Is It Just Me?
When I go out and take just 3 of the 6 ...it's chaos....When I go run errands and take 6 of the 6 it's just pure mayhem! It sometimes is good....I have extra hands to push buggies...but sometimes the small ones ONLY want ME to push them and that doesn't work because there is only 1 of me.
Anywho....I'll have Cole strapped to my body....Reid in buggy BUT IF I am lucky I can find those cool double seater buggies and boom...Miss Lily can ride.
A walking 4 yr old is not my idea of fun in a store when I've got things to do and get out!
There is usually screaming crying and begging (mainly me) while at the store. I feel more stressed running a quick errand. My goal is to get IN AN OUT w/o incident!
The other day I had just 3 of them....and I see a family walking and they had 4 kids. 2 were walking...1 was riding inside the buggy and one was riding in the kid part. They were probably 4 and under. AND WALKING LIKE SWEET ANGELS.
You know the kind.....they look all shy and quiet. Not just 1 of them but ALL of them.
I watched for a bit...I stalked might have followed for a bit. NOT ONE OF THEM ACTED UP. They just looked at things and quietly followed their mommy.
I wanted to go up to her and ask...."how do you do it?"
And this isn't the first time I've seen something like this.....
Which makes me feel so inadequate as a mommy
I mean what possibly can she do any different than I try to do?
I try to smile and be kind to my kids....I tell them the rules of the store BEFORE we go. I explain to them what we are doing and why and what I expect of them in the store. How we don't whine and fight or scream. How other ppl are there and we need to use our good manners
As we drive to places I chant "What are we gonna be on?" they respond "BEST BEHAVIOR"
Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
Next thing I know...the kids are fighting...screaming...begging....and I'm sweating just willing things to just jump in my buggy and be done with it. It's always my luck that the check out lines are terribly long and yet we start the mess all over again
Target is my saving grace.....the double buggies rock....and the icee's save me....I can get about 40 mins out of a Target trip before meltdown begins.
Cole now is the problem. When I wear him he swings backwards to try and grab everything. Then he will lean forward to "try" to push the buggy too. (not helpful)
If he is near a shelf he will try to grab anything on it.
If I have a list...? He grabs it with his hand and eats it..
I look like an octopus fighting the enemy. I'm sure it's comical, but I'm not the one laughing
So back to this momma....
How does she do it?
I want to be that mommy
I swear next time I see this ....I'm sucking up my pride and asking what she does to make her children look like angels.
Do you have angel? Share your secret!
Comments
Peter pushes Luke in the stroller behind me with Sarah in the cart. We usually stop at McDonald's to get drinks on the way in (as much for me as them!) and it's nice to have the stroller since it gives us built-in cup holders. Luke prefers the stroller too because he can take a nap if he needs to and Peter likes having a job to do.
It's also Peter's responsibility to keep Luke happy (within reason). When we stop in an aisle, he'll make funny faces to Luke and play with him. They like their bonding brother time! I do sometimes have to remind Peter that the stroller is not a race car - but overall he does a good job, and the only person he seems to run into is me, Hah!
What works for me is just making sure that the kids know what is expected of them through a combination of positive and negative reinforcement.
I've taken both Peter and Sarah to the restroom to spank them while out once each - that was all it took for them to realize when Mama says "You do that again, you're getting a spanking" that she'll do it! That cuts down on the major things like hitting, screaming, being little terrors, etc.
The kids know that I stick to my shopping list, but if they ask for something specific (food wise) and they're not acting up that it's likely they can have a couple of things - if they ask NICELY. None of this "I want this!" or "Aww Mom! Come on!" Nope.
Now "Can we have these cupcakes Mama? They look so good! I'm being a good helper!" That...that I can't resist. I usually limit it to two or three things though (But I figure, we need snacks anyway). And they know if I say no (usually with a "That's too expensive"), that it's final say. I don't really consider it bribery so much as getting a bonus for a job well done - the same as you would at work.
I tell Peter often "No one wants to give a rude kid fun things." And that's true! Seems like a good life lesson to me - as long as it's not expected that they get everything they want all the time - which they don't!
If the kids want a toy or something like that they can buy it with their own money or save it for a special occasion (birthday, etc). Sometimes I'll cave and get a non-food treat for no reason, but that's usually because Peter will tell me "It's on clearance mama!" He knows me too well! ;)
Peter also knows that if he keeps up with me with the stroller that we can leave sooner. Since he hates to shop, this is a bonus!
When we get him it's the kid's job to bring the bags in - and I unpack and put away while they do that.
That's just what works for us at this stage of life.
My kids are loud. And crazy. And for some reason ALL stores bring that out of them.
I have decided to avoid them at all costs....stores, not my children...although....
If you learn that secret, let me know.