Misbehavin' children? Do you make them leave Event?

[septbride2002]

How can you not do that? I rarely criticize any parenting style. I know the number of styles in this world is equal to the number of children in this world. Everyone is different. But…..

Nothing irritates me more, then being in public and hearing a parent say over and over and over, “If you don’t stop, we are going to leave”. You know what, if you don’t leave after the first or second time, even the youngest kid knows its an empty threat? That ranks right up there with “Do you want to go to your room?” or “Do you want a spanking?” Just once I would love for a child to respond, “Why yes father, I would love a spanking, thank you for the offer”

Funny story!
A friend of mine has a 3 year old little boy that they threaten spanking on. They've never actually had to spank him. The little boy doesn't like to go to bed so every night it was a trial. One night he was acting particularly difficult and my friend says "Son do you want a spanking or do you want to go to bed?" He son looks him dead in the eye and says, "Daddy, I'll take the spanking! But only two times!" My friend had to tell him to go to his room so he could crack up laughing.

~Amanda

 

[auntie k]

You did the right thing...and hopefully, now that you have proved your point you may never have to do this again. She discovered the consequences of her behavior and will remember that the next time.
Good for you!!

 

[Marseeya]

Okay...totally serious question here, although I know it sounds like I'm just trying to be annoying. What do you do if your child is in public throwing a fit because they don't want to be there? If you remove them, you're giving them exactly what they want. I know a kid who will do this when he doesn't want to be grocery shopping, shoe shopping, etc. Pitch a full fledged fit until he gets to leave. I would be at my wit's end.

I literally sat in my car with my son one time for an hour and a half when he pulled something like that (didn't want to be in the store, so he acted up). It was miserable sitting in that car with him for that long, but I had to win. Plus it's just not fair to subject other people to my son's bad behavior.

Where are all the parents from this thread when I go out??? I only ever seem to encounter the ones who can't be inconvenienced to take a misbehaving child out of a store or restaurant. That's such a huge pet peeve of mine. My kids were no angels, but I didn't let them ruin anybody else's meal or experience.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Usually when we have to go to Target or publix, and this was mostly when they were younger, around 3-4 (they're 5 and 6 now), I'd let them bring a toy in with them, and before we actually went into the store I'd say, "If you misbehave in the store your toy is gone for a week."

I'd make sure it was a toy that they really were into, so if they started acting up I'd point to it and raise my eyebrows and that was usually enough to keep them pretty well behaved. Once or twice we've had toys be 'gone' and huge miserable screaming temper tantrums in the store, but the next time we went in, they knew I was serious.

The other thing I'd do was have them help me get stuff on each aisle. In publix this was easy, 'find the spaghettios before I find the baked beans!' and it was a good game. Take turns, don't send them both off at once.

In Target, I'd have them find random stuff just to keep them busy and then put it back before we got to the checkout counter. Between the toy and the 'job' I could get the shopping done. It still wasn't easy and it's still tiring, and I now do the shopping when they're in school (ah, relaxing!), but at least it wasn't a big drama scene anymore!