My kids act a fool...should I be embarrassed?

KidsBehaviorPublic.Thirsties
The other day I was out shopping with my four and a half year old son, Brennan, at a natural grocery store chain. He was chattering away as he normally does while pushing his own little shopping cart. In and out of the aisles we went, all the while I tried to calmly redirect him toward the task at hand - get through the store without buying a ton of unnecessary items. Brennan, is a very imaginative little boy who likes to narrate his life to...I don't know the invisible people who may be watching The Brennan Show. Every outing is accompanied by his narrative. I don't think it's odd; I actually remember doing the same thing when I was a kid. Then it started happening more in my head than out loud which is probably a good thing.... Anyway, we got to the check out line and the cashier, who had been pushing loads of stock back and forth across the store to various displays made a comment to me about Brennan. She said something to the extent of, but not these actual words, "He sure has a lot to say, doesn't he?" I didn't think anything of it to be honest, it was just a passing moment. I knew that she could tell that I was getting frustrated with the situation so her words were meant more as a means of condolences than anything else. The more I thought about Brennan's behavior in the store the more I wondered if I was just immune to his constant chattering, his narrative, the things that make Brennan, well, Brennan. I don't even hear the sounds of my children when we're in public because I hear them. All. day. long. Today while in a large wholesale store, the kids were sitting in the cart together. Brennan started singing and then Kendall, my two-year-old daughter, had to see his song and raise him five notches in volume. People were starting to stare and as soon as our eyes met I felt their unspoken words; "Get it together and control your children, Mom." Do I really need to? I mean it's a gigantic store and it's Sunday, in the early afternoon. Everyone's out shopping and the place is a zoo! Yet, my husband and I separated our two lovely children as soon as Kendall started yelling, "No! Brenna!!! Mine!!!" (She calls her older brother "Brenna" that cute little girl.) I think unsuspecting Brennan happened to be drinking some lemonade from his own sippy cup but we're at the stage of the mines so anything Kendall sees is in her jurisdiction and therefore, "hers." Then there's the restroom, where I've been with both of my children, in the handicap stall while road-tripping by myself. Suddenly the game of tag that's taking place while I'm peeing turns into let's open the door on mom since she's in a compromised position. Lovely and so embarrassing; I'm trying to pee and yet not completely freak out at both of my kids while other women are trying to use the bathroom in peace!!! What do you think about your child(ren)'s behavior out in public? Do you feel like you're just immune to the loudness or is it just me?
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9 comments

  • I understand completely! Usually my kids are behaved well enough in the grocery store. My 7yr old chatters non stop while my almost 2yr old is typically content holding whatever item she has randomly decided to cling to. Our issue comes at check-out time when my youngest has to pass her “item of choice” to the cashier to be rung up. For the last month this has caused a mini, yet loud meltdown of sorts. I usually ask the cashier to ring her item either first or last to minimize the scene. Once she was so clingly to a can of baked beans that she refused to let them go the whole car ride home until about 30 minutes after we had already put the groceries away.

    Shalaina on
  • I did have a pretty awful time a couple of weeks ago when we were at the library. It was time to go and my arms were so full of books that I couldn’t use them to direct the kids out of the library, so I had to resort to using my legs to herd them in the right direction, which probably looked like child abuse. I will probably be bringing the double stroller to the library from now on because it was terrible and I yelled at my kids in front of everyone at the library. I always carefully plan our trips to public places so that my kids won’t be too hungry or tired when we go, and if I anticipate that they will not do a good job of staying with me (I have wanderers/explorers) then I bring the double stroller or at least my Ergo so I can confine them if they won’t listen. It doesn’t prevent everything, but it helps.

    Marcelaine on
  • I feel like I’m pretty used to my two year old’s behavior in public, and he’s usually not doing anything I really object to. I tend to carry lots of snacks and little toys for distraction purposes when we’re doing something like grocery shopping. LOL – I’m 34 weeks pregnant and my husband has had to wrangle our son a little more when we’re out as a family. Yesterday, we had a busy day and my husband was exhausted when we got home. I think he’s getting a little taste of what I do every day. It made me giggle to myself.

    Laura on
  • I try to pay attention because I know when kids get too out of control it is very annoying. That being said I tune them out a lot too…it’s hard not to when it’s on constant reply 24/7 in my head!

    Vanessa on

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