My dd2 was called a BRAT today @Walmart:(

[5 'LIL *TWINKERS*]

I was shopping today in Walmart and my dd2 hadn't had a nap so she was not in the cheeriest mood. She wasn't crying or anything, just screeching to hear her voice and getting a little whiny. Granted, not fun to listen to.
This lady says, "can you control your kid". I said "excuse me". She said it again and that she didn't want to listen to it. I said "what do you want me to do, beat her?" She said "control her" I said "maybe you shouldn't be in a public place like walmart then". She then preceded to call her a brat I told her not to call my kid a brat and I asked her if she had kids? She said yes and they didn't act like that I then said that I could think of some names to call her but I won't. She said the same thing back to me. Then I sarcasticly said "have a nice day" as I gave her a little wave. She then called me a [edited]

I have NEVER had anyone ever say anything like this to me through raising 5 kids. The complete opposite actually. I usually get many compliments on them and their behavior. Never that I can remember anything negative letalone calling my baby a brat.

Needless to say, I saved my crying breakdown for the moment I hit the parking lot. I had to call my mom.
Talk about someone making you feel like you suck as a mom. And coming from another mom, is just so much more of a stab in the gut. Moms are supposed to understand. No kids are perfect all the time! She looked the age of a grandma and acted very bitter.

I know when I see kids having meltdowns, I know so well what the mom is going through and I just keep on my way and don't look or pay attention. That is the last thing she needs it criticism from another mom. I even tell my kids not to look or say anything.

So that lovely lady completely ruined my day

The first thing I thought when I picked my mouth up off the floor in shock at what she said, I thought about the recent threads here about walmart and that guy slapping that child and child behavior in walmart. I got a little laugh about that We were just talking about this happening and what would you do.

 

[C.Ann]

How rude! I'm sorry she made you feel bad..

 

[Jennasis]

I got called a brat all the time! Seriously, YOU love your kids, but the rest of the world may not. However she should have just kept her bitter old witchy mouth shut and walked away. That's what I do when children are screeching in Walmart...I suddenly REALLY need whatever is a couple of aisles over.

Sorry she made you feel bad. Try to let it go. She was a nutter.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Oh Geeze, don't let some cranky lady get you down, so crazy! Kids can have meltdowns (which you did not even describe!) and if not.....they get cranky, they're kids for goodness sakes. Perhaps crank lady should shop online to avoid the public


Personally, I think I would have giggled in her face on purpose and gave her one of those looks like, "WTH" like she was wasting my air........
She obviously was either having a bad day herself or was ill equipped to handle much....I feel BAD for her...And if she my child a name I prob would have said, what a lovely example you are for children!!!

So don't give it another thought....so not worth it.....I/you know how blessed we are EVERY day to have a healthy wonderful child/ren!!

 

[Rora]

OP- I'm so sorry. What a terribly grouchy and rude woman!! I don't understand why people have the audacity to say somethings.

Regardless, I hope you know that your baby is NOT a brat, she is a child and like any person (adult, child, whatever), they get grumpy when they are sleepy.

You'd think another mother would understand.. Ridiculous.

Hope you're feeling better!

 

[JoBird]

I'm sorry this happened to you.

I think if it were me, I would have been so inclined to say- "Gosh, lady- you're right- right now she IS being a brat. However, she will outgrow it and by the time she does you'll already be dead, since you look like an old hag that's a day older than dirt. Now run along and do something constructive like picking out your gravesite.
Have a nice day."

Don't let someone's idiocy consume you.

You're doing the best you can with what God's blessed you with.

Jo

 

[TwingleMum]

Excuse me while I put my Flameproof jacket. OK now I'm ready

I'm think that you have to accept some blame here. I have 4 kids and I knew that if I took them out and 1). they hadn't napped or 2). I took them on too many errands or 3). It was 3 pm I was in for it. They were going to be holy terrors and it probably wasn't worth it taking them out right then. Why are you surprized that other people aren't thrilled with your kid screetching??? Should the woman had said something? No. But everyone in the store was probably cheering when you left. I'm sorry I don't mean to be harsh but we've all been in your shoes and we as parents are the ones at the most fault. The child should have been home to have their nap. You shouldn't have dragged her out to Walmart or anywhere else or be prepared for people not appreciating it.

That said you know your child isn't a brat she was tired and over stressed. We Moms try to do too much in too little time. And occasionally we pay the price in cranky kids, cranky husbands and cranky Moms. Be extra nice to yourself tonight, take a deep breathe and try again tomarrow. Parenting isn't for the faint of heart.

 

[Stacerita]

Sorry she made you feel bad, but really, who cares that she called your kid a brat. Ignore and move on.

 

[PUZZLDY5]

I am so sorry that happened to you. There is NO WAY she went through the toddler years without one meltdown from one of her kids. She is LYING.
Little story. When my middle son was about 2 we were in Wal-Mart and he had the meltdown of all meltdowns. He was tired and wanted something. (Can't remember now) Everyone was looking at us and even my oldest son was just staring at him. Some lady said something to me about my sons behavior and I told her to fix it if she thinks she can but she can't touch him. Needless to say she went away.
I hate it when total strangers think they now your kids better than you do.
Hugs to you.

 

[minkydog]

Excuse me while I put my Flameproof jacket. OK now I'm ready

I'm think that you have to accept some blame here. I have 4 kids and I knew that if I took them out and 1). they hadn't napped or 2). I took them on too many errands or 3). It was 3 pm I was in for it. They were going to be holy terrors and it probably wasn't worth it taking them out right then. Why are you surprized that other people aren't thrilled with your kid screetching??? Should the woman had said something? No. But everyone in the store was probably cheering when you left. I'm sorry I don't mean to be harsh but we've all been in your shoes and we as parents are the ones at the most fault. The child should have been home to have their nap. You shouldn't have dragged her out to Walmart or anywhere else or be prepared for people not appreciating it.

That said you know your child isn't a brat she was tired and over stressed. We Moms try to do too much in too little time. And occasionally we pay the price in cranky kids, cranky husbands and cranky Moms. Be extra nice to yourself tonight, take a deep breathe and try again tomarrow. Parenting isn't for the faint of heart.

Sorry this "lady" ruined your day. She obviously has no self-control, but I'm sure she said what everyone else was thinking. It wasn't pleasant to listen to my own toddlers whine and screech, I sure don't want to hear someone else's. So in your situation, yes, i guess your child sounded sorta bratty. I'm so glad it didn't escalate into a slapping match.

Take a long hot shower tonight and drink a little cocoa(or a beer!) You'll probably never see this woman again, and really, who cares what she thinks of your child? You know your kid isn't a brat.

 

[sandramaac]

I would have scared the out of her and told her that I was calling the police and pressing harrassment charges, and would have Walmart pull the security tapes as evidence.

 

[Disney Doll]

While I would never think of telling someone thier child was a brat, I have to admit that I have been in Wal-Mart with a screechy whiny kid and have thought to myself "Why doesn't that mother take that kid home?".

And no, I don't expect a kid to be perfect, but I do expect that a parent will take control of a situation in the best way possible, which, in this case, probably would not have been by continuing shopping.

 

[Swimnoid]

You would have got a sympathetic smile from me and maybe an "It gets better." Been there done that. Even the most angelic child can have a bad day. jeez

 

[Magic Mom]

While I would never think of telling someone thier child was a brat, I have to admit that I have been in Wal-Mart with a screechy whiny kid and have thought to myself "Why doesn't that mother take that kid home?".

So have I. Screeching kids grate on my nerves (I wouldn't get nasty about it though.) And no, mine never did, or we would have left the store.
Maybe the woman had a really bad headache, or was stressed about something and that's what set her off. Still no excuse, but it would explain it.

 

[kidzmom3]

ignore people who are annoying

take children home when they become annoying, this includes teenagers!!!!

 

[robinb]

I've been on both ends of the spectrum: the mom with the actively melting child and the person who silently mutters to themselves about the screeching child. With the clarity of 20/20 hindsight I should have removed my child from the store instead of trying to calm her. At the time I was too wrapped up in my own drama to make a coherent decision. I would like to personally apologize to all the people in the Wal*Mart in Tampa FL in December of 2002. I was inconsiderate and yes, my DD was a brat.

I don't mean to be snarky but I was one-and-done on the kid front. If I have a couple more to practice on I think I would have known better than to take a cranky 2-year old shopping. It's pure torture for them! It's not like she is your first child, if you KWIM.

Oh, and the lady should have kept her trap shut. There was no reason for her to be confrontational no matter how loud your child was screeching. I probably would have given you a conspiratorial smile to let you know that I had BTDT.

 

[themilesfamily]

I think it's horrible that someone was so rude to you in line -- to you. I'll bet you were mortified. It's hard enough to deal with a child who is melting down -- that is emotionally draining in and of itself -- much less dealing with someone standing there condeming you to your face.

Someday when that lady is in a sticky situation of her own, she'd better hope someone is more charitable to her than she was to you.

 

[ilovejack02]

I am 36 yrs old and my dad is 83 ( yes I am his baby lol)
He still remembers to this day when a waitress told him that I was being a brat . He swears that I was just being a typical half way well behaved 2 yr old, but cracker crushing 2 yr old, I think that is why she was so mad. He did not leave her a tip lol.
Funny thing is he STILL gets fired up about it if my mom brings the story up.

Try not to let it ruin your trip next time and try to go when the kiddo doesnt need a nap. Even the best little angel gets mad at nap time. I avoid Walmart with my kiddo at ALL times after we had a screaming newborn and my milk came in and soaked my shirt lol. I am scared for life even now that he is 7.

 

[disykat]

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you know when your child gets bad enough to be removed.

A man ruined my day once in a similar way. My son was about two and it was near Halloween. We were exiting a store full of Halloween decorations so he had that on his mind. He saw a man that looked like my dad (Grandpa)so when he caught his eye he stuck his hands out and went "roar" like a monster. The man stopped and yelled at him (including curse words.)

I was practically shaking when I got to the car and was upset for days. My poor son didn't know what to think - fortunately he was easy to distract. I just told him that man was acting like a monster too!

 

[RNMOM]

I'm sorry this made you have a bad day but as a 'victim' of others cranky kids several times this week, I agree with Twinklemom. I didn't have cranky episodes because I knew my kids limits as well as my own. My kids stayed hom with dad and I shopped for groceries at a store that stayed open late. It gave me time away and him time with them. I also avoided taking them to the mall or anywhere else during nap times and if they were not feeling well. It is rare that an errand can't be put off a couple hours.

To be clear, yes, I worked full time and did my own housework and shopping/laundry. I just knew I could shop much faster and more efficiently without taking the kids.

I was in Walmart late last week and several people had kids who were whining and acting up. What did the adults do about it? Nothing. One was talking on her cell and ignoring her child who was crying and getting louder. The other was speaking with the other woman with her and ignoring her little darlings who were chasing (looked to be 2 and 3 yr olds) around the isles.

Come on people, yes, she was rude but you really should remove your child when they are acting up. Noise polution is really an issue for me too. Unnecessary noise from cranky children really sets some of us off.