Yes, we were "that" family this week...

[Claire&TheBoys]

A tip from a BTDT Mom: as soon as it looks like a meltdown is approaching, offer a snack and/or a drink. I found that my youngest was a lot more prone to meltdowns when he was hungry. Many a Disney trip did I keep a couple of packages of peanut butter crackers in my backpack just to ward off meltdowns.

 

[ready2vacation]

OP here - thank you all!!! We had a good day and skipped the parks. Just shopped DD this morning and swam this afternoon. She is napping now and we will have a babysitter tonight for us to go to Yachtsman.

 

[monorailsilver]

Good advice Although I don't think that is limited to toddlers. The biggest argument my pre-teen and myself had was leaving one on the parks. Goodness.

Hahah!!!! I can relate! This is why we all took naps mid day in our room...even the 12 year old last August (our oldest of 3). Otherwise she'd be a crabby son of a ....., moody, disrespectful.....etc.....

Disney is tiring so we found what works for us and our kids...a mid day break from the heat in our room and curtains closed, alarm set, lights off...snore....

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I'm glad to hear today is a better day.

My kids were actually fairly easy and tantrum-free at Disney as toddlers. It's the pre-teen years that have been a little bit dicier at the parks. It's all mostly good, but we have our moments, that's for sure! And it's not my autistic kid who tends to have the hard moments at Disney, either, but the other ones

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

We are that family daily! DS is 4 and still has meltdowns if he's tired, hungry or frustrated. But he has mild SPD so it's harder for him to control his emotions. Since having kids anytime I see another parent dealing with a temper tantrum, I just give them a smile. We've ALL been there and in no way should judge that parent or the situation. And especially at Disney with all the crowds, heat, long days, waiting in line, lack of sleep!! Even I can get cranky

 

[Minnesota!]

WDW seems to be the ONLY place my kids have never had a meltdown. Which is why I want to live there, ha ha!

But, both of my kids have had to be carried out of places - grocery, Target, restaurants, etc. - because of throwing fits. Just last summer, my NINE year old (and over 100#) had to be carried out of the grocery store b/c I had decided to stop there for ice cream instead of going to DQ like I had mentioned. Wow. The way he carried on, the on duty police officer at the store followed us out. To be fair, he had NEVER been like that, and has not been since...and it had been an extremely long, hot day. But still, damn...he looked like such an idiot...and I am sure I did, too, trying to lug his behind out of there.

So, I have definitely BTDT. I hear it gets easier...I will let you know when

 

[Minnesota!]

A tip from a BTDT Mom: as soon as it looks like a meltdown is approaching, offer a snack and/or a drink. I found that my youngest was a lot more prone to meltdowns when he was hungry. Many a Disney trip did I keep a couple of packages of peanut butter crackers in my backpack just to ward off meltdowns.

Yep - the hangry effect. I suffer from it, myself

 

[SmallWorld71]

Haha!
DS15 was our easiest toddler by far. We took a trip to WDW when he was 2 1/2 and he was great for most of the week. MUCH easier than our then almost 6 year old.
Until one day we returned to Sports from a morning at AK and went to the food court for lunch. He started screaming bloody murder in the food court when we sat down to eat. We all looked at each other in surprise and before we could react, he crawled under the table, lay down on the floor and fell asleep! Poor thing!

Although, I will admit that the worst meltdown/ temper tantrum came from yours truly one year in the middle of Tomorrowland. I won't go into the details.

WDW temper tantrums are stressful at the time, but they make great vacation stories later!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I think most (maybe a few but most) parents who are looking at you are not judging they are just thankful that time it isn't them.

I have four kids and I know we have had our share of meltdown over the years. You know kids you can dress them up but can't take them out

 

[mi*vida*loca]

All I think when I see a child having a meltdown is "Oh poor mom and dad. I remember those days. So glad I"m not there anymore!"

DD had one meltdown in WDW. Her first trip. And that's because we were waiting for our ADR and I didn't realize how hungry she was. So basically I forgot to feed her. I got her some popcorn and she was a happy kid again.

I had my share of dragging my DS out of places a time or two. Not WDW but Target, grocery store, mall.

It happens. I don't know about others but I'm so busy and involved with my family I rarely notice anyone or anything else while I'm in WDW. I'm just having fun.

 

[Iamthequeen]

My dd had a meltdown at the Washington Zoo when she was about 7 - I had taken 3 of my kids and a couple of friends for a day at the zoo and asked the kids what they wanted to eat - they all wanted hotdogs so that's what I bought and then dd told me she didn't like hotdogs and wanted a hamburger. I told her she would eat the hotdog because there was not a hamburger stand nearby and I wasn't going to buy her anything else to eat. She had a tantrum and I stood my ground. A woman walked by and told me I was committing child abuse because I refused to buy her something to eat. I not so politely told her to mind her own business.

 

[Kristina4109]

I have a fabulous 8 year old daughter who has ADHD. We have had some epic meltdowns. One of my favorites was in the beautiful Descanso Gardens where she screamed, "If you don't buy me another camera I'm going to kill you!"

I'm happy to say that since then we've worked with a great specialist to get a treatment regimen for her that works. But we still have to remember her condition and that we can't go too long without getting some food and drink into her.

Sometimes despite excellent parenting kids are going to misbehave. I don't judge when I see other kids misbehaving at a Disney theme park or elsewhere.

 

[minijenny]

I find myself so mortified at how idiotic my thinking concerning parenting was before I had kids. Far more mortifying than when my kids are actually having public meltdowns. What a wake-up call it was to discover that parenting skills played about a 7% role in the outcome of my child's behavior

 

[Skrabadoo]

We were that family last summer on Mackinac Island. It was really hot and humid. My almost 4 year old screamed on Main Street every time her stroller left the shade. My husband put her into the the lake fully dressed. She was shocked at first but she cooled down and was happy for the rest of the day. I felt bad for everyone around us.

I have a picture of that tantrum for her wedding....

 

[bandksmommy]

First I have to say we have ALL been there. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks. There are certain things that are out of our control, and most parents completely understand. The few people who don't (who either don't have children or their children are older and they have forgotten. it's kind of like child birth.....after awhile you start to forget how bad it really was!!!!), well their opinions really just DON'T matter.

Second, payback is a _____, huh? That's what you get for those years of judgemental stares. ;-) I'm totally joking of course. Well.....a little.

Really though, I think it happens to all of us. We have certain expectations before we have kids (both of ourselves and our children) and then reality hits. You can be the best parent in the world, but none of us are perfect and neither are our kiddos (though they're perfect to us).

 

[OhAmbs]

As a single parent I love this thread!

My daughter just turned 2 in Feb and I've noticed she is much better with just me when we go out in public. I know our trip to the World this week will be an over load so I am taking the advice and taking it easy. I know the main thing I want to do each day so I can work around her mood. Besides, she is 2 after all and we live in Florida. Something tells me she won't be heart broken if we miss seeing EVERYHTING the parks have to offer this trip.

 

[todzwife]

We took our now 4 year old when she was 22 months and then 8 months later at 2 1/2 and it was a COMPLETELY different experience. She was SO SO easy at 22 months, never complained, was happy the ENTIRE time despite the time chance, missing naps etc. At 2 1/2 she was AWFUL! She threw a fit every time she saw the carrousel, when it was time to get off, when she had to wait in line, when she had to pee, when she didn't want to pee because she was afraid of the flushing toilets, when she wanted ALL.THE.THINGS. When she was scared of EVERYTHING. Yeah...miserable LOL!

My condolences...it's hard when you go in with expectations that aren't met!

 

[heehee611]

With my first son (now almost 7) I was mortified when he threw those kinds of temper tantrums in public. Now with my second (age 3), I toss him over my shoulder, smile knowingly at all the other parents giving me sympathetic looks, and carry him out of the store. EVERY other parent who is there has been through the same thing, so don't worry! Anyone who would judge you based on your child's temper tantrum has never had kids. Screw 'em

 

[SWofDisorder]

The joy that your child is not the first or the last to go into complete meltdown mode in WDW. Also you will most likely never see any of those people who witnessed it again. They don't have to raise your child you do. We have all been there and understand.

I hope you continue to have a wonderful vacation, meltdown and all.

 

[Aliceacc]

Our first trip, one of my children -- who will remain unidentified for her/his sake-- discovered a HUGE, paralyzing fear of the characters.

WE were the family with the massive meltdown as we entered Chef Mickey's on our first night, complete with "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME GO IN THERE!!!!!" (Note, this was Chef Mickey's, not Tower of Terror.)

It did get better, but it wasn't the best (or, actually the worst) start to a vacation I've ever had.

(OK, total hijack: the worst was the year we were up in Lake George NY and it rained. Every. Single. Day. And each of my 3 kids spent 2 days with a stomach bug. We went through cans of Lysol. And colored a lot. Yeah, THAT was a fun vacation!!!)