For the first time in 7 years of being a mom, I had to do the walk of shame out of our local Target with a screaming child.
I’ve never done this before. And, I suppose, I should be thankful that it has taken this long to have this experience. You know, the one where you desperately try to get your child to calm down in the store for just a few minutes so you can finish the trip and get home with your errands done.
Yeah, not so much.
Biz, who is not quite 4 yet, had different plans last Friday afternoon in Target.
I guess it’s kind of my fault. I knew the timing wasn’t so great. It was Friday, after all. On Friday, my kids are tired after a long week of school, daycare and other activities. The last thing they want to do is go shopping.
However, we had a long day ahead of us on Saturday, with soccer, a planned outing to a pumpkin festival with friends and a birthday party.
All I needed to do was buy two gifts. The party was for a brother and sister who were turning 1 and 3 respectively. I explained, as I always do before these type of trips, exactly what we were going in the store to buy. Presents for their friends. That’s it, and we’d be done. If they were good, we might take a look at the birthday invitations, since Biz’s birthday is coming up in November.
Usually this strategy works. But, not last Friday. I asked Biz which squinky set his friend might like best. (And, by the way, what the heck is up with these squinky things? This is why I hate venturing into the girl aisles.) I gave him a choice of two different sets. He decided to choose a much bigger and more expensive set. When I explained that his choice was nice but not an option for us, he screamed.
And then it all pretty much fell apart from there.
I can usually turn my kids’ bad behavior around in situations like this. I crouched down to his level and explained why we couldn’t get his set, noted that he could still make a choice from the other sets and even pick out some wrapping paper. But Biz was adamant that we get this particularly large princess-themed squinky set for his little friend.
I could tell there was nothing that I could say to make him calm down. He was done. Done with the week. Done with shopping. Done with doing things he didn’t want to do.
So, I took his hand and, after some coaxing (and maybe a little fighting), walked out of the store. Me with my head held high because I wasn’t about to let a screaming child dictate my purchases. Biz still crying and complaining. G following behind wondering when we’d get to purchase the birthday presents.
Biz spent some time in his room on Friday. He noted that he was tired and told me he wouldn’t scream in Target again. Here’s hoping. He actually seemed to feel bad after the event. He knew I wasn’t happy.
I went back to Target, alone, the next day to purchase the gifts in between soccer and our fall festival excursion.
Have you had to do the walk of shame with a screaming child?
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[…] Because that’s what Biz was in the mood for when we went back to Target after his whole screaming ordeal. We picked out a packet of pirate invitations and thank you notes. He wore a pirate shirt that his […]
Head held high, good for you Jennifer! I think you’re terrific…
Not only have i done this with my own kids I’ve actually done it with my grandchildren too 🙂
Really who hasn’t caught their child on a bad day?
Aw. Thanks, Jen! And, you’re right, we all have bad days. Even kids!
Not yet, but that may be because I literally carry my screaming kids through the checkout line! There have been several occasions when I probably should have just left the store, however.
I thought of that tactic, but we were deep in the store and I just didn’t see how I could get him all the way to the checkout. Never mind getting through it!
Oh yes, I’ve definitely had to do it. Not fun at all. But I think it’s pretty much a parenting rite of passage.
Btw, I totally do not get the girl aisles. Thankful to be a boy mama.
Seriously. I detest when my kids get invited to girl parties. Those aisles scare me!
And, yes, it probably is some sort of parenting rite of passage. This is why I never give dirty looks when I see a mom struggling with her child.
Been there! Target is my evil nemesis with things like this since even if you avoid the toy aisles, they stuff the checkout aisles with those damned squinkies! Sometimes, I have to run in there for a last minute thing like you – with my kids and there is always one who wants a toy. Hypothetically speaking, if we were neighbors, I would totally watch your kids so that you could run to Target alone. That’s like the ultimate for a mom, right?
I wish you were my neighbor, Ilene!
When shopping at target with my then three year old girl and infant boy, I turned around for a MINUTE and when I turned back, my three year old had STRIPPED down to her underwear! She loved being naked. I told her to get dressed and she threw a fit… then wrestling began. As I was trying to force the clothes back on her as she wailed and screamed and completely freaked out, my infant started screaming in the stroller. Both kids wailing as I grabbed my daughter, threw her up on my hip while kicking and screaming…pushed the stroller with the other hand and left target. Here’s the kicker: My daughter was yelling, “DON’T HURT ME MOMMY!!!” Can you count on two hands or maybe five, just how many people were staring at me? I wanted so badly to stop and turn around and scream, “I HAVE NEVER ONCE HURT THIS CHILD!!!” It was a delightful excursion out of the house on a cold winter’s day. We all cried all the way home. Yep. It was a doozer…
Oh my gosh, Chris! I’m going to stop complaining now. I’m not sure I’d ever go in to Target after that. PTSD! Thanks for sharing. I hope you’ve fully recovered from that incident!
Well done! I’ve been there, too. I’ve even returned a newly purchased Lego set to the store when my 4 year old wouldn’t behave at the mall. Good times!
That is awesome. I believe if you’re going to make those type of threats, you need to follow through!
Um, yeah, more than once out of restaurants, malls, shops etc. 🙂
You handled it well, lady!
Thanks, Alison!
Nice work, mama! Way to stay strong even if it did mean a busier than already busy Saturday. So far I haven’t gotten to this point just yet but oh I know it’s coming. I hope I can handle it as calmly as you did!
Thanks, Tricia. I’m glad this was the first time, but I hope we don’t have to do it again. I think Biz learned his lesson. And I hope you don’t ever have to do the walk of shame!
Oh girl, I have been there, done that!!! I know the feeling! New follower – came over from SITS and really like your blog!~ Happy Saturday! And power to the mamas!!!!
That’s right. Power to the mamas! So glad you stopped by. Heading on over to your blog now!
Of course I have! 😉 My favorite of all-time (not being my favorite at all, of course) was out of the post office, where my oldest basically decided to become a statue that had fallen to the floor. Even picking her up was a chore. Needless to say, I don’t think it was my most delicate placement in the carseat of all time! 😉 Stopping by from SITS Sharefest.
At least we can laugh about it later, right? I hate when my kids get into “character”!
I have to do that walk a lot with my 2 year old. Luckily, we can talk my 6 year old into leaving on his own.
My older son has always been pretty well behaved. Hopefully the 3 year old learned his lesson!