Don't Let Public Temper Tantrums Give You Fits

Janice,

When my son was hospitalized in '95, his in-laws kept the granddaughter, who threw a tempertantrum upon leaving the hospital after a visit. Remembering this, in'96 when my daughter-in-law gave birth and I kept the granddaughter, I "laid down the law". She became upset in my care, so I sat her in a chair and told her that if she was going to misbehave, we would not go to the hospital to see Mommy and her new baby brother. She promised to behave and to leave with me, when I said so. It worked. Even when her other grandparents arrived while we were there, she did not run from me. I think it is important to let children know what you expect of them at all times.

I have 2 girls and when they were young there was no "window" where it was convenient to take them shopping. And, when a child is having a temper tantrum, there is no "talking" to a child or at least to either one of my children. I was a firm believer of spanking or at least one real good "pop" to the bottom to get their attention and tell them to straighten up or get popped again....it worked. That was before everyone else in the store would whip out their cell phones and call CPS and report you for child abuse. That's the problem with children now days. Way too many parents "Spare the rod and spoil the child". When the spankings stopped, the trouble with kids started.......take a look back with the decline of discipline and you will see when it started. Dr. Spock did more harm to this society when he said that it was "bad" to spank children. He ranks right up there with Madalyn Murray O'Hair as far as I'm concerned.

I wonder if the so-called experst have kids. Let's be real kids need a loving parent who will set boundaries and let them know that tantrums arent ok, whether tired or not.If your child wants something they can ask politely and if the answer is not what they wanted to hear the response should be "ok mommy". They may not have a smile on their face when they answer but it's better than having everyone leave the store because your child is freaking out.Some may say well that's nice in theory. But it can actually be a lifestyle for your child (ren) It was for mine. To get a positive response from your kids there are many other things that must be implemented to make that response happen. I now have two grandsons one yr and two yrs. and with some loving guidance they too will have a good response to the answer " not right now".

I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. My 6 year old never did give a problem once, however my 3 year old is the opposite. Everytime we go into a store he has to have a meltdown. This is what I do: I do not listen to these so called specialists who probably does not have kids. I just keep pushing the buggy and shopping while he screams(I make sure he is okay first) and in about 5minutes he is through with his temper tantrum. I get dirty looks and comments that i am a bad parent, but I ignore them and keep walking. When we get to the car, I make him tell me he is sorry for his fit and make sure he understands why. If this gets out of hand, we go to the potty room for a "talk".

Janice- having 2-3 very young children is irresponsible in the first place. Not fair to them nor to society. Everyone seems to live as a victim. We have choices. Having 3 kids is not being a victim. It's a choice.

i hear you when we were kids you listen to what your parents said or you would get your butt spank. there was no time out .

LOVE IT ! ! ! Funny as hell ! ! You can't reason with a screaming kid. You have to get their attention first, and that is usually with a smack on the rump. These feel-good articles are full of crap!

While not promoting child abuse, there is a bit of sense here. Your disruptive child should not be making everyone else's experience bad. The disruptive child should definitely be removed from the store, restaurant, church, etc. Teaching them that their behavior is unacceptable is important in their development. Why do you think so many teenagers and young adults are such idiots these days - with no sense of others, manners, or decorum?

LOL! I hear ya, my mom didn't have to get on to me very much at all, I REMEMBERED the spankings--she made them count! All it took was the LOOK-and I knew I'd be in for it if I didn't straighten up!

Striking your child only teaches him or her that the consequences of their actions hurt but are very temporary. You think children don't realize that once the stinging stops they can just go and do it again? Putting them in time out feels like an eternity for them and they have to weigh if what they want is worth the lifetime in the corner.

rtyer is correct. Children learn fast, a couple of trips to the old pain place will cure any kid. Later, you tell him why you whacked him, that if he behaves himself in the future, you won't have to whack him again, and then make sure you give him a little love. Later, when you go out in public, remind him of how you expect him to act, and of the "whacking" consequence if he misbehaves.

If the child is a screecher, you have to say "no" immediately, and whack him hard on the behind. Whenever you whack the child, make sure he cries a little, it cannot be a wimpy whack. You have to mean business. Then reward him when he behaves. If you can't show a little tough love when it's needed, you have no business being a parent.

This comment is inappropriate and if it's meant as a joke, it isn't funny. Thousands of children (if not more) a day suffer physical and mental abuse. Abuse is not funny. A spank or a smack to the mouth is one thing. If you're worried about security cameras & making sure not to leave scars, you need to be locked up, and the key thrown away.

A Time Out. I have never heard such nonsense in my life. How many parents can HONESTLY say that this tactic works? Not too many, because while they're coddling their little terror who's screaming and crying, everybody around them is wondering what sort of parent this person is. A Time Out? I'd be in jail right now instead of a productive member of society if I had a Time Out when I misbehaved instead of the butt-whacks I'd gotten to keep me in line and focused on being good. Kids are being spoiled ROTTEN today, and nobody will come right out and say it for fear of offending those "never spank" parents: Give the kid an ultimatum: Stop crying, or I'll give you a reason to cry!

you are so right. those few swats on the rear end that i got as a kid didn't hurt me, it did how ever teach me respct.

Absolutely right! A good swat on the rear end never hurt anyone. It's what these so called psychologists need too! Letting a kid scream bloody murder in a store not only tells the child it's ok to do that, it makes everyone else miserable. And what are you suppose to do in the checkout line when the kid is having a hissy fit? Drop everything and find a time out corner? Give me a break! Not disciplining children in the past is what has left us with all of these miserable young adults who shoot their mouths off knowing that there will be no consequences for their actions.

Tyler,
I agree with you 100%! I have never and will never "beat" my children, (although sometimes I would like to) but a swat or two on the butt works! I have an 11 year old girl and a 2 year old girl and I use the same tactics with my 2 year old as I did with my 11 year old when she was younger and she has turned out to be a good kid so far. (granted I haven't hit the teen years yet) The bottom line for all parents to remember is BE CONSISTANT!!

I agree with Tyler & Roger. Too many things are different today (drugs, killings, sex etc.) because parents are children or were never parented themselves. When I was young; 4 siblings; we were disciplined. We never cut up in public as we knew the consequences. We didn't have drugs or sex in schools. Schools could discipline. Things are made to easy for kids to get in trouble these days. It's a shame!