public? Are yours? Can you at least tell me yours are so that I'll feel better? I know most of you have angelic children because I see them in the grocery store and wonder why mine are doing doughnuts around the cart which everyone else has their kids sitting still in their cart.
So sorry! I hate it when I feel out of control in public. It's the worst. My 5yr old in 2wks does not act like this in public generally unless we are with a certain friend & then he gets crazy silly & is unable to hear a word I say.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an expert but you asked for some tips (right? Maybe?). I find that my son figured out when I would be less strict or throw up my hands in "I can't! I don't know what to do! I give up!" He got my number around 3.5. So they could have gotten your number. Some parents are against reward systems but if at my wits end I would totally bribe- "if you act the way I expect at the store you get a lollipop, candy, ice cream whatever" same at the restaurant- "special treats for good behavior." Or if it works better (it doesn't for us) take away "no bedtime stories, screen time, etc if you don't behave." I would also take the culprit out of the restaurant to sit in the car or lobby for 5-10min or the rest of the time. Not enjoyable in the moment but usually this only has to happen once. Harder in the grocery store. And there's always the more organic punishment - if you don't behave you put away the groceries when we get home or if you don't behave you have kitchen/dishwasher duty or whatever related chore.
Long answer! Good luck!