I have written about my experiences with the terrible two’s and Burton before. As much as I hate the ‘devil’ child that Burton transforms into suddenly without warning, I have always been grateful that these incidents have always happened at home. Behind closed doors. Away from members of the public. Out of the sight of others.
I have seen children have melt downs in supermarkets, in shops, restaurants, parks, playgrounds and playgroups many a time. I have seen the distraught mums trying to gain back some sense of control as the situation must have intensified to the point where there are red faces, tears and shouting : and that’s just mum! I have always felt sorry for these women and try not to stare as I walk past. Since becoming a parent myself, I have always walked off thinking to myself I am so glad I have not had to find myself in that situation.
Well that was until this morning!! *sighs loudly*
I think Burton is either very tired at the moment or going through a phase of testing his boundaries with me and Daddy as we have had a few days of him pushing ‘it’ recently. Sunday he had a melt down at bedtime for no real reason, other than he wouldn’t choose a book for Daddy to read!
Anyway, back to this morning. I decided to take the boys into town quickly as we needed to pop to the library and to Boots. I drove because it forecast rain and once I had parked the car and got the buggy set up, Burton decided he didn’t want to get out of the car! Anyway, I managed to get him out and I didn’t take his seat with us for the buggy because we didn’t have far to walk or many places to visit, so I thought he would like to walk with me instead. Hmmmm hindsight is such a wonderful thing!
We took the lift down I to the shopping centre and one of the first things you encounter are two little rides aimed especially at toddlers! (why do shopping centres do that?) Well I knew what was going to happen, so before he had chance to ask me I explained to Burton that if he was a good boy while we did what we had to do, I would let him have a go on the way back to the car. Was this the answer Burton was expecting? *makes noise like the incorrect answer on Family Fortunes* uhm……in a word no! He started fussing about and complaining and refused to walk with me! Well a few people were watching this little display of naughtiness, much to my embarrassment, and he then decided to lie on the ground!! Oh the shame of it!
 |
| devil child possessed! |
Eventually I had to pick him up and carry him, while pushing Jenson with one hand, and off we went with me telling Burton how naughty he had been and how I wished I had brought his seat for the buggy! He was ok in the library and walked nicely to Boots but upon entering the store, much to his reluctance because he spied the Early Learning Centre en route and had wanted to go inside to which I said “not now”, he decided to refuse to walk any further (again!). I stayed calm and passed him a basket and suggested he carried it to which I got a sulky “no!” in reply. So I took the basket off him, he didn’t like that and stated making a fuss (again!). So I passed him the basket back and said “come in then, let’s find the toothbrushes”. He wouldn’t move! Just shouted and jumped about and a Boots make up counter lady said to me “oh I do love seeing what Mum’s use as bargaining tools to get their children to go with them”. Hmmm “he has never done this before outside of our home” I replied. She then suggested I lay down and started screaming too (yes, he was now on the floor on his front! Oh more shame!) like the woman from that advert on the TV. I simply replied “you wouldn’t want to hear what I would to like to scream about right now!”
Burton still wouldn’t move despite my best efforts, and a few more older ladies made little jokey comments to me as they passed by and bear witness to this show of the toddler terrors! I told him that he wouldn’t be going to Funderzone (local soft play) this afternoon in a calm, normal voice as I didn’t want to shout or make anymore of a scene than was already taking place! Anyway, he did come in the end and after about five minutes – a very LONG five minutes- and we went and chose a toothbrush. However, when I moved on to another aisle he just sat on the middle of the floor shouting “muuuuummmeeeeeeeee”!! Then he started crawling along the floor making his hands filthy! So I had to pick him up, wipe his hands and force him to the check out so I could buy my goods. Where upon the ‘ cashier number 5’ lady started talking to him and he was back to his old self! Just like that!
All of a sudden the devil child vanished and my sweet, cheeky,polite little boy was returned to me! Hurrah!
 |
| Burton ‘the normal’ returned to me! |
We were only home for an hour and it was one of the longest hours I have endured for ages!!
To be honest I was I in a quandary as to what was the best way to handle such a public display of terrible two’s, having never found myself in this situation before. I didn’t want to make it any worse but what should I have done different? I need to prepare myself for the next time it happens, as I accept that it will.
Have you had this happen to you?
What do you do to resolve your child having a public tantrum?
Do you carry out the same routine for it as you would if you were at home?
I would value any advice and experience……..please!!
Thank you 🙂
If you would like to read more about my mummy mishaps please subscribe by email or via RSS feed 🙂
Thank you xx
Thank you xx
Oh it’s horrible and embarrassing! I try to stay calm and not give in, and especially ignore disapproving tuts from strangers!! Just remember it happens to all mummies!
Xxx
http://honeysmummy.blogspot.co.uk
Oh my goodness!!!! I am so not looking forward to the terribly twos. And how difficult to be dealing with all that out in public with an audience. You poor thing.
And I don’t know how new the new look is, but it’s new to me as I normally read your blog from my phone but blog is looking jolly lovely. x
Ohh you have my sympathies!! Z was doing something similar at the wedding we went to in full sight of about 150 people! I ended up holding him under one arm whilst he tried to escape. And we’re not even at the terrible two stage yet.
Oh no how awful for you!! Still at least jhe is still small (ish) i will catch up your post about it xx
Oh you poor thing, although I love the devil pic hee hee. I was going to write a post this week about Rosie throwing her 1st temper tantrum in public at the weekend. It was awful, I looked like one of those Mums who cant control her children!
It does happen to us all at some point but its embarrassing and takes everything to stay to stay calm xx
Oh it’s just awful isn’t it? He has have been like,that in public.befire and I was totally unprepared for it.! Thank you for commenting xx
They are nothing to be happy about I can tell you!! They just appear from nowhere and then can subside as quickly too!
I have just revamped my blog at the weekend – you are first person to notice and say!! I expect it’s because a lot of people comment on mobile and you wouldn’t tell from that aspect.!
Xx
Thank you it is just the pits isn’t it? Soooo embarrassing too as you look like you cannot control your children. Thank you for stopping by xx
I really feel for you Jenny, we’re still thick in the throes of the terrible twos at the moment with lil miss. She’s thrown some quite amazing strops in the supermarket, and last week even lil man did it. He wanted a car. I refused because he hadn’t been very well behaved and he spent the entire time at the checkout screaming “you’s not fishished yet mummy!!” The worst is when they both start together, complaining that they haven’t got enough room, headbutting each other etc. The most embarrassing was when they both started climbing out of the trolley when I was putting the shopping away and I couldn’t get them back in. I ended up dumping them both on top of the shopping in the main bit of the trolley. I could’ve died!
I don’t think you could’ve done any better than you did chick, staying calm is the best thing and amazing that you managed that, especially with so many people sticking their twopence in!! However, I would say that one thing I’ve noticed with mine that the times they behave awfully is when they’re hungry. Amazing how different they are with a bit of food to distract them! xx
OMG! Burton! G has had an afternoon of tantrums for no reason whatsoever, so I know the public ones are just a matter of time. She has already been sent out of her Monkey Music class for being a brat once! Fun times ahead, hey! I’m trying to read the Baby Whisperer book about Toddler as I read the one about baby and offered good advice – common sense, but important to re-assess.
If I ever finish it, I’ll tell you what to do, for now I think you did amazingly well!
BTW, I played with Blogger so much but never managed to make all the buttons and things that you created on your blog, did you do it yourself? If so, I might ask for tips x
I’ve just come over from commenting on Lauren’s new post about behaviour, what’s going on with our kids at the moment! Shame we’re not closer together, my vote would be chuck the 3 of them in a padded room….um I mean soft play area and let them go nuts while we eat cake LOL
I’m having similar issues with Leo and I think he’s realised that it’s really hard for me to pick him up now, especially when he’s ‘fighting me’ Not looking forward to Aaron going to work this week in that respect, I’ve been spoilt having him here for 8 months!
Little monsters….they should come programmed with manners! Would be much better for all us Mummy’s 🙂 xx
oh God Jenny, my heart was racing just reading this! I’m not sure what I would’ve done to be honest…you would think I would have lots of advice with 3 but sadly I don’t….I think mine have saved it up until they’re older….H&S have tantrums now…to be honest I usually laugh at them & that brings them around….Bumblejums on the car cd player is the best to take Sam out of his strops!
Hopefully this was a one off for Burton
x
I had a toddler tantrum in Asda, i blogged about it too 😀 No advice but keep going with routine as normal 🙂
I was trying to look for this post Paula so I could pass you some sympathy too, but couldn’t see it anywhere! It is mortifying isn’t it! X
Ha ha well I do d like to tell a good old yarn!!
I really hope it was a one off too because I don’t want t have to deal with that again in a hurry I can tell you!
It did make me laugh that Sam enjoys the Bumblejums CD lol x
It is harder with a baby inside you or having a little one in tow when these things happen isn’t it? Ou shouldn’t be carrying Leo now hon , you must look after yourself xx
If you thought that little wobbly earlier in soft-play was The Boy having a strop then you’ll be mistaken, which is why I ignored him btw. He has had a mahoosive strop before at home and I had to walk away for a second before going back and hugging him. He was so overwhelmed by it, he didn’t know what had happened.
Ahh yes the terrible twos. I have to say with Lucas it was terrible threes but Tyler was definitely terrible two’s he still has a temper on him but no where near as bad tantrums. He really was a devil possessed. x