Tantrums are just plain awful. As a mom, at home, you understand what’s going on and you can deal with it. Put the situation in the public arena… well it just got a whole lot worse.
On Saturday I was recovering from a bad night (I didn’t sleep well, but Nicky did). The next morning DH watched him while I slept in. We only left the house at about ten. I needed to go looking for the pomegranate juice and raspberry tea mentioned in the previous post. The guy at the health shop did not have it and recommended Dischem.
We first went to a discount bookshop at Brightwater Commons. This place sells cheap books. They have a R5 box and we got some nice ones. We watched some bikers and skateboarders on the ramps there. Then we went to Cresta.
The problem with getting to Dischem at Cresta (if you want the free parking) is that you have to land up parking a long way away from it. It is in the middle new underground section. So we grab a trolley to put Nicky in and off we trundle.
When we get there I am dismayed to find they don’t have plain pomegranate juice and there is no raspberry tea in sight. All I can get is combinations pomegranate/green tea, pomegranate/aloe and pomegranate/blueberry. Oh well, that will have to do. I am thinking of making it myself (has anyone ever made pomegranate juice? Those fruits look a bit intimidating).
In any case DH was asking about lunch. He wanted to go to the Spur. I knew it was getting late and Nicky needed his nap. But there have been times I have managed to push him an extra hour and I was hopeful he would make it. Big mistake.
However, off we went and had lunch. Nicky was so excited to climb up the play canyon and I went with him. This time he didn’t spend much time at the top and just wanted to climb down again. He had his face painted again. I think it reminds me of a hyena because she made his ears yellow. He also enjoyed some macaroni. Nicky loves his noodles.
The problems started with a balloon. Nicky loves balloons. Nicky loves balls and balloons are great because they are light to kick for little boys. So he got the balloon, whined until it was detached from that plastic stalk, and then started kicking it around. I worked very hard to make sure he didn’t go out of our corner and kept the bouncing balloon as contained as I could.
The difficulty was that there was a long stretch between the car and the Spur. Of course Nicky wanted to kick his balloon all the way through the mall, but we did not want that. All we could do was put the balloon in the trolley. Nicky flatly refused to sit in the trolley. We had to carry him, kicking and screaming for his balloon.
Dear blog readers. I did not handle it. I was a crying mess myself and Nicky was forcing himself out of my arms. I actually said “I am not handling this.”
Fortunately I have a great husband. He scooped Nicky up and carried him the rest of the way. Crying all the way. At least he is stronger than me.
Nicky was kicking and screaming for about 15 mins in the mall and people made the odd comment when we walked past them.”Quite a performance,” was one of them.
Finally we got to the car, put Nicky in the carseat with his balloon. He instantly calmed down and fell asleep on the way home.
Poor little dude was just tired.
Today he did not nap at all (although we did have a good night before) and had an early night tonight.
It’s all about the sleep people… sigh….
Those naps are SO important! And I wish I could make my dad understand that. Saturdays my son spends the day with my parents and they hardly even try to give him a nap. Then I get a very grumpy child back.
I hate people who comment on kids who are having a tantrum, it’s like they forgot what having a toddler is like. I always just ignore when other kids are having tantrums in public because I know it’ll be my turn soon.
Sorry, I hope they will give him a a nap.. maybe you could explain to them how important it is?
Parenting is hard on a good day and can be down right unpleasant on a bad one. You are doing a fantastic job with him. We all try to push their naps out by an hour or so at times (like going to a late lunch, for example) and a tired child is unpredictable. I bet you were grateful that he went to sleep so quickly. Hugs
I remember being embarrassed by kid tantrums and try to remember not to judge anyone in that place now. Sometimes I think there is something to be said for kids and that time of life when you can’t pretend things are OK when they’re not. Good luck and hope you all get some rest- I remember how precious that can be in the early years.
Sending you lots of hugs! I know what you mean and I so understand you. Kitana misbehaved this weekend and the only thing I could do was walk away… She’s become really distant from me (you know why) and that’s making it worse. Not sure what to do at the moment.
Shame Shan, hope you can power through xxx
Gosh those “no nap” tantrums can be brutal sometimes 🙁
Sometimes it is best to grab a take away or skip the shops just to keep the routine going. Its hard to keep calm when they are bigger because they are so strong and keeping them contained is hard.
The comments will come regardless. Just smile and wave 🙂
I agree. I actually wanted to go and get Subway sandwiches, explaining about the nap, but I think hubby didn’t get it. I think he gets it now though!
Oh yes! All about the nap. I always feel so sorry for moms when kids throw tantrums – I often go to them and say – oh I have been there with 3 kids – this too shall pass.
Arent they the worst and usually happen when nap is missed or even when there hungry 🙁 , shame hope when baba was in bed u had a glass of wine to calm ur nerves 🙂
Lol! I don’t drink wine much but a cup of tea or decaf works for me!
🙂 for me its biscuits and a cuppa of coffee or 2 😉
Parenting is so hard! And the comments and stares that you get from other people (I can only imagine) are the worst! My daughter is only 15 months so we are not at that stage yet but I definitely worry how I am going to react when she has a meltdown.
Here from ICLW.
Oh dear!!! Thank heavens hubby was there
I hate to admit I was a judgy-mcJudgerson of parents with tantruming kids before I had my son…
of course, now I usually give (what I hope is) a sympathetic and understanding glance…
because the day before I was the one whose kid threw a banana at the cashier. The joys of parenting =P
lol! I feel for you! My kid has also thrown things at cashiers! And they are always so nice to him…
Ours was at a fair when she didn’t want to come out of the bouncy house. She was tired too.
All of our biggest tantrums have all been the result of exhaustion as well – but that dose NOT make them any easier to deal with! Sorry you had one in public!
Without the midday nap my toddler is completely unplayable. We have days where it is not possible to have him napping in his bed then we make a plan.